C&TS Begins Service from Cumbres
Posted By: Tim Tennant
Date: Jul 6, 2010
CHAMA, N.M. – It’s back to normal today (Tuesday, July 6) – almost – on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad out of the Chama Depot. Schedules were temporarily disrupted by the fire which disabled the Lobato Trestle, four miles out of Chama.
Passengers will depart Chama today and daily thereafter at 10 am – just as before. However, the first leg of their journey, the trip from Chama to Cumbres, will be accomplished by the railroad private motor coach fleet. Passengers will board the train at Cumbres, highest elevation on the 64-mile line (10,015 feet above sea level), and continue on to Osier, Colo., headed by the 19th century steam train. Antonito departures remain on the original schedule also. On the return, the transfer from train to motor coach at Cumbres will complete the round trip.
“The romance of the Rockies by steam passenger train is up to its exceptional and thrilling standards with this motor coach prelude,” said Elmer Salazar, C&TSRR Management Company president and CEO. “My hat is off to our skilled and versatile work crews – who, under the direction of General Manager Marvin Casias, moved an entire passenger train up the pass by flatbed truck.”
The equipment move was accomplished Friday, after a damage inspection of the trestle indicated repairs might take months rather than weeks.
“Marvin made the decision that the equipment move was necessary – and his crews set about moving an entire train by truck – as if it was something they did every other day,” said Salazar. “It was in the finest tradition of mountain railroad men. I couldn’t be more proud of them. “
A near-sellout crowd of railroad and fireworks buffs rode the Fourth of July Special on Sunday, enjoying box seat views of the spectacular Chama village fireworks display. They were treated to an hour of giant aerial bursts, splashes and glitters, culminating in a multiple-burst, a continuous kaleidoscope of color lasting more than a full minute.
With the return of the normal operating schedule, railroad buffs from across the country can be assured that their plans to ride this summer will not be short-circuited. This summer marks the anniversary of the purchase of the line by the states of New Mexico and Colorado from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The C&TSRR management company is in the final stages of an ambitious multi-year program to replace ties and ballast on the track to restore it to optimum operating capability. A total of 40,378 new ties have been installed over the duration of this project, with 64 miles of track resurfaced and lined.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2010 01:23PM by Larry.
