Cumbres & Toltec K-36 run-by video

[RReid]

Just returned yesterday from a long road trip to see our younger son and his family in Texas. Six days of travel and 5 camping spots to get there, 3 weeks stay with the family, then another seven days and 5 camp spots (2 nights in Flagstaff to visit the ancient Puebloan ruins in that area) to get back.

On the trip out we detoured up into northern New Mexico, through Farmington and past Shiprock Peak to Chama, NM and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. We didn't plan to ride the train, but hoped to catch sight and sound of it from along the (very) scenic highway as it climbed the 4% grade out of Chama toward the other terminous at Antonito, CO. As it turned out, we got to a grade crossing part way up just ahead of the approaching train, which gave a perfect opportunity to get this video of the hard working K-36 Mikado. I was close enough that my face was being pelted by cinders as it went by. The exhaust bark was really pretty loud, more so than I expected, and sounded great! I don't know who the other fellow is, but that's my wife, Lynn, off to the right.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ExlPclHr8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ExlPclHr8</a>

[crueby]

Excellent!!

[Kim]

Wow! Really nice video! That's a beautiful scene on a beautiful day!  Nice sound too 

Sounds like you had a fun trip.  Hope the family visit was equally great 

Kim

[internal_fire]

My wife and I rode that train from Chama to Antonito a couple years ago. Quite a climb for the first half. Lots of smoke and cinders. The second half is a bit flatter.

Definitely worthwhile if you are into that sort of thing. I have ridden a few other tourist railroads, and this one is the best.

Gene

[wagnmkr]

Wonderful video. Thank You for posting that! There is something about the sound of a hard working steam engine. I don't think there is a piece of modern machinery that can compare.

 

[RReid]

Thanks all, glad you enjoyed it! We did ride the Durango & Silverton a few years ago, behind the same class of locomotive. Fun, but for me, unless I can ride in the cab, sometimes I'm just as happy to watch and hear them go by as in the video.

Hope the family visit was equally great 

Yes, it absolutely was!

[bent]

Great video. 

Agree with RReid, would like to ride in the cab, or watch from the road; being a passenger is ok if we are going somewhere scenic by electric or diesel.  The wife and I are off to road tour NZ for a month, and we will take the TranzAlpine "home" to Christchurch before flying back to the US.

On the note of being the engineer for a steam loco, this is on my bucket list: https://www.irm.org/take-the-throttle/

Maybe next summer when I'm shifted to half time here at work ("Retirement lite" I'm calling it...)

[crueby]

In the magazines I've also seen ads for a steam 'school' at a railroad out near Las Vegas, where you can run steam and deisel locos. Also, the Liberty Ship in Baltimore puts on a one week class where you get hands on experience on the big boilers and engine in the ship.

[RReid]

In the magazines I've also seen ads for a steam 'school' at a railroad out near Las Vegas

That would be here: https://nnry.com/
In Ely (a long way from anywhere),NV.
And if you pronounce it like Eligh, rather than Elee, the locals will let you know.

[cnr6400]

Great video! Thanks for sharing it.   

[crueby]

In the magazines I've also seen ads for a steam 'school' at a railroad out near Las Vegas

That would be here: https://nnry.com/
In Ely (a long way from anywhere),NV.
And if you pronounce it like Eligh, rather than Elee, the locals will let you know.

Thats the one I've seen!