Through the Narrows. Propelled by the muscle of two, 94-ton, K-36 Locomotives, the Cumbres & Toltec's Rotary Snow Plow "OY" pushes through the stretch of track known as "The Narrows" about 3 miles north of Chama, NM, en route to Cumbres Pass.
To kick off the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, railroad management elected to rehabilitate and run the line's 1923-vintage rotary snow plow for the first time in 23 years. Unlike previous operations in the late 1900s, the focus of this event was not aimed at opening the line for the tourist season.....the railroad does not begin its regular season until late May. Rather, it was a demonstration, with a target audience of 150 railroad enthusiasts and serious photographers. Participants rode in motor coaches and photographed the rotary outfit from many locations along Highway 17, from Chama all the way to Cumbres Pass, over a period of 2 days. Needless to say, the logistics of conducting this event were daunting and the costs and risks were significant, but the railroad, in cooperation with local businesses as well as state and local government agencies, conducted an event for the ages, delighting virtually everyone who attended. There was enough snow along the entire line to generate a nice snow plume and on the upper reaches of the mountain, there were as many as four feet of snow, giving all attendees a taste of what snow-fighting on the Rio Grande Narrow Gauge looked like back in the day.
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.
