jmdenver Loc: Colorado

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over Cumbres Pass at an elevation of 10,015 ft. One of the benefits of this train is that it runs adjacent to a highway for a number of miles. After it stops for a time at the top of the pass, allowing you to take pictures there if you so desire. You can then get in to your car get ahead of it several more times giving you plenty of time to prepare to photograph it again and again. C&C welcome.

Toltec Cumbres Narrow Gauge RR

Bobber Loc: Fredericksburg, Texas

Been there, and strongly second the observation.


Futhermore, other opportunities abound. I would dearly love to back pack the train route as well as ride it again. On the train besides the window views there is an open car such as hauls loose cargo likes gravel, but is now fitted out for passengers to enter and view in the open to either side.

The route encompasses a huge variety of views from flat sage brush valley enclosed by hills and mountains to mountain top and lush vegetation. On my trip, the other passengers were an additional source of rich experience. For instance a large, mainly adult, family of the Amish persuasion were on board. They were on a special journey. The old father with them had developed cancer, so that the trip was a whole lot more than just another vacation.

The trip was late season, about the last run the train made. Two weeks later the route was snowed in. But, on my ride the fall colored leaves were developing nicely with aspin the main actor, some beginning, some in full brilliance, and some yet to start.

Not much is said about glaciers in the Southern Rockies, but I noticed hanging valleys in the mountains and obvious deposits and features such as ice block lakes along the stream valley.

The route is a lot more than a ride or a rail road and its activity to be seen and photographed. Its stories are enriching from the present to the historic distant past. The only requirement is to arrive with the capability of hooking into the possibilities and the capacity to appreciate them.

nerfherder photography Loc: Michigan

Very cool!