C&TS 50th Anniversary - Victorian Iron Horse Roundup

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad had it's 50th anniversary in 2020. The celebration kicked off with the running of their Rotary Snow Plow OY in February 2020 and a gathering of vintage, pre-1900, steam locomotives was scheduled for August 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the "Victorian Iron Horse Roundup" was moved to August 2021.

The gathering featured four steam locomotives all built before 1900.
  • 'Eureka' 4-4-0 Built in 1875 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. She is a wood burner and is privately owned based in Las Vegas, Nevada. To Her Wikipedia Page.
  • 'Glenbrook' 2-6-0 Built in 1875 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. She is a wood burner and is owned by the Nevada State Railroad Museum. To Her Wikipedia Page.
  • #168 4-6-0 T-12 Class Built in 1883 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. She is a coal burner and was donated to the City of Colorado Springs, Co. She is on long term lease to the Cumbres & Toltec and was restored to operation in 2019. To Her Wikipedia Page.
  • #425 (315) 2-8-0 C-18 Class Built in 1895 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. She is a coal burner and was donated to the City of Durango, Co. She was restored by the Durango Historical Society in 2007 and is still owned and in the care of them. She has been a long term guest the Cumbres & Toltec since 2016. The 315 was given her as built number of 425 to back date her for the event. To Her Wikipedia Page.

The gathering was also an opportunity to view the efforts by, both the Cumbres & Toltec and the all volunteer group Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec, to bring back historic passenger cars to the railroad. When the C&TS was bought from the Denver & Rio Grande Western in 1970, the D&RGW kept all of the passenger cars for use on the Silverton Branch, that later became the Durango & Silverton. Over the last few years, both the C&TS and the Friends have undertaken the restoration of several historic passenger passenger cars that were found derelict around the area. This resulted in a historic consists consisting of Railway Post Office (RPO) 65, which served as concessions and bathrooms; Coach 256; Coach 292; and Tourist Sleeper 470.

The delay of the gathering to 2021 gave the opportunity for other locomotives to join. RGS #20 was also brought down for the event and hosted a few charters in the days after the official Iron Horse Round Up. There just were not enough crews to add trips with the RGS #20 to main event.
  • #20 4-6-0 T-19 Class Built in 1899 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo). She is a coal burner that was purchased by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club in 1951 and donated to the Colorado Railroad Museum. She was restored to operation in 2020. To CRRM's Website.

The Victorian Iron Horse Round Up was August 21st - 29th with the 'Eureka and Glenbrook' operating as a pair and the #168 and #425 operating as a pair. Some days both pairs where out on the line and other days just one set. The event was unique in that two trips resulted in night runs up the 4% grade from Chama to Cumbres which proved to be fantastic to watch.

Click Here to View the Event Schedule Issued by the C&TS

I was fortunate enough to be able to make the second half of the event and was present from August 26th to the 30th. However, I did have to leave before the RGS #20 trip on August 31st.

Day 1 - Thursday, August 26th
  • Fly from Houston to Albuquerque, pick up supplies and drive to Chama.
  • Check in to The Hotel n Shops and walk through Chama's yard.
  • Drive to Antonito to view Eureka and Glenbrook arriving from their run.
  • VIHR Trains Scheduled
    • Antonito to Osier and Return with Eureka & Glenbrook. Depart 8:15am & Return 7:00pm - Historic Passenger Consists

Day 2 - Friday, August 27th
  • Chase the across the railroad trips featuring all four historic locomotives
  • Visit with the 168 at Cumbres that evening
  • VIHR Trains Scheduled
    • Antonito to Chama with Eureka & Glenbrook. Depart 7:15am & Arrive 6:15pm - Short Period Freight
    • Antonito to Chama with 168 & 425 Depart 7:15am & Arrive 6:15pm - Historic Passenger Consists

Day 3 - Saturday, August 28th
  • Ride the Cumbres Turn with Eureka and Glenbrook
  • Chase the night dinner train
  • VIHR Trains Scheduled
    • Chama to Cumbres and Return with Eureka & Glenbrook. Depart 10:10am & Arrive 3:15pm - Historic Passenger Consists
    • Chama to Cumbres and Return with 168 & 425. Depart 5:00pm & Arrive 11:00pm - Historic Passenger Consists

Day 4 - Sunday, August 29th
  • Chase the Durango & Silverton
  • Night Photos while the Over Night Train gets ready and departs
  • VIHR Trains Scheduled
    • Chama to Antonito with 168 & 425. Depart 10:00pm & Arrive 8:00am - Historic Passenger Consists

Day 5 - Monday, August 30th
  • Check out of Hotel and Drive to Antonito to see RGS 20
  • Drive to Albuquerque and Fly back to Houston

There are many excellent videos on YouTube of the event. My recommendations are below:

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