Holiday bells will jingle alongside the familiar railroad whistle and steam hiss of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad! Once again, the highest, longest and most authentic narrow gauge steam railroad in North America will offer a festive holiday experience sure to delight all ages and provide a magical holiday memory. The Cumbres & Toltec Holiday Express Trains depart from Chama, NM on Dec. 7 and 8, and Antonito, Colo. on Dec. 14 and 15.
Fares are $30 for adults, $20 for children 2-12, and under 2 are free. The ride will last 45 minutes to one hour and departure times are 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. In previous years, this popular holiday experience sold out well in advance so people are encouraged to book ahead.
“In the spirit of the season, we encourage everyone to bring an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item to spread holiday cheer in the Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado communities we call home,” said Ed Beaudette, the general manager of the Cumbres & Toltec.
Once on board, what a holiday experience! There will be bells clanging, shrilling whistles and billowing clouds of steam in the wintry air. Locomotives will huff and puff their way through forests of snowy evergreens and across high mountain plains to create a holiday dream that your family will never forget. Hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes will be served in the stations, while Santa, Mrs. Claus, Cinder Bear and Santa’s elves will visit with kids.
Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made at www.cumbrestoltec.com.
Holiday Express Trains will run the first two weekends in December. Chama departures are scheduled for December 7 and 8 and coincide with the Village of Chama’s “Christmas in the Mountains” festival, featuring holiday lights, a Christmas Stroll around the historic railroading town and visits with Santa Claus. The Antonito departures are scheduled for December 14 and 15.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) is a non-profit operation, owned by the states of New Mexico and Colorado, to preserve the historic experience of riding a narrow gauge steam train. At one point, there were more than 2,000 miles of narrow gauge tracks burrowing through tunnels, crossing raging rivers over trestles and cutting through the forests of the Rocky Mountains to connect cities and towns in the two states to rich mining camps.