Silverton Sees Trains Again

The daily trains out of Durango have left the winter terminous of Cascade Canyon behind for the summer terminous of Silverton, Colorado. The coming of the summer season is good news for the town of Silverton which relys heavily on tourist business and support the local stores and resturants. Summer brings wild flowers, sun, and green grass to the Silverton valley. A valley that often sees more than a doven feet of snow. The summer season means increased business for the railroad and the two cities of Durang and Silverton.

Summer Season is Here

The 2011 season for the Cumbres & Toltec begins on April 26. The 2011 season is expected to be a huge come-back year for the state-funded railroad. The Lobato Trestle is still under construction and is expected to be ready by opening day. The railroad also completed two rebuilds of locomotives over the winter. Locomotive #488 underwent a complete rebuild, and locomotive #487 underwent yearly work and both locomotives got a fresh coat of paint. The railroad has also been in the process of restoring locomotive #463. The locomotive hasn't seen service in a number of years and is much anticipated to return this season.

Lobato Trestle Work

Work on the Laboto trestle pushes on as the season is less than a month away now. Arrival of all of the replacement girders and the multiple cranes means that the real work can now get under way. The construction crew has begun the removal of the chared timbers and the building of an extensive scaffolding to make the required repairs. The construction crew has also graded a road that runs down to the edge of the trestle. Work on the cement foundations in the creekbed is also underway. Along with getting a complete rebuild, the trestle will get a fresh new coat of paint. A metalic silver color. The completion of the trestle will mark an important achievement in the railroads history.

Lobato Trestle under Construction

As the season approaches, the staff of the Cumbres & Toltec is under strict deadlines to finish the repairs on the damaged Lobato Trestle outside of Chama, New Mexico. The rebuild required the building of a temory road and the hiring of a constuction company to replace a few metal girders that were badly damaged in the fire nearly a year ago. The restructed bridge will bring hightened prosperity to the town home towns of the railroad, Chama, and Antonito. The Bridge is expected to be finished sometime in early May. As soon as completed, the railroad can move its eastern terminal from Cumbres, Colorado back to Chama, New Mexico, some 14 miles.

Cumbres & Toltec Locomotive #463

As the summer season quickly approaches, the staff of the Cumbres & Toltec is steadily rebuilding the Oldest locomotive on the line. The 2-8-2 K-27 Mikado locomotive was built in the 1920's. The #463 is one of only two surviving locomotives of that class, and the only to still run on its home rails. The #463 hasent run in more than 5 years, and the locomotives return is much anticipated. The #463 will join the four 2-8-2 K-36 Mikados: #484,487,488, and 489 in pulling the summer and fall tourist trains. The recently damaged Lobato trestle just outside of Chama is also going to be repaired for the upcoming 2011 tourist season.

2011 Summer Season

With economic times cutting spending for everyone, we can look close to home fo an adventurous vacation. Colorado and New Mexico are home to the gorgeous Rocky mountains. Many people think of mining when they think of mountains, but this is not all the Rockies have to offer. Two spectacular narrow gauge railroads call these mountains home. The Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec. The Durango & Silverton is baded in Durango, Colorado and runs 45 miles into the spectacular San Juans to the mining town of Silverton. The railroad is world famous for its crossing through the deep Animas canyon on what is known as the "High Line." The Cumbres & Toltec is based in Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. The line travels 64 miles and traverses the breath-taking Cumbres Pass. This railroad is consired a living museum and is the best example of an authentic steam railroad in North America. Videos of both are below.