Elizabeth and I first learnt of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic K36 100th Anniversary Event in February, when Dak Dillon Photography announced a three-day charter as part of the celebration. Since only Elizabeth went to this year's Railroad Station Historical Society convention, I went on this charter myself.
Hotel reservations and an itinerary were drawn up then on August 11th, I left home in Columbia and drove Interstate 70 to Interstate 35, stopping in Melvern, Kansas.
There, an eastbound BNSF freight beat me to the bridge, after which I drove over to the caboose.
Union Pacific bay window caboose 25836, built by International Car in 1979. It was sold some time before 2006 to private owners in Topeka and displayed near the intersection of NW Docking Road and NW Frontage Road on the north side of Interstate 70, just west of the Valencia exit, about 12 miles west of Topeka. It was listed for sale on both eBay and Craigslist during 2008, then donated in August 2013 to Community Pride Railroad Park in Melvern, and moved there on October 2, 2013. Property for the park in Melvern was purchased in October 2006, with plans to construct an elevated platform to allow photography of passing BNSF trains.
In Strong City was Santa Fe caboose 2110, built by the railroad in 1942.
Santa Fe Strong City station built in 1913. I continued on to Matfield Green,
BNSF 7483 West north of Matfield Green.
BNSF 7483 West, after which I made my way to Cassoday.
BNSF 6524 West.
An unknown BNSF train here. The next stop was in Augusta for two stations.
Santa Fe Augusta station built in 1917.
St. Louis-San Francisco station built in 1917 and houses Augusta's Welcome Center. The front lobby houses offices for Downtown Augusta Inc. and the Augusta Chamber of Commerce, as well as a small museum featuring historic railroad artifacts and a diorama donated by the Augusta Model Railroad Club. The Frisco Depot Welcome Center features two meeting rooms, the San Frisco Room and the St. Louis Room, that are available to rent for parties, showers and family get-togethers.
I drove into Wichita and found the Best Western Eastgate Inn & Suites then went to Jersey Mike's for dinner and returned to the hotel for the night.
8/12/2025 I had breakfast at the hotel before getting on Interstate 135 to McPherson, Kansas were I exited onto US 50 west and drove to Stafford.
Santa Fe Stafford station built in 1911. Next on my agenda was a return visit to Kinsley, the mid-point between New York and San Francisco.
Santa Fe 4-6-2 3424 built by Baldwin in 1921 and donated in 1956.
The steam engine information plaque. I then drove to Dodge City.
The Santa Fe station from Sitka, 53 miles south of Dodge City, built in 1930.
Santa Fe 2-6-2 1139 built by Baldwin in 1903. I saw a sign for the Santa Fe Trail Rut Site and decided to go there, nine miles west of Dodge City.
The Worst Piece of Road information board. The Santa Fe Trail served as the pioneer highway from 1821 to 1872 as a link from the east to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trail allowed traders to move goods across the country safely and easily.
Santa Fe Trail Remains has been designated a Registered National Historic Landmark.
High Plains, Short Grass information board.
The most clearly-defined rut trails, still visible after almost 150 years. I resumed the drive, reaching Garden City.
Santa Fe Garden City station built in 1907, a stop on Amtrak's Southwest Chief.
Luticia Fulton's Garden, a three-ton bas relief panel by Kivel Yankey of Leon, Kansas.
Historical information about Luticia Fulton's garden.
The local power, in the form of BNSF GP39-2 2368, ex. Burlington Northern 2368, nee St. Louis-San Francisco 698, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1972. My next stop was in Lakin.
Santa Fe Lakin station built in 1876 and home to the Kearney County Historical Museum.
WAMX SD60M 2430, ex. Union Pacific 2430, nee Union Pacific 6275, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1991.
Also there was Scoular Grain SD18 5002, ex. Central Railroad of Indianapolis 7302, nee Chesapeake and Ohio 7302 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1963.
Now in Colorado, I came across BNSF 8072 East east of La Junta.
BNSF 4273 as the second unit. I drove the rest of the way to La Junta, checked into the La Junta Inn and later went to Carl's Jr.
8/13/2025 I drove to Chama via Colorado 10 to US 160, stopping in Alamosa for petrol, then drove US 285 south to Chama.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 4-6-0 168 built by Baldwin in 1883. It was on display in Antlers Park in Colorado Springs from 1938 to 2015 then was leased to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad for forty-five years and was fully restored.
The morning train for Antonito was right on time at the narrows led by Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad 2-8-2 488.I drove into Chama for the History Tour and parked at the station.
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