Tag: Chama NM

Ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad

We ate at the Box Car Café in Chama, NM as the sun was coming up. John watched the activity of the steam engines while I went back to our room and wrote about pictures I took the day before.

We traveled on that tourist railroad as we’ve never traveled before. Instead of seats as in a school bus, John and I had a table to ourselves.

John at our table in the rail car
John at our table in the rail car

There was a hostess to bring us drinks (non-alcoholic) and snacks.

Hostess in aisle of our car
Hostess in aisle of our car

We had access to a gondola where we could stand outside to absorb lots of black smoke. You realize, of course, that inhaling that smoke adds tremendously to the train experience. Yes, I’m sure there are some that get high on it, no names mentioned.

John in he gondola as the train started up the mountain
John in he gondola as the train started up the mountain

The most modern thing about this ride was watching the drone take photos of us. A train buff in a car sent the drone at several spots.  I didn’t get a photo of the drone, but I did take one of train buffs watching us.  A road came near the railroad in many spots, and there were always cars parked to watch the steam engines.  The people jumped out of their cars, snapped photos, and rushed to the next viewing spot.

Train enthusiasts at a crossing
Train enthusiasts at a crossing

Our car was toward the end of the train, so we had good views of the engines when there was a curve.

Engines seen from the end of the train
Engines seen from the end of the train

We had lovely views of the mountains, a huge dinner included in the price, and a souvenir travel mug. The real bonus was a lovely day when a nasty one had been predicted.

Chama NM

We threw our luggage in the inn and walked across the street to poke about the train station in Chama. I have no idea of the history of this place, but there is one steam train a day up the mountain. We walked through the yard, and John stayed to see the train come in while I ran back to the room and sent email messages to two of our children. We were hamstrung by poor internet service at the inn and no signal on my phone. Kate, Michael, and Lise found us on the website as we watched the crew begin switching cars for the next day’s run. That was really live streaming for our family.

I took photos of John in train heaven and liked the ones that show how massive the engines are.

John and I in front of one of the engines
John and I in front of one of the engines
Chama, NM station
Chama, NM station