Pinning on the power. A D&RGW K-27 Locomotive couples up to a freight consist in the yard at Cumbres Pass, in preparation for the trip down the 4% grade to Chama, NM and beyond. On the siding next to the freight is D&RGW Pile Driver OB, which was active this day near the tail of the Cumbres Pass Wye.
This photo was taken at the east end of the Cumbres Pass Yard, just across Highway 17. Tanglefoot Curve would be in the distance, beyond the treeline on the right. This is the historic location of the Cumbres Pass Station and Freight House. Those structures have long since been removed, but a few artifacts do remain, such as the concrete pilings in the foreground of the photo. The modern-day Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad passenger trains currently use the old Section House on the other side of Highway 17 as the "station" location for stops on Cumbres Pass.
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.
