flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Very nice set!

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thanks J-SPEIGHT!

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thank bpulv!

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thank you Stephan G!

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thank you hiker60!

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thank you rich1hart!
Yes, we have also ridden the Durango Silverton (DS). Both are great narrow gauge steam train rides. Both trains offer great scenery. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSR) is a longer ride (one-way is 64 miles) than the DS (one-way is 46 miles) and a higher ride (Cumbres Pass is at Elevation 10,015 feet and Silverton is 9,300 feet). The C&TSR journeys further from the highway and civilization while the DS parallels close to the Animas River (and unfortunately, about 1/5 of the route is parallel and adjacent to a highway). The DS is a pretty much all up hill from Durango to Silverton for a total elevation change of 3,104 feet. The DS, on the edge of the cliff on the High Line in Animas Canyon is amazing! The C&TSR gives you a wider variety of scenery as it is almost "desert" like (with scrub brush) for a ways out of Antonito, CO and then you climb up to Cumbres Pass through a canyon, the Toltec Gorge. The C&TSR from Chama to Osier (the "half way" point where you eat lunch) is a little more scenic than the C&TSR from Osier to Antonito. I would recommend riding the C&TSR in the direction of Chama to Antonito, as that is going UP the steep grade (4%) to Cumbres Pass because they will often run the double steam engines (only) in that direction to get the train up the steep grade. If you go in that direction, the seats on the right side of the train do have the better scenery. On the C&TSR you go up from Chama to Cumbres Pass and then down to Antonito for a total elevation change of 4,279 feet. The station, roundhouse, and engine shop facility is better in Durango on the DS than at Chama on the C&TSR. However, the C&TSR railroad yard in Chama is great! Overall, IMO, they are both great rides, but I think the C&TSR has better,varied scenery, definitely a "curvier" route (the track crosses the Colorado-New Mexico border 11 times!), and it is more off the beaten path.

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thank you flathead27ford!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

To add to the experience of the CTSRR, on another day, chase the train out of Chama to Cumbres Pass and on to Los Pinos Valley.
The view up to Cumbres Pass includes many, many photography opportunities. The train is away from the road in open country. Sometimes the train will be below or above you. Many times, just straight out there. Easy to get the whole train including smoke and steam. The car traffic is light.
One can get some really great images out there!
Pat

rich1hart Loc: Chicago suburbs

Thanks for your reply. I loved the D/S ride and have considered taking the C&T. Based on your comments I will take it sometime in the near future. I am near 80 now and have bad feet and knees which limits my hiking these days, but I still enjoy seeing the sights.

rich1hart Loc: Chicago suburbs

Thanks for the additional recommendation. I see a great trip in the coming days, perhaps this summer.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

This coming summer will be the 50th anniversary of the Cumbres & Toltec.
The railroad along with the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec are planning some activities for the last part of August.
I have heard of many ideas as to what to do or offer.
When I hear of something in stone, I will post. Or you can follow the train and the friends website.
Pat

JayRay Loc: Missouri

I totally agree Jay Pat! Great suggestion!

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Your point about about the possibility of a double header when departing from Chama is well taken. However, The ride from Antonito has the benefit of the scenery improving all the way to the end of the ride. It seems my wife, at least, is always more "up" at the end of the ride going in that direction than when we go from the Chama depot. The Antonito end is anti-climatic scenery wise. Over all I find the scenery more varied with more open views than the D&S where you spend a good part of the ride in a "green tunnel"
"(the "half way" point where you eat lunch)" For those of you who have never rode this train, it is much more than a lunch. The menu choices include a roast Turkey dinner w/all the trimmings, a meat loaf dinner w/potatoes and veg. Or the salad bar which is more than just salad. You will often find things like chili there. Then there's the desert table! All that is included in the ticket price.

JayRay Loc: Missouri

Thanks!
Great comments!