Rotary Snowplow OY, Victorian Iron Horse Round-Up, Galloping Geese & More 

BOOKINGS FOR ALL 2020 SPECIAL EVENTS AND REGULAR TRAIN SERVICE TICKETS, WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY PHONE, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2019.

TICKETING BY PHONE:  1-888-286-2737

OR BOOK ONLINE AT:  WWW.CUMBRESTOLTEC.COM

CHAMA, NM and ANTONITO, CO, April 23, 2019…..The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) announces several events taking place next year during 2020 to celebrate its 50th Anniversary of operation and joint ownership by the states of Colorado and New Mexico. In 1970, Colorado Governor John Love and New Mexico Governor David Cargo signed an historic agreement to purchase the line between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad to operate as a scenic and historic tourist railroad.

Originally built in 1880, the railroad is part of the Denver & Rio Grande Western, San Juan extension, designed to connect silver mining towns in the San Juan Mountains with Denver. It was traveled by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and nearly every famous outlaw and gunman in the Old West. Today, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the nation’s longest, highest and most authentic railroad.

To celebrate 50 years of continuous operation as a scenic railroad, the Cumbres & Toltec will host the events below:

2020 Events:

Rotary Snowplow OY, February 29 – March 1, 2020.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the C&TSRR intends to operate the Rotary Snowplow OY. To be put on a list of people interested in tickets for the Rotary Snowplow, email [email protected]. Tickets will be released in November 2019 and those on the advance list will have the best chance to secure tickets.

Opening Day of the 50th Season of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, May 23, 2020. Historic opening day events and extremely special trains will be announced for both Antonito, CO and Chama, NM departures.  We plan to roll-out Locomotive #168 and historic cars #65, 256 and 292 with a special operation from Antonito to Osier and return.

A special postal cancellation is being planned for May 23, 2020 for both Chama, NM and Antonito, CO.

50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Agreement, July 1, 2020. A special ceremony at Osier, CO will be held exactly 50 years after the historic July 1, 1970 agreement was signed by Colorado Governor John Love and New Mexico Governor David Cargo. Dignitaries from both states will be invited to preside at this event meeting up in Osier, CO, the mid-point on the daily train.

Galloping Goose Reunion, July 18-26, 2020. Several excursions and events will feature a gaggle of operating Goose motors. The Galloping Geese are homemade rail buses built by the Rio Grande Southern and accommodated passengers and light freight to operate in the rugged Rocky Mountains. During the week, demonstrations of the historic properties and operations are planned as well as night photo sessions. There will also be a special Osier moonlight dinner train and gala program on August 29, 2020 to observe the signing date and equipment transfer to C&TSRR.

Roundup of Victorian Iron Horses, between August 22-30, 2020. The C&TSRR will present a roundup of engines built before 1900 that will run on the line to commemorate this special year.  This event will feature at least four locomotives and will be based mostly in Antonito, CO.  It will include several opportunities to ride behind these locomotives on trips to Osier and return.  The locomotives will come to Chama for display and operation before the close of the event.

Moonlight Dinner Trains, August 29, 2020 C&TSRR’s world famous Cumbres Dinner Train will be pulled by authentic equipment with Locomotives #168 and #425.  This will be the only opportunity in 2020 to have this experience.  Do not miss it!

More about the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
The train follows 64-miles of tracks first laid down in 1880 that cross the border of the two states 11 times, skirting along canyon walls through Toltec Gorge, burrowing through two tunnels, steaming over Cascade Trestle (137-feet above a roaring river), and climbing to the top of 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, the highest point reached by any steam railroad in North America.

The Cumbres & Toltec is a National Historic Landmark that moves – a museum on wheels – and was judged by USA Today 10Best to be the No. 1 train ride in the nation. Featured in more than 40 motion pictures, the railroad has the country’s largest collection of narrow gauge locomotives and cars. Traveling on the train provides an authentic look at steam railroading in the 1880s. Today’s passengers can move between cars, ride outdoors on a gondola car, listen to a steam whistle echo down a canyon, enjoy mile after mile of aspen and conifer forest, see wildlife such as elk, deer and even bear, or visit the bar and snack car — all at a stately top speed of 12 mph. Full day trips include a delicious lunch stop at Osier Station, high above timberline. There are nine different ticketing options and all trains have restrooms on board.

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