RV Trip to the High Mountains

Day 4 - Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Chama, New Mexico

The day of the first big event arrived: Noah's first trip on the Cumbres & Toltec! It was the first trip for his grandparents as well. Noah scarfed a sausage biscuit while Michele packed up the stuff and then we all began the walk to the yard to catch the bus over to Antonito. Our ride this day would be west from Antonito back to Chama. I prefer this because 1) it saves the best scenery for the latter part of the trip and 2) it gets the long bus ride out of the way up front. The last thing you want to do after 6 hours on a train is sit on a bus for an hour.

Before boarding the bus, I got some shots around the yard.

C18 #315 is on the left, temporarily renumbered and back-dated to 425 for a photo excursion.

Much newer and larger K36 #484 is on the right with the eastbound train to Antonito. 

The real 425 was scrapped in the 1920's.

484 was built Baldwin in 1925 and is one of the newest steam locomotives on the railroad.

Rio Grande Southern Motor #5 - AKA The Goose.

We've ridden #5 a few times and it's a lot of fun.

The bus ride over Cumbres and La Manga Passes was uneventful, except for Noah having a blast and entertaining everyone within sight.

Here's a photo looking north from the east side of La Manga Pass.

A Noah-sized choo choo!

While Michele got the tickets and hit the head, I ran over to the Friends' Car Repair Facility (CRF) for a few photos.

Lots of important work is being done by Friends volunteers. Noah has been a member since he was 6 months old.

Ed Lowrance was my friend and just recently passed away. He was the driving force behind the CRF's construction, so it was named in his honor.

Heading west, into the sublime wilderness that the C&T operates through.

Noah finally gets to see a real volcano: Mt San Antonio.

Ferguson Trestle

Noah took this photo. It was his first! Antelope down in the brush.

Gravity Hill

Checking everything out and enjoying his freedom to move around.

Lava Tank

Lava Tank

Lava Phone Booth

The Fire Patrol follows along behind to check for fires.

Heading up the Whiplash. This is a hill that the railroad crisscrosses 3 times to ascend.

Mt San Antonio again.

Lava Tank

Indian markings on the rocks.

They're hard to see from the train, but they're there.

I love the surviving telegraph poles. There are quite a few left, but fewer each year. The system was last used in the late 1960's.

This telegraph line once extended from Denver to Silverton, nearly 500 miles.

Noah trots past the Friends docent. He had no problem acquiring his "sea legs."

Big Horn Wye.

The old section station of Sublette, NM.

Bill and his new dog "Girlfriend." Bill is the volunteer guard at Sublette and Cumbres.

After the early morning hike to the yard, the hour long bus ride, then 90 minutes on the train, Noah's was plumb worn out.

This is the epitome of happiness for me: holding my precious little boy while he sleeps out in the open gondola.

The fresh mountain air mixed with the aroma of coal smoke.

The steam locomotive taking on water.

Cool morning breeze.

Heaven.

Starting to see golden Aspens as we ascend higher in elevation.

Toltec Siding

Toltec Gorge and Rio de Los Pinos

The Hoodoos at Phantom Curve.

Golden Aspens

The site of the Section House at Toltec.

Rock Tunnel

Toltec Gorge at the west portal of Rock Tunnel..

We crossed the Colorado / New Mexico border 11 times on the trip.

Osier, Colorado.

Old section town and stage coach stop.

Osier Depot

Osier Section House

Osier Tank and the chow hall.

"Old Osier" - Tank, Depot, Section House, and Coal Dock.

The eastbound train to Antonito is in the background.

This is Train 216 in railroad parlance. We're on 215.

Old Osier

Old and New Osier

Rio de Los Pinos

River of the Pines

The old wagon road to Chama. The railroad replaced it in 1880, but there are still many traces of it if you know where to look.

Train 216

Toltec Gorge and the Rio de Los Pinos

Toltec Gorge and the Rio de Los Pinos

Cascade Trestle - Mile Post 319.95

Entering the south end of Los Pinos Valley

Los Pinos

Los Pinos Tank & Pump House

Making the 180 degree curve at the north end of Los Pinos Valley

Cumbres Loop - AKA Tanglefoot Curve

East of Cumbres Siding.

No longer in service and disconnected on both ends.

Cumbres Pass at last

Snow shed

JBWX Sighting!

Car Inspector's House

Section House / Depot

Chama Valley

Coxo Siding

Coxo Phone Booth

Cresco Phone Booth

Cresco Siding

Lobato Trestle

Wolf Creek

Lobato Siding and Stock Pens

Movie Prop

Jukes Tree

Rio Chama

Our RV

Chama Yard

D&RG 315/425

RGW 5

C&T 15... in dire need of a paint job

Chama Yard in the setting sun.

Lovely.

Before heading back to the RV Park, we stopped at The Hotel, owned and operated by Roger & Barbara Hogan. They've been friends for years and this was a rare trip to Chama that I didn't stay there. It was good to see them, but not so good to get the news that The Hotel had finally been sold... after many years of trying to retire. Fortunately it went to another friend, so it's sort of "staying in the family."  It was good to visit with them again and they were excited to finally get to meet Noah. As it turned out, that was our final visit with them in The Hotel. I trust the new owner, Joe, will do a fine job, but it'll never be the same without the Hogans there... not receiving a warm, heartfelt greeting from Barbara sitting at her desk.

Before we left, Roger gave me a hug. I was speechless. They're truly special people and I'm honored to know them.

Back at the park.

It was a good day.

 

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