This was the last of the three-day photo charter organized by Dak Dillon in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the K36 locomotives. Today's photo freight would journey through rugged high desert, canyon walls and historic tunnels with the experience of the dramatic transition from high desert to towering rock walls as our K-36 locomotive power through the most diverse terrain on the entire line. This special excursion travelled through steep-walled canyons, navigated two historic tunnels and offered spectacular vistas of the surrounding landscape. For authenticity, the steam locomotives and rolling stock had been lettered "Denver and Rio Grande Western" for these charters.
I awoke early at the Narrow Gauge Motel in Antonito and following my breakfast of doughnuts and orange juice, drove over to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic parking lot where I boarded the train. Dak gave all participants a safety briefing in the open car then we departed at 5:30 AM for Cumbres Pass.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 2-8-2 488, nee Denver and Rio Grande Western 488, built by Baldwin in 1925, leading the train to Hangman's Trestle.
Reminiscent of a earlier time.
The Ferguson, or Hangman's Trestle, at Milepost 285.43. We detrained and set up for sunrise.
The caboose reversing over Hangman's Trestle.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 2-8-2 484, nee Rio and Grande Western 484, built by Baldwin in 1925.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 2-8-2 488, nee Rio and Grande Western 488, built by Baldwin in 1925.
Photo runby one.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484.
The caboose with the sun rising.
Reverse move.
Photo runby two.
Denver and Rio Grande Western caboose 05635.
The train after crossing the trestle, where everyone switched sides.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 488.
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The reverse move.
Photo runby three at Hangman's Trestle.
Denver and Rio Grande Western caboose 05635.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 488.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484.
Reverse move.
Photo runby four.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 488.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484.
Denver and Rio Grande Western gondola 1357, Denver and Rio Grande Western box car 3244 and Denver and Rio Grande Western caboose 05635 bringing up the rear.
Reverse move.
Photo runby five.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 488 on the point.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484 mid-train.
Denver and Rio Grande Western caboose 05635. We reboarded and proceed to the next location of Lava Tank.
A crossing in the middle of nowhere.
Starting to climb the grade.
Approaching Lava Loop.
The track on which snow ploughs are turned.
On the Lava Loop.
Mount San Antonio.
We stopped at the Lava Loop water tower where everyone detrained.
Reverse move.
Photo runby five at the Lava water tower, Milepost 291.5. Dak told everyone the best shots were further down the trail and to follow me.
Reverse move.
Photo runby six.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 484 blew down.
One of the stars of this weekend's worth of charters.
Another of the steam engines celebrating its 100th birthday. Once the reverse move finished, I crossed sides.
Photo runby seven.
Back aboard the train, the first curve west of the water tower.
Entering Colorado.
Entering New Mexico.
Rounding the curve at lower Whiplash Curve.
Entering Colorado.
Climbing up to upper Whiplash Curve.
Fire Speeder 101 was assigned to us today.
Upper Whiplash Curve at Milepost 297.0.
Between Whiplash Curve and Big Horn.
Milepost 300. We then went though Sublette and Mud Tunnel then arrived at Phantom Curve, where we detrained.
The photographers up on the rocks.
Photo runby eight at Milepost 307.00.
Reverse move.
Photo runby nine.
Reverse move.
The scene. We next went through Phantom Curve.
Reverse move.
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More phantoms in the curve.
Photo runby ten.
Reverse move.
Photo runby eleven.
Reverse move.
Photo runby twelve. All participants reboarded and continued the journey, passing through Rock Tunnel.
The regular train from Chama approaching Osier, led by Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 2-8-2 487, nee Denver and Rio Grande Western 487, built by Baldwin in 1925.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic 2-8-2 487. Today, we partook of lunch in the Lunch Room and I enjoyed the turkey, mashed potatos, gravy, lemonade and chocolate cake. Once everyone was fortified, we reboarded our train and went to Cascade Trestle.
Cascade Creek.
Reverse move at Cascade Trestle.
Photo runby thirteen at Milepost 320 on the highest bridge on the railroad, 137 feet above Cascade Creek.
Reverse move.
Photo runby fourteen. It was then announced that the last photo runby would be at Tanglefoot Curve.
Two of the steam locomotives which were being celebrated this weekend, Cumbres and Toltec 488 and 484.
488 leading the charter train en route to the last runby location.
Travelling through the wilderness.
After rounding a curve, we were now in the Grouse Creek valley.
Grouse Creek.
Los Pinos water tank from across the valley.
On the Los Pinos curve.
Passing Los Pinos water tank.
Our steam engines wee really working upgrade.
High above Los Pinos Creek.
En route to Tanglefoot Curve.
We stopped for the last runby of the day and detrained.
The yard limit sign for Cumbres Pass.
Reverse move at Tanglefoot Curve.
Photo runby fifteen at Milepost 329.7.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 488.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 484.
Denver and Rio Grande Western caboose 05635.
Mid-train Denver and Rio Grande Western 484. On the train for the final time, we travelled the rest of the way to Cumbres Pass, Milepost 330.6, where the charter was now complete. Thank you to Dak Dillon and the crews of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad for a wonderful three days' worth of charters.
Everyone boarded the bus and after we returned to Antonito, I drove back to the Narrow Gauge Motel then to La Jara for Subway and returned to the motel for the night.
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