Historic Car Project at C&TS

Howdy all,

It has been a while since we have updated you on the historic wooden car project at the Cumbres and Toltec, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to share some of the progress we have made in the month of September and early October. For those unfamiliar with this project, it is a long term commitment to rehabilitating to service four historic D&RG wooden passenger cars to operate as a historic trainset, depicting an earlier period of passenger rail travel on the San Juan Extension. This consist will be pulled by locomotive 168, an 1883 4-6-0 built to pull consists identical to that of the historic wooden car project. The current car receiving rehabilitation is D&RG 292, an 1881 Jackson and Sharp built coach. This car is requiring a great deal of work to return to service, but is remarkable in that it was very little altered from its original appearance and configuration. This high degree of integrity is translating into a stunning rehabilitation being done to the Secretary of Interior Standards for Preservation. When complete, a ride in this car will be a truly amazing experience over the railroad.

Since our last update, interior wall blocking has been installed, custom copper alloy window springs fabricated and installed, upper letter board installed, and the windows have been installed and fitted to one side of the car. At the same time, extensive rehabilitation of interior trim and moldings has also been progressing. A full set of original Buntin seating is being rehabilitated so that the onboard experience and appearance is as authentic as possible.
Two original D&RG coach stoves have also been sourced to assure the interior looks just as it did during the period of significance.

I hope this is of interest to all of you, and invite you all to come see the progress next time you visit the Cumbres and Toltec, Until then...

Best,

Stathi