Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Take a ride on one of the finest scenic trains in North America.
www.cumbrestoltec.com
Seriously - this place is one of my all-time favorites for many reasons. Do yourself a favor and find a way to Chama, New Mexico! I will return again and again! It is a truly a gem.
Fun fact: this video features all four of the Cumbres & Toltec's operable K-36 class steam locomotives. Grades reach up to 4% on this twisting and turning route, and the locomotives and crew work hard on every run.
Also note the volunteers of the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltect busy at work during the beginning of the video, repairing old freight equipment in the Chama Yard. To get involved with the volunteer organization, see their website here: www.cumbrestoltec.org/
(note - that's cumbrestoltec dot ORG, not dot com)
0:00 Chama, New Mexico
0:55 The Jukes Tree
1:50 Climbing the 4% Grade
3:05 Cresco Water Tower
3:49 Windy Point
6:05 Cumbres Pass
7:13 The Desert
7:55 Sublette and The Valley Below
8:42 The Toltec Gorge
9:02 Los Pinos Valley
10:30 Tanglefoot Curve
11:26 Downhill

[@thomasflanagan2928]

I’m putting this railroad on my bucket list to ride on it. Who agrees with me?

[@jrayproductions7790]

Damned fine filmwork. You tell a story, with your shots. Something some of these railfan videos are seriously lacking.

[@higherlearning2483]

Got the opportunity to ride on this train about 29 yrs ago. Seeing this brings back a lot of good memories. It's nice to see it hasn't changed

[@nathancorcoran5347]

The Cumbres & Toltec is a great railroad.

[@funniebunnie4u]

💕💕💕 ~ I rode on this train, every summer, as a kid. We would leave Texas and head to Colorado, for camping and fishing. We always stopped in Chama, for the train ride... Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@MrNJT]

If there is one scenic railroad I'm trying to get to, It's this one. I love this video! Fantastic work Joseph!

[@Hey_its_Koda]

As a kid my parents would take us camping and fishing up near chama and i loved hearing and seeing the train and the smoke. I can still remember the green forest smell from the rain storms.

[@hatter73]

Excellent!

[@markthomas6436]

Great shot of the "Jukes Tree" early on. 😊

[@TheDCGuitar13]

There’s a rhythm to that train unlike any I’ve ever heard. It feels like a song

[@Markus_Strinning]

Joseph, this is among the best train movies on youtube ... if not the best! This is captured with great knowledge for the cinematic artwork and a trained eye to capture trains and railways in its proper environments. High quality sound recording without music, speaker voice and other disturbing sound makes it perfect. Looking forward to future train stories. Keep up the good work! 👍

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you so much! Yes, more coming soon!

[@frankgutierrez6016]

My Father is from Chama. I never rode the Train. We would go watch it start ,and drive if the mountain to see it go by.

[@bigappa3614]

This is one of the best videos of the C&T I've seen.

[@fuscoproductions]

That's high praise! Thank you!

[@Aidan_Rattlehead]

Joseph Fusco dude you deserve high praise this video’s amazing

[@petermartin3818]

Absolutely stunning! Brilliant piece of film. Visited some years ago on trip from UK and bought back fond memories. We were in an open wagon behind the loco and got the full effect - and my old SLR 35mm camera still has coal dust in it! What a railroad. The scenery is beyond belief and is what the States is all about. Fantastic. We haven't really got anything like that over here. Thank you.

[@fuscoproductions]

Thanks for the kind words! Sure you do - albeit on a smaller scale and not as rugged, but still breathtaking nonetheless - the Jacobite excursion is really something else. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4fKgpmio86il5o

[@sagestats]

Best vacation trip of my life. We had everything including at thunderstorm and watching the crew clear a couple of rock slides. Well worth the trip and joining Friends to help preserve the wonderful asset.

[@TrainLordJC]

Beautifully shot video of this awesome steam train ride. Unfortunately in 1988 when I was (as a Dutch Australian) driving my 1969 VW campervan in this very area across the US I did not know about this train ride. But certainly wonderful to see it on my big 75"TV screen showing me what I missed out on.

[@jeremyasher297]

I like K-36 number 484. She was featured as a circus locomotive in Indiana Jones and the last crusade.

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

Beautiful, refreshing take.

[@fallingup90]

I finally got to ride the C&T a few weeks back on the entire route; also with #484 as our locomotive. It's my new favourite.

[@AJKPenguin]

The camera angles are stunning. The terrain and rails breathtaking. Well done! How did I not find you sooner? I thank God I hopped aboard now. Subscribed the express.

[@thomasgallagher4072]

Excellent quality recording. I never get tired of watching or riding the CATS.

[@williamhoward2731]

Thank you for sharing this awesome railroad video with me .

