A Cumbres turn rounds Windy Point on its way to Cumbres with a cut of cars headed for Alamosa. Two or three cuts will be put together for a long train down the other side of the pass. Today the v... (more)

You gotta have a caboose. And you want to get home. Given such a challenge railroaders can be very creative. Their regular caboose was bad ordered in Chama, and there was no spare. So rather t... (more)

With the 488 on the point and 487 helping mid-train, a long westbound train, probably at the limit of 70 cars, is strung out along the hillside above Los Pinos River west of Rock Tunnel. The rear... (more)

A long eastbound train rounds Tanglefoot curve east of Cumbres. Tanglefoot may or may not have been a term used by the railroaders, it does not appear in any timetables or special instructions, bu... (more)

"Through the weeds not around them". That was a parody of the DRGW's old advertising slogan, "through the Rockies not around them", dreamed up by DRGW engineer Andy Payne, probably while running ... (more)

A caboose hop leaves Durango headed for Farmington. It will pick up its train at Carbon Junction, where the cars were set out the prior evening by a train from Chama. The caboose, two loaded boxca... (more)

Early on a cold winter morning two engines are serviced before hauling another long train over 10,000 foot Cumbres pass to Chama. Two more engines, a flanger, and a spreader will run ahead from A... (more)

For a long time it was normal practice for narrow gauge trains to handle standard gauge cars between Alamosa and Antonito and intermediate points on the three-rail. By the early 60's this practice... (more)

A Cumbres turn approaches the west switch to Cresco siding while climbing to Cumbres. The cars will be left at Cumbres and the engines and caboose will return to Chama. After spending another ni... (more)

DRGW Cumbres turns were often accompanied by a fair number of photographers and just curious tourists, and for the crews it was almost like a public performance. The brakeman smiles for my camera ... (more)

DRGW 484 and another engine are serviced at the Chama coaling tower in preparation for a trip west to Durango. This coaling tower still exists on the C&TS and while it is not used it is very clos... (more)

Extra 498 west climbs out of Willow Creek heading toward the Continental Divide at Azotea and ultimately Durango. One of the oddities of the Alamosa to Durango line is even though it crossed 10,00... (more)

Cumbres section house framed by the snowshed. I like the details. The engine is taking water from the water plug, and a gon of new ties is on west end of the siding. The black dog by the switch s... (more)

Doubleheading from Alamosa to Antonito. At Antonito both engines will take coal and water, and the helper will be cut into the train for the climb to Cumbres. It will be long after dark and prob... (more)