Hidden Gem: How the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad Saved a Dying Mining Line

The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is a hidden gem! Have you ever wanted to travel back in time and see some stunning natural beauty? Kind of like an adventure? Like being in an old western movie? Well, there’s this out-of-the-way old historic railroad. It’s in south central Colorado , not far from the border with New Mexico. In fact, a fair portion of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is in New Mexico!

The Silver Rush That Built a Railroad

A trip on the C&TS is a trip back in time. Actually, this section of track through Colorado and New Mexico was originally built in 1880. The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) built it. The line was used for the silver mines in the San Juan Mountains of (southwestern) Colorado. This included mines in Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton.

A Second Life: The Birth of Heritage Tourism

By the 1940’s, the mining traffic had dwindled. By the late 1960’s, all the rail traffic had practically stopped. The governments of both Colorado and New Mexico saw an opportunity. They bought part of the railroad between Antonio, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. The C&TS started tourist trips in 1971. The C&TS has been operating as a heritage railway ever since.

Geography That Only a Train Can Reach

The C&TS is 250 miles south of Denver and 160 miles north of Albuquerque. Most of the country the C&TS passes through is not accessible by car. This means the amazing natural beauty in this part of Colorado and New Mexico is only seen from the train. The distance between Antonio, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico, is 64 miles. There are mountains, valleys, prairies, and peaks. Sometimes the views seem like they’re from horizon to horizon.

The tracks pass through valleys, the Cumbres Pass (10,015 feet elevation), and the Toltec Gorge (where the tracks are 600 feet above the rushing water of the Rio de los Pinos). The line terminates in both Chama and Antonio. Each day, trains leave in both directions. Well-kept steam locomotives from the 1890’s travel at 12 miles per hour. This means there’s plenty of time to sit back, relax, and take in the journey.

Traveling Back in Time: The Modern Experience

In fact, readers of the USA Today newspaper have voted the C&TS the best train ride in America…several times! There are two classes of travel: Coach class and parlor class. Parlor class costs more, but riders say it’s well worth the higher price. (Because parlor class often sells out, riders say it’s best to reserve tickets in advance.)

The C&TS still operates five steam locomotives. There are 130 freight, passenger, and work cars. Docents ride the trains. A docent is a member of staff that acts as a guide. They have a lot of interest and knowledge about the C&TS. The docents on the C&TS are volunteers. They like sharing knowledge about the trains, the railroad, the geology, wildlife, and history of the area.

For those that are interested in more than a leisurely train ride, a buffet lunch, and comfortable bus ride back to their starting point, there is also hands-on training. The C&TS offers an Engineer and Fireman School. These take three-four days. Students are taught how to operate a K-36 Baldwin steam locomotive. There is actual running time on the rails! There is stoking the engine with coal to get the steam up. Students are taught about engine (locomotive) daily service and how a railroad is maintained.

Why the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad Still Matters

The Cumbres & Toltec Railroad is more than a nostalgic trip…it’s a living piece of the American history. The railroad was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012, recognition of its historical significance. The line has appeared in major films including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Wyatt Earp, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and Hostiles. Filmmakers chose it because it offers absolute authenticity: real steam locomotives, genuine mountain terrain, and the unfiltered aesthetic of the 1880s frontier.

What makes the Cumbres & Toltec truly remarkable is that it survived when nearly every other mountain mining railroad vanished. It recovered from economic collapse through creative preservation. It kept steam locomotive technology alive when diesel engines were replacing steam everywhere. Most importantly, it proved that heritage transportation could thrive not through nostalgia alone, but through genuine respect for history, attention to detail, and a commitment to keeping the past alive and operational. For anyone curious about how the American West was built, or how a community can save something precious from disappearing forever, the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad offers answers…one slow, scenic mile at a time.

• For more information about rides on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, click here.

• If you’re curious and want to learn more about interesting people, places and things in New Mexico, find more articles here.