[@trailwayt9H337]

Very very Beautifull and very interested view.. Of loves to Steam locomotive train. Your this efforts are very appreciable. Carry-on your this beautifull job in your passion.. I am Thomaskutty from India 🇮🇳

[@stephensfarms7165]

Well done video and sound fantastic felt like I was right there with u on the train 🚂. Great photography and Audio sound. 👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸‼️

[@allanaliversidge5337]

A big thank you from down here in Aussie world. Great scenery, great locomotive and great footage . A very relaxing trip on a beautiful railroad. Much appreciated. Al

[@normanyates6735]

Set off from Antonio the heat was tremendous, up to the highest point where travelling in the open Gondolas the snow was 3 ft thick and cold as the arctic, glad of the cowboy meal in the chuckhouse at halfway, wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

[@user-gn5vg1bc4i]

ありがとうございました🙌とても良い画像でした😊羨ましい限りです❤

[@narrowtracks]

Joseph! what a wonderful video, I felt I was actually there, could almost smell the sulphur!! Well done. First class.Thank you for sharing.

[@bruceraykiewicz6274]

Absolutely beautiful video Joe. Brought back many fond memories from my trip out there a long time ago, July 1983. Thanks. Sincerely, Bruce

[@saltydog3714]

Great video! Rode behind #484 locomotive yesterday. Full filed a lifetime dream. Beautiful angles and wide panorama shots. Thank you!

[@usmale4915]

Beautiful, just absolutely breathtaking! But then I am biased, since I'm a native of COLORFUL COLORADO! Thank you for taking me along on your train trip, I enjoyed it thoroughly! EDIT: them = then

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I too, am biased toward Colorado, despite being a Pennsylvania native. It is one of my favorite places in the world!

[@Bassfanatic94]

As usual, the best! Great job Joseph.

[@MPT_Productions]

Great as always Joseph! I just went and June, and as you said, this place is definitely one of the best! Keep up the good work.

[@cellogirl11rw55]

This railroad is definitely on my bucket list!

[@dianametcalf4248]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing.

[@zebrashark23]

What a neat video. Thanks for doing this!

[@marklewis298]

Superb video of the C&TS RR.

[@trainfreak900]

Your video’s always impress me. Wonderful job and great audio!

[@PRL2204]

Your videos have such a sense of coherency with how you craft your audio samples and video together. Superb and well done, you've come such a far way to making movie grade productions 👏

[@fuscoproductions]

Jeremy, thanks for the kind words! My goal is to tell a story without words, just the rhythm of the train accompanied by the sounds of nature. :) Hope you are doing well! It's been a while.

[@ccsteamer]

Good video, great job👍 Hello from Finland 🇫🇮

[@ebtmikado]

Good stuff, Joe! Can't wait until I get back next year.

[@AJKPenguin]

Each evergreen waves at the train and it sends its friendly smoke back for a photosynthetic banquet.

[@milou7300a]

Bonsoir, très belle ride, j'aime bien les trains, ce film est très bon, merci beaucoup amicalement Jacques

[@claybair4904]

I started my work on the D& R G W in 1970 one of the loves of my life 300000 of fire& steel

[@historia2744]

so magical! :)

[@daveschwartz7817]

Excellent video!

[@ishirotanaka]

The Cumbres and Toltec Was Featured in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, with the #484 Pulling the Fictional Circus Train In the Beginning of the film. The Railroad was also used in the music video for the Song Heartbreak Station By The 1980's Rock Band Cinderella, Locomotive 487 was the Main locomotive featured in the Music video But the 484 also appeared too but was stripped down for overhaul during the time of the filming.

[@alexfarrell5533]

1:21 look out for the deer!

[@meyfett4321]

Очень красивая природа! Поездка замечательная, С Уважением!

[@malcolmnicoll1165]

Абсолютно 💯

[@barrymeyer2805]

Just beautiful

[@JonatanGronoset]

Fantastic!

[@bhabaniprasadrout]

Strongest Giant

[@TrainChamber]

Everything about this video is absolutely stunning, and has amazing coverage of the C&TS

[@stephensfarms7165]

Thanks 🙏

[@LoPhatKao]

1:22 always gotta be someone trying to beat the train

[@rileysanesh9238]

I feel sorry for 487 she was my favourite

[@fuscoproductions]

Riley Sanesh - what’s wrong with 487?

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

It’s in the shops for repairs. Don’t know why though 😕

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I hope 487 will return. It's my favorite engine too. I have rode on that engine on the train from Osier to Chama. I also rode 463, it was also pulled the train. Before 487. It pulled the train from Antonito to Osier. Then it switched trains with 487. I also saw the two other K-36 locomotives that were at Chama, 483 and 484. 483 was at the yard. And 484 was at the Roundhouse. Which originally had nine stalls. Now there two that remained today. I also filmed the train ride. It was on July 2 2016.

[@martinandersen4803]

Leason to the sound of 2.5 grade it tells a symphony

[@fuscoproductions]

It’s actually 4% up by Cumbres Pass!

