Life after abandonment
Following abandonment of DRGW freight operations from Alamosa to Durango and the Farmington branch, two segments of the narrow gauge remained.
The Rio Grande continued to run the Silverton branch as an isolated steam powered summer time only tourist railroad. Patronage was growing and DRGW added more passenger cars and began a redevelopment program for the area around the Durango station. But running a tourist railroad, even a profitable one, was not part of the Rio Grande's core business, so subsequently they sold the Silverton branch to an independent operator. Today it is the very successful Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The line over Cumbres Pass was the focus of a successful grass roots preservation effort. The line between Antonito and Chama as well as a large collection of historic rolling stock was purchased by the states of Colorado and New Mexico as a tourist railroad and museum. A bi-state commission was formed to govern the line, and actual operation was contracted out.
The initial operator in 1971 of what became known as the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was Scenic Railways. The purchase included no passenger cars, so the first "coaches" were rather crudely converted boxcars. Ridership grew very slowly and Scenic eventually failed financially. But Scenic was successful in getting the C&TS started as a tourist railway.
Scenic was replaced by Kyle Railways, a small conglomerate of mostly freight hauling shortlines. Willis Kyle, the principal owner, was a successful California businessman who liked steam engines. By the early 1990's the states had invested enough money for the C&TS to offer real passenger coaches instead of the converted boxcars. Patronage continued to grow, and Kyle ran an efficient operation. The Kyle years are generally considered the most successful period in the C&TS's post DRGW history, with up to six engines in service, a reliable operation, and consistently growing patronage. The C&TS was self-supporting on a operating basis, and needed only capital funding for major improvements from the states or private donors.
Also during this period a volunteer group, the Friends of the C&TS, evolved to care for the historic buildings and equipment not needed by the tourist railway operation.
Willis Kyle died in 1991, and Kyle Railways eventually passed to new owners that had no interest in steam engines. So Kyle Railways terminated their contract, and in 1997 the Commission had to find a new operator. This lead to a period of revolving door managements, and a downward spiral for the C&TS. Equipment was not maintained properly, after peaking in 1999 patronage dropped substantially, the operating deficit grew, and money from the states was needed to keep the railroad going.
The C&TS survives. Hopefully the worst times are past, and a successful new management structure will evolve. One success story over the past few years is the track structure is finally getting major renovation. Kyle had identified the need for major investment in the track, but only after Kyle's departure was Federal and state funding found to actually begin the work.
Two interesting pieces of equipment have recently been restored to serviceable condition after being stuffed and mounted in parks for years, the DRGW 315 and RGS Goose 5. The 315 is one of the few survivors from among the smaller classes of DRGW ng. power. In the early 1950's it ran out its last miles as the Durango switcher, and then rusted away in a local park for many years. The Durango Railroad Historical Society took on the difficult task of restoring it to operable condition, and last year it steamed for the first time in 50 some years. The Goose was restored by the Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores, Inc. Dolores is a small town west of Durango that at one time was served by the Rio Grande Southern and its Gallooping Geese, and for years No. 5 was a static display. Both have run on the D&S and the C&TS. The 315 provides an interesting contrast to the relatively big and modern K-class engines.
This gallery is very much a work in progress. Images will be posted in chronological order with new ones added periodically.
