September snows. The daily eastbound out of Chama powers up the last few hundred yards toward the Highway 17 Crossing at Coxo, Colorado, as the billowing cumulus threaten to become an overcast. We're just 3 days past the autumnal equinox and the Aspens aren't even in full bloom yet, but the snows have already come to the high country. A low pressure system sitting right over the 4 corners for several days has provided some very changeable weather for the folks riding the Cumbres & Toltec during the last week of September in 2009. The mornings dawned with clear skies but the cumulus started building by the time the trains left Chama. By the time they made it to Cumbres Pass, there were just a few peeks of clear sky. By noon, snow squalls were breaking out over the high country. It would snow until late afternoon, then the sky would clear again. The 4 inches or so that you see in this shot would only partially melt, before the fresh stuff would begin to fall. This particular day was no exception. What little sun we had was gone 30 minutes after this shot was taken, and when Train 3 arrived at Cumbres Pass from Antonito in the afternoon, it did so in a moderate snow. Fortunately, on the Cumbres & Toltec, the folks in the open "cinder car" have the option to return to their seats in an enclosed coach.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
