Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Battling Through The Golden Aspens | Mountain Steam Train [4K]

Nestled in the authentic American West lies a land where the mountains reach towards the sky, a land completely frozen in time. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the best example of mid-twentieth century America, preserving the last scenes of genuine mountain railroading. This narrow gauge gem holds the distinction of being both a nationally registered historic site, but also the highest narrow gauge railroad in the United States. This grueling railroad reaches grades as steep as 4%, with historic coal and oil fired steam locomotives making the arduous uphill journey through untouched western scenery. In late September 2025, we had the opportunity to document the railroads historic K-36 steam locomotives in their centennial year, just as the autumn leaves began to turn golden.

The K-36 class of steam locomotives were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925, holding the distinction of one of the best preserved classes of steam locomotives. These locomotives were delivered to the D&RGW classified as "K" for 2-8-2 Mikado and "36" for 36,200lbs of tractive effort. Quickly, these workhorses spread all across the 3rd and 4th Division, with their unique outside frame design seen all across the rugged mountain terrain. While these engines were designed to be freight haulers, 6 of the 10 K-36s were equipped with steam heat and signal lines, hauling passenger trains like the famed San Juan, which ran from Alamosa to Durango. These locomotives endured the dieselisation era, hauling freight trains all the way to 1968. Locomotives 480, 481, 482, & 486 have made a home the D&SNG, while 483, 484, 487, 488, & 489 are at the C&TS. Locomotive 485 is the sole locomotive of this class that did not make it into the preservation era, which was scrapped in 1955 due to an accident two years prior. These locomotives celebrated their 100th birthday this year, with centennial celebrations taking place in the summer of 2025.

Support the C&TSRR Here: https://cumbrestoltec.com

Locations:
0:00 San Juan & Rio Grande National Forests
0:21 Morning Preparations in Chama, NM
2:08 Juke's Tree
2:55 First Grade Crossing (CO Hwy 17)
3:31 CO Hwy 17
3:54 Milepost 342.18
4:24 Begin 4% Grade at Milepost 342
4:54 Milepost 341
5:20 Exiting "The Narrows"
7:19 Lobato
8:10 Lobo Lodge
8:58 Dalton
9:33 Hurley's Curve
10:25 Second Grade Crossing (CO Hwy 17)
11:28 Stateline Curve
12:19 New Mexico-Colorado Border
12:54 Cresco
13:39 Hamilton's Point (Valley View)
14:30 Coxo
15:12 Windy Point
16:42 Milepost 331
17:25 Reaching the Summit - Cumbres Pass
18:16 Cumbres Pass, CO
19:04 Milepost 329
19:31 Apache Crossing
19:58 Los Piños Lake
20:42 Los Piños Trestle
21:05 Los Piños
22:44 Los Piños Tank
23:27 Milepost 326
24:09 Milepost 328
24:36 Milepost 329
25:26 Tanglefoot Curve
26:32 Cumbres Pass, CO
28:05 Kodak Rock
29:09 Perry's Pond
29:29 Cresco
29:45 The "S" Curves
30:38 Second Grade Crossing (CO Hwy 17)
30:52 Rancho Del Paso Oro
31:28 Lobato Trestle
32:07 Chama, NM
33:13 Wyeing the train at the Stock Pens
34:03 Nighttime in Chama, NM

Music from the Epidemic Sound Library
Filmed on September 24th, 25th, & 26th, 2025.
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