Where they're going, they don't need roads: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is ready to roll with dazzling sites, specialty train experiences

Whether it’s for education, food and drink, breathtaking views — or a combination of all of the above — the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has a little something for everyone.

Jointly owned by New Mexico and Colorado, C&TSRR has been transporting passengers since 1971 on a 64-mile track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama while reaching top speeds of 12 miles per hour. The current season will begin on Saturday, May 25, and runs through Oct. 19, with the train operating Tuesday through Sunday each week.

No matter what option one might choose, the views are well worth the price of admission.

Where they're going, they don't need roads: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is ready to roll again with dazzling sites, specialty train experiences

“We have the tagline of ‘It’s the Ride of a Lifetime.’ Our scenery here at Cumbres and Toltec is very, very diverse,” said marketing manager Abigail Martinez. “I think a lot of people associate New Mexico as being all desert. The northern part of the state is beautiful — it changes from season to season. In summer, we have a bunch of wildflowers. Going to our fall season, we have beautiful colors.

“A lot of people say, ‘I’m just gonna do that once,’ and they kind of make it their traditional family vacation getaway every single year.”

The C&TSRR crosses the New Mexico-Colorado border 11 times, climbing all the way to the 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, the highest point reached by any steam railroad in North America. Other highlights of the trip include the Toltec Gorge, two long tunnels and the Phantom Curve, which is named for “a rock spire that casts a ghostly shadow,” according to a release. Part of the appeal is that much of the scenery remains exactly as it was when the original tracks were built in 1880 as part of the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.

“In the midst of the summer heat, you can guarantee it’s gonna be nice and cool and enjoyable here,” Martinez said. “When you ride the Cumbres & Toltec, it is a step back in time. Our train travels where no roads go. There’s a lot of places where you can only see it from the train.”

The 2024 season will include some new features, including more weekend departures in the fall and Friday Express trains for those who are unable to take the longer trips. Additionally, tickets for summer Coach class have been reduced by an average of $20. The most consistently popular trip is the All Aboard Full Excursion, which travels the full 64 miles between Chama and Antonito (from either starting point) and includes a stop at Osier Station for lunch. These are one-way trips, and passengers are returned to the starting point on an approximately 45-minute ride via motorcoach.

There are also a variety of special trains offered throughout the season. The Geology Train — which runs on June 9 and Sept. 8 — gives passengers extended looks at volcanoes, unusual rock formations, metamorphic rock and much more on the trip. This will mark the second year C&TSRR has added a second Geology Train to the seasonal lineup due to popular demand.

“What’s really cool about our geology trains is they stop at all the highlights and all of the rock formations, so the geologists can explain the different layers of rock that they’re seeing,” Martinez said. “They do at times let all the guests walk through a rock tunnel, which right in the middle of (that), a lot of that rock has never seen sunlight. So they are able to collect a piece of that and take it home with them.”

A new addition to the lineup arises from a partnership with Outlaw BBQ Restaurant in Chama, which is along the C&TSRR route. In August, an evening trip on the Outlaw Express will include a barbecue plate and local beers, while in October, a surf and turf dinner will accompany the same trip. Meanwhile, the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration Train concludes with a nearly hour-long fireworks display held by the Village of Chama.

The specialty trains tend to sell out in advance, and overall interest in the railroad is on the rise as the pandemic gets further in the rearview mirror.

“Each year we are growing,” Martinez said. “We have not quite reached what we were pre-COVID, but last season was really good. This season so far, preticket sales are holding strong. We’re being very optimistic, and it does look like it’s going to be a great season for us.”

25 pictures showing what you can see on the scenic Cumbres & Toltec Steam Railroad