The Flickr Denverriogrande Image Generatr

Denver & Rio Grande 10-wheeler #168 charges up the section of track known as "The Whiplash" (MP 296.8), heading west on the San Juan Extension toward Durango, CO via Cumbres Pass. The Whiplash is a series of reverse curves which allow the train to gain roughly 200 ft. of elevation over a very short distance. As seen in this frame, the train is about to enter the last of the reverse curves, which will take it toward Big Horn Station, about 3 miles ahead. The mountain visible on the right side of the image is Big Horn Peak (elevation 9,442 ft.), which lies just to the south of the little yard and wye at Big Horn Station.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured Locomotive #168, one of only 2 survivors of the D&RG T-12 Class, and the only survivor that is operable today.

After leaving Alamosa before sunrise, a Denver & Rio Grande passenger train charges west on the roughly 200-mile journey to Durango, CO, via the San Juan Extension over Cumbres Pass. These passengers are facing a day-long trip, but in the late 1800s, a train like this was the "airline" of the day.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured the 1883-vintage Baldwin T-12, #168 on this day, along with a vintage, late 1800s D&RG passenger consist. The train is pictured here just after sunrise, crossing Ferguson's at Milepost 285.87.

Denver & Rio Grande 10-wheeler #168 hauls her vintage 1800s passenger train upgrade toward the nearby Lava Tank on a stretch of track known as "Gravity Hill", just west of Milepost 289. The term "gravity hill" is actually a generic one, referring to a place where the surrounding terrain makes a particular grade that is uphill, look just the opposite. That's definitely the case here. Although it looks as if the 168 is rolling downhill, she's actually working pretty hard on the climb to Lava.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. On this day, the featured power was the 1883-vintage Baldwin T-12 #168, one of just two survivors of that class. The 168 is one of the oldest active steam locomotives in the US, and sees only occasional service on special trains, typically between Antonito and Osier, CO.

With Mother Nature providing a stunning, pre-sunrise display of color overhead, a Denver & Rio Grande passenger extra charges west over Ferguson's Trestle at MP 285.87, destined for Durango, Colorado, via the Cumbres Pass route.

This 2021 re-creation of a late 19th Century passenger train features a full train-set that was recently restored by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. On the point is the 1883-vintage D&RG T-12 Locomotive #168, a 4-6-0 which was retired in 1938, and spent nearly 80 years as an outdoor display in Colorado Springs. The consist behind her includes RPO Car #65 as well as Coaches 256 and 292, all original D&RG equipment, all three of which date to the late 1800s, and all of which were restored from heavily deteriorated hulks.

This image is one of a series that I made during this 2021 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, organized by Lerro Photography. These images feature what has to be one of the most spectacular sunrises I have ever seen in a railroad setting or anywhere.

The very last rays of earth's nearest star filter through the drivers of Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27, #463, as she makes her way east, around Lava Loop at Milepost 291.3, after a brief water stop. Just moments before official sunset here, the contrasts are striking, with the foreground below the fill in deep, dark shadow, while areas to the left, on the other side of the fill, and the far side of the train itself are still brightly lit.

This image was captured at the end of Day 2 of a 7-day photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which was organized by Lerro Photography.

Since the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad first arrived here in 1880, the lonely outpost at Osier, CO has been a vital waystation on the journey from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO. Located at Milepost 318.4, Osier has served the railroad in a number of key roles. First and foremost, it was the home of a section crew that cared for the line. It was also a place to water and fuel locomotives and rotary plows. There was a depot here and stock pens where ranchers would bring cattle for shipment. At one time, there was even a turntable. It was just a little taste of civilization in the middle of nowhere.

Today, more than 140 years later, Osier continues to be a vital waystation on the line, serving the present-day Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. While the section house, stock pens and coaling station are still here and visible in this image, these pieces of infrastructure are preserved as living museum pieces and are no longer in use. The water tank however, is still quite active. And what you don't see here is the modern dining hall, which is just out of view to the left. Installed in 1989, this facility provides a welcome lunch stop to tourists, riding the trains in either direction.

This image, depicting mainly the historic features of Osier, was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The section house and water tank are visible on the left, while the preserved stock pens are on the right. Pictured front and center is the 1903-vintage K-27 Locomotive #463, which on this day was hauling an authentic Denver & Rio Grande Western Freight, for the event, which was organized by Lerro Photography.

