Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates over a 64 mile section of the old Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge line between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito Colorado, traveling over Cumbres Pass and through the Toltec Gorge and the high desert west of Antonito. This portion of the D&RGW was called the San Juan Extension and was constructed to connect the mines surrounding Silverton, Colorado to the D&RGW main line at Alomosa. Construction on the extension started in Alomosa on November 28th, 1879 and reached Antonito on April 10th, 1880. Construction continued west and the first train reached Chama on December 31st 1880. Passenger traffic lessened after WWII leading to the cancellation of the daily passenger train, the San Juan in 1951 and freight traffic eventually dwindled leading to the closure of the line after the last freight ran west to Durango on December 5th, 1968. After much discussion, the states of Colorado and New Mexico purchased the 64 miles of track between Chama and Antonito for $547,120 in July 1970, creating the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.