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I loved the open gondola car on the Cumbres & Toltec, which is great for photography. When I did the trip last year, the gondola was on the rear going eastbound. On the return trip, it was right behind the locomotive, and falling ash was a constant annoyance. I may do the trip again this year. Here's my question: Is the gondola car always on the rear going from Chama to Antonito ?
bnash Member # 2425
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Russ,
I believe the answer to your question is yes. I spent 5 days in Chama this summer working as a volunteer and as far as I could tell, they never turned the cars, only the locomotives. In fact the cars don't ever make the full trip from Chama to Antonito. When the trains meet at Osier, the locomotives are moved to the other consist and take it back where it originated, either Chama or Antonito. If you are ticketed through, after lunch at Osier you get on a different consist than you arrived on for the rest of the trip. And BTW, looking at my photos, it was on the rear of the consist from Antonito to Osier so it was on the front going back to Antonito.
Bill Nash
RussM Member # 3627
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Bill - Thanks for the answer. I will be doing the trip in Sept. Also doing a cab ride on the Royal Gorge Route. Russ
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by RussM: Bill - Thanks for the answer. I will be doing the trip in Sept. Also doing a cab ride on the Royal Gorge Route. Russ
I just got home from a trip to Colorado where I rode the Cumbres and Toltec just last Thursday. Their operation in regards to the open gondola was just as Bill describes it. My thinking is that the cinders are more an issue when the train is working upgrade.....and there is more upgrade before the lunch stop for both trains.
I'd say get your gondola time in before lunch and play it by ear afterwards.
I'd also say that the best three railfan days I have spent in my entire life are the three days I've now spent riding the Cumbres & Toltec. For my interests it is the best train ride in th world.
The cab ride at Royal Gorge is awesome too. Make sure you ask if you can blow the horn when you go under the suspenspion bridge!
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