The New Mexico Trip
August 6 - 10, 2004
We had intended to ride the Cumbres & Tolted Narrow Gauge Railroad for some time, and this year finally resolved to do it. My father had been a huge model railroader, and there were real railroaders in my family's past, so I guess I came by my interest honestly. The C&TNGR has a bunch of old narrow gauge rolling stock in its Chama Yard. Fascinating. They even have a functional rotary steam snowplow...darned thing has to be pushed through the snow by standard locomotive(s). This is the engine that was to pull our train on the day following...already hot and ready to go. 187,000 pounds (not to mention the weight of the tender plus coal plus water). 195 psi...serious pressure, as we found out when the engineer blew the whistle while we were standing next to the huffing and puffing engine. My ears were ringing. The thing looks really complicated...but there's a bunch of basic physics at work here...and it's a great ride. Typical narrow gauge: rockin' and rollin' for the whole trip. Also highly recommended: "The Silverton" out of Durango, Colorado. |
'
Okay...5000 gallon capacity...and two stops for water. Good thing it's not
gasoline!
| Purging the boiler is always a scenic (and auditory) experience. As the water boils, the minerals in it precipitate out, and need to be blown out to prevent their accumulation. I remember this on the Silverton, as the engine crossed a bridge, and here, too, they do in in a relatively scenic situation. A LOT of pressure there, and the released steam is at 280 degrees.! |
Some parts of this ride cling to cliffy terrain, other parts are on parts that
one wonders "why in the world did men want to come HERE?"
| At the halfway point, on weekends at least, trains from Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado meet. Passengers were treated to a wonderful lunch. We had turkey and all the fixin's--but forgot about the effects of triptophan--which is a sedative present in turkey. Ever wonder why you're so sleepy after the Thanksgiving meal?? But I figured that I paid for this trip and by golly I'm gonna stay awake and enjoy it! . Here, the train climbs uphill from Antonito, Colorado, to stop in the station for lunch. |
The Antonito train continues uphill towards Chama, while the train we were
on continues downhill towards Antonito.
The pipes coiled above the wheels of the engine are involved with the air compressor,
which supplies the brakes with compressed
air. The pipes are coiled to cool the air (and accordant water accumulations).
What fascinating machines these are!
Just keep your head inside the cars on these long pulls uphill. Lots of camera-damaging
cinders in that smoke! There's even a
small diesel-powered car that follows these trains at a distance to extinguish
fires caused by hot cinders.
This picture was taken as we rode the chairlift up from the Taos Valley ski
area. The mountain is the highest point in New Mexico,
at something over 13,000 feet. But, being Colorado high country residents, a
13'er didn't impress us much.
Looking down to the Taos base area.
A realtor's paradise.
I will never forget this restaurant. Not cheap, but we had an absolutely wonderful
meal at "The Stakeout". And the view of the
sunset was stunning. It might actually be worth the drive from Summit County,
Colorado, just for the meal and sunset.
One of the patio areas at the motel where we stayed. Very nice.
Pueblo architecture. Well...except for the air conditioner on the roof!
The sunset at "The Stakeout". Fabulous. The food was "to die for", too. Not
cheap, but highly recommended if you're ever
in the Taos area.