[@howiesmith1504]

Fusco nails it again...as usual! Meanwhile, can someone identify the different whistles, with time stamps? Some locos' whistles change between scenes, leading me to speculate that this vid is a compilation of clips shot on different visits to C&TS in different years. For instance, No. 484's whistle at the beginning up to Cresco tank changes in the immediately following Windy Point section, and not for the better. I particularly like 484's whistle up to that point...a pleasant 5 chime that gets a nice mournful effect even with only minimal quilling. Most interesting: in the close up views of it very early in the vid, it looks like photos I've seen of Jersey Central passenger Camelback whistles...a medium length, slightly fat bell; flat top with a small nut; straight-edged chamber dividers. See Phil Hastings's photos from atop the tender of a CNJ 750-789 class 4-6-0 in "TRAINS Rides A Camelback." You can also see what looks like it in Northeast Railfan's CNJ steam photos of 150. plus series 4-6-0 Camelbacks and 200 series 2-6-2Ts. And in a news shot in TRAINS c. 1960, there's a photo of dormant 113 at the coal mine with such a whistle, IIRC. I've never heard of any recordings of those whistles surfacing, so if this is one, what a score!!! No. 113's bowl section does perhaps look a little too massive, but it could be a CNJ bell that fit an existing bowl and valve that were already on the engine. Of course, somebody who heard and remembers the whistles on CNJ could weigh in if he or she sees this.

[@dennislivesey8282]

Beautifully done as always Joseph. You must have a good camera. :-)

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you Dennis! You must also have a good camera. ;-)

[@MJMYouTuber]

we are gonna bring in new diesel locomotives to the cumbres and toltec scenic railroad coming soon! Like the General Electric diesels from White Pass and Yukon railroad!!!

[@brianfalzon6739]

That’s 497’s whistle on 484!

[@fuscoproductions]

Is that so? Didn't realize that. Looking back at old C&T videos it seems like some whistles have swapped around a bit.

[@BlueCometProductions]

How do I heart react this video?

[@aphotographerfromcaliforni2661]

4:27 484 showing 497 some respect ✊

[@imyourhuckleberry357]

Very nice, I am a Locomotive Engineer with BNSF Railway. I would love to operate a steam engine sometime.

[@stevea6936]

I took this train trip back in 2011 I've seen three videos and none of the videos were taking at the absolute best time to take this train ride which is the end of the September or the last week that they operates the first or second week of October this is when all of those green trees you see in this video the aspens turn a brilliant shade of yellow far more breathtaking to take this train trip late September to the last few weeks in October. None of the videos show you the buffet meal that you have halfway through the trip for your lunch break or dinner break it is a long day because you get a bus ride back to your original location the 60 mile train ride hour and a half to two hour bus trip plan on an 8 to 10 hour day for this adventure stay in nearby Pagosa Springs so you can enjoy the spring water bathing Springs at two of the hotels

[@fuscoproductions]

Hey Steve - yeah, I was too busy enjoying the delicious buffet to worry about filming the meal! As for the time of year, I’m sure you can find videos of the C&T in late September and/or early October. I wasn’t able to get the time off around that time of year, so green trees would have to do! I would love to get back to Colorado in the fall or even winter (Durango & Silverton runs to Cascade canyon close to hear-round.)

[@darryldomingo7890]

You got it lol

[@buhoproducciones1101]

HEllo! BEautiful old images! Is this video copyright free? Is it possible to use it to include it in a short film?

[@pierrelouisfavre2814]

about carbon and snow and steam snowplow rotary yesterday it was only a gentle joke

[@brokepro]

Wow..wonder how many people and cameras that took to complete...or maybe multiple runs...well planned

[@fuscoproductions]

One person, two cameras, five days. :-)

[@ALKT2023]

0:27

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

3:32 how did you get there? I was planning on taking a trip there and I was wondering how many different shots I can get of it.

[@fuscoproductions]

The Cresco water tank shot required a short but not inconsequential hike. There is a place to park your car up on the hillside and near the small crossing that you hear the engine blow its whistle for before it rounds the curve. If you get this shot, the next available spot you can get is most like Cumbres Pass/Windy Point. There are PLENTY of views of the railroad all along the highway. It's almost a tough decision to figure out where NOT to shoot. Truly a stellar piece of railroad.

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

ok. thanks for the info

[@PlaneBoy2520]

Welp, since the Pike’s peak cog railway shut down for good, this is now the highest railroad in Colorado!

[@frankwankerl7021]

Planeboy 2520 I didn’t hear pike’s peak closed... i’ve always wanted to go on it since I was a kid. Guess I missed out. :(

[@rboerger00]

Was shut down for major renovation, planned reopening in mid-2021. See www.cograilway.com/

[@merlin1477024]

How many days did it take you to do this excellent work?

[@fuscoproductions]

I believe it was five. Two days of riding and three of chasing. Thanks for the kind words!

[@DillonTrinhProductions]

Did you color grade this footage?

[@fuscoproductions]

A bit but nothing too crazy. I wanted to make sure it looked as close to how my mind remembered it. I mostly focused on making sure the sky was portrayed as vividly blue as it really is. Colorado skies are SO blue!

[@ajossi]

Is this really a four day trip to Colorado? Where do you sleep and eat? How does this work, seems like it'd be a nightmare.

[@fuscoproductions]

Hey! It was a lovely trip. I stayed at a hotel in Chama, NM, and there are several places to eat. No shortage of food an accommodations.

[@ajossi]

@@fuscoproductions thanks, I am looking for somewhere to go during October break with my kids. How long were you on the train?