Three Footers II

The CT&S is a favorite of mine among the tourist roads. When compared to its sister road, the Durango & Silverton, the CATS remains unspoiled, and it looks much like it did when the DRGW discontinued operation during 1968. Visitors are welcome to explore the Chama Yard, and as long as one stays off the equipment, one can foam to his hearts content. A friendly query to the enginemen for a cab shot will usually get a “C’mon up” as a response. In my view, it takes 3 days to do justice to this line’s operation. One day needs to be allotted to chasing and photographing the trains, photographing the terminals at Antonito and Chama, and photographing the points in between. The other two days should be dedicated to riding the eastbound train one day and the westbound train the next day. During peak months, eastbound trains are double-headed, and the 13-mile trip up the 4 per cent grades to Cumbres is a spectacle to behold. Once past Cumbres, the locomotive works just enough steam to keep things lubricated. During the westbound trips the locomotive works a nearly constant 1.4 per cent to Cumbres, where the retainers are set, and the train then drops down to Chama in billowing clouds of brake smoke.