Greg Scholl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
. . . We prefer to [ride] Antonito to Chama. Why –
> because it's ever-changing scenery and gets
> better as the trip progresses. Also it's a slight
> grade, but the engine works for about 50 miles
> to Cumbres. I suggest you stay in Chama, and
> take the bus over to Antonito in the morning. It
> was a nice bus. That way you're back in Chama
> at your car when the trip is over. If you have time
> ride to Cumbres another day,
or at least chase it
>
up there for the experience. It is a great spec-
> tacle, but it's only about an hour and a half tops.
I'll second Greg's motion -
Stay overnight in Chama and ride the 8:30 bus to Antonito in the morning, come westbound on the train — that's trip option #5 on the C&TS schedule page. I usually stay at THE (Shamrock) HOTEL & Shops, the unofficial railfan and curmudgeon headquarters until recently owned by Roger & Barbara Hogan and now by long-time Friends member Joe Kanocs (not sure about the spelling, but his name rhymes with "Jokin' Oaks"). The Hotel is directly across the street from the C&TS depot, and the front balcony offers a great view of the yard for late-afternoon train watching. Just up the street (NNE) are The Boxcar Cafe, the Chama Station Inn (a good small motel) and Fosters Hotel & Restaurant.
For lunch in Silverton I'd recommend the Pickle Barrel a couple blocks to the right on the main drag (Greene St., IIRC). As Earl mentioned, it was once owned by Fritz Klinke who posts here from time to time, and it was still in business four years ago when I last visited him (see [
ngdiscussion.net]). The Brown Bear is also good, especially for breakfast, if you return to Silverton after riding the train (highly recommended).
In Pagosa Springs the Pagosa Brewing Co. has excellent food in a beer-garden setting, and has won several state- and national-level awards for their beers. It's about a block north of the main highway at the last stoplight at the far west side of town. On the other (south) side of highway 160, also at the west end of town, don't miss the museum complex which includes the Gomez store moved there from Gato* and the Fred Harmon art museum if you have time. IMHO, Harmon's western paintings are right up there with Russell's and Remington's, but he is probably best known for his Red Ryder comics, which I remember reading in the early 1950's.
- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender
* See [
ngdiscussion.net].
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2019 09:49PM by Russo Loco.
