Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Mikados

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow-gauge (36") railroad that was originally the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. This section of the D&RGW was built in 1880. Today it is both a railroad museum and a Registered Historic Site.

This section of the "Rio Grande" was built to serve the mining camps in the San Juan Mountains. The 36" gauge was chosen so the railroad could make tighter turns in the mountain and to reduce the overall cost of construction in this rugged region. The railroad carried passengers, hauled mineral ore, timber and livestock as it passed through the Toltec Gorge and over the Cumbres Pass on its way to Chama, NM.

The "Rio Grande" was facing the same economic conditions that effected most railroads in the 1950s. It discontinued passenger service in 1951 and began to scrap both track and equipment. Oil and gas exploration and the discovery of both in the region gave the San Juan Extension a boost in business and service was continues on the "Extension". This boom died out in the 1960s and the line was abandoned in 1967.

In 1970, the State of New Mexico and the State of Colorado bought a portion (Antonito to Chama) of the San Juan Extension. A bi-state commission administers the railroad and leases it to a private operator to maintain the railroad and its structures and equipment. The operator is also responsible for running scheduled tourist train rides. The operator has hired "Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad" to run the railroad and to interpret its history.

Class	Qty	Numbers	Year Built	Year Acquired	Builder	Notes
K-27	1	463	1903	1974	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, Sold by the D&RGW to Gene Autrey in 1955. Donated to the City of Antonito in 1972. Restored to service in the mid 1990s by the CT&S.
K-36	1	483	1925	1970	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW
K-36	1	484	1925	1970	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW
K-36	1	487	1925	1970	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW
K-36	1	488	1925	1970	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW
K-36	1	489	1925	1970	Baldwin	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW
K-37	1	492	1928	1970	D&RGW	Narrow gauge, From the D&RGW
K-37	1	494	1928 - 1930	1970	D&RGW	Narrow gauge, From the D&RGW
K-37	1	495	1928 - 1930	1970	D&RGW	Narrow gauge, From the D&RGW
K-37	1	497	1930		D&RGW	Narrow gauge, operational, From the D&RGW

Specifications for Narrow Gauge DRG&W Locomotives
Class	K-27	K-36	K-37
Wheel Arrangement:	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2
Length:	58' - 9 5/8"	68' - 0 3/4"	65' - 2 15/16"
Drivers:	40" dia.	44" dia.	44" dia.
Weight on Drivers:	108,300 lbs.	143,850 lbs.	148,280 lbs.
Total Locomotive Weight:	140,250 lbs.	187,100 lbs.	187,250 lbs.
Locomotive & Tender Weight:	223,550 lbs.	286,600 lbs.	307,250 lbs.
Grate Area:	30.17 sq. ft.	40.0 sq. ft.	46.6 sq. ft.
Cylinders (dia. x stroke):	(2) 17" x 22"	(2) 20" x 24"	(2) 20" x 24"
Boiler Pressure:	200 psi	195 psi	200 psi
Tractive Effort:	27,000 lbs.	36,200 lbs.	37,100 lbs.
Tender Capacity:
Water:	4,100 gals.	5,000 gals.	6,000 gals.
Coal:	8.5 tons	9.5 tons	9 tons

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Mikados

Photos

Reference