Chama and the Cumbres & Toltec Train

The ride to Chama was unchallenging (for which I'm truly grateful), but it was yet another beautiful ride.  The highway reached an elevation of over 10,000 feet, with patches of snow still visible before descending back down into what is called New Mexico's - High Country.

At this point highway 64 joined highway 80 and turned north (the sign that Chama only a few miles ahead).  With my gas gauge still not working I was more than a little dismayed when first visible gas station was closed.  It was only a little after 7:00 PM, but I was told there wouldn't be any gas before Chama, now a mere 9 miles away.

It was almost a certainty that there was more than enough gas in the tank, but since I had failed to write down the odometer reading at the last fill-up, my exact predicament was not so certain.  What difference would it have made anyway; it would only given the possible assurance that - Yep, you aren't going to make it!

Luckily, the gas held out with a half gallon to spare!

Finding a camp site in Chama was, also, not a problem.  The Little Creel Resort was an excellent choice with all the amenities (including riverbank camp sites), great prices and Rob & Mary Anderson, who manage the site, were great hosts.

Chama to my surprise is a bit a tourist Mecca - the site of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

This was yet another unexpected, but much welcome surprise.  As soon as I heard that a narrow gauge steam locomotive operated out of Chama, my stay in Chama was planned.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the remnant of the San Juan extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.  The line was first developed in 1880 to in order to service the booming mining resources of southwestern Colorado.

It connects Chama, New Mexico with Antonito, Colorado and so doing, winds its way over the 10,015 foot Cumbres Pass and through the spectacular Toltec Gorge.

The ride begins out of Chama at 10:00 in the morning, but it is best to arrive early, walk around the rail yard (and even climb aboard), visit with the dedicated staff of largely volunteer railroad aficionados and explore one of the best preserved railroad museums in the United States.

The train ride offers three different classes of rail travel: the parlor class, tourist class and coach class.

My choice was the coach class, not only because it was the most affordable, but it offered the most freedom movement to the refreshments coach and the "cattle car" (the open air flat bed, which is a "must").

The original steam engine locomotive "barrels" down the 36 inch narrow gauge track at about 15-20 miles an hour and is, therefore, a full day experience.

Although, the rail cars are not original, you wouldn't no the difference - they have been replicated to exacting specifications on the original railcar platforms.

The engineers and conductors are all outfitted in 1890's attire and the entire experience is a just great day of fun; complete with a luncheon stop at Osier before continuing on to the destination of Antonito, Colorado.

From Antonito the day is concluded with a drive by motor coach back to Chama (an enjoyable scenic ride in itself).