Although fall color season has passed its peak, there are still some golden aspens left in the hills above the Los Pinos River as Denver & Rio Grande Western Locomotive #168 brings her passenger train into the little yard at Sublette, NM (MP 306.06) for a water stop just ahead.

The 168 is the sole remaining operable example of the 1883-vintage, T-12 Class of 10-wheelers. She worked the D&RG and later, the D&RGW narrow gauge network for 55 years, before retiring and becoming a static display in 1938. After nearly 80 years in that role, she was revived and restored to operation in 2019 for use on the present-day Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The 3-car passenger consist behind her is all original, 19th century D&RG equipment, which was all restored in the same time-frame, specifically to run with this locomotive. Because of her age and limited tractive effort, the 168 and her "historic consist" see limited use, mostly during special events, such as the October 2024 photo shoot during which this image was captured.

Just moments before official sunset, Denver & Rio Grande 10-wheeler #168 takes her fast passenger train east over the last mile of the long journey from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO.

The 168 is an 1883-vintage D&RG Class T-12 and is one of just two survivors from a class that once numbered 12 locomotives. She's one of the oldest locomotives in the US that operates with any degree of regularity, running mostly on special trains and at special events. The train is pictured just outside the Antonito yard, near Milepost 281.4 during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Denver & Rio Grande 10-wheeler #168 charges up the serpentine section of track known as "The Whiplash", at Milepost 296.8, taking a passenger train westbound from Alamosa, CO to Durango on the San Juan Extension. This 1883-vintage T-12 Class locomotive had 46" drivers and was built for fast passenger service. She served the D&RG and later the D&RGW for 55 years before she was retired in 1938. She was revived in 2021 after literally spending almost 80 years as a static display in Colorado Springs. So although she's 141 years old in 2024, her actual time in service is closer to 60 years. Today, because of her age and limited pulling power, she's used only on special trains and charters, such as this October 2024 photo shoot organized by Lerro Photography.

A Denver & Rio Grande Western freight rounds the curve just north of Big Horn Peak at Milepost 299.7, as it works east toward Antonito, CO and eventually, Alamosa. The road engine this afternoon is the 1903-vintage, K-27 Mikado #463, with an ancient T-12 10-wheeler #167 helping on the point.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, organized by Lerro Photography. This particular day the featured power was a re-creation of a 1930-era lash-up including the only operable survivor of the T-12 Class, the #168, lettered and configured as her long-lost sister #167, and the venerable K-27 "Mudhen" #463. Originally, the 1883-era, T-12 engines had box-type headlights, but by 1930, most of the survivors would have been configured with a Pyle National headlamp, like the one see in this image.

The first few minutes of daylight in the Colorado desert west of Antonito cast a warm, golden light on a Denver & Rio Grande Western freight, as it rounds the sharp curve at Ferguson's Trestle, at Milepost 285.87, heading westbound toward Chama, NM via the Cumbres Pass route. The power this day is an odd combination of an ancient, 1883-vintage T-12 #168, and a K-27 "Mudhen" #463. Although dedicated passenger locomotives such as the 167 were not typically used on freights, there is photographic evidence from circa 1930, which prove it did happen. At that point in time, the remaining T-12s were in the last years of their service lives and all would be retired later that decade.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured the sole surviving operable example of the T-12 class, #168, re-lettered as her long-lost sister #167. The T-12 ran double headed with the 1903-vintage K-27 #463.

Here's a late afternoon view of a Denver & Rio Grande Western freight as it negotiates the tight curve on the fill below Big Horn Peak, at Milepost 299.7. In this case, the power is an odd combination of D&RGW T-12 #167, and K-27 "Mudhen" #463. It's odd because the ancient T-12, 10-wheelers were designed for and most often used on fast passenger trains, not freights. In this case, the train pictured is a re-creation of a 1930 photo which pretty much depicts a lash-up just like this. Of course, the lead locomotive is actually the sole, surviving, operable example of the T-12, #168, disguised as her long-lost sister, the 167, lettered and configured with a headlight appropriate to the 1930 timeframe.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which was organized by Lerro Photography. Although this location is often photographed on charters, most participants choose to shoot from elevated positions on the northern slope of Big Horn Peak, looking down on the train. This view, from down in the gully below the fill, is seen far less often, and provides a very different view in perhaps even better light.

A Denver & Rio Grande freight rumbles slowly across the 408 ft. long, deck-plate girder bridge spanning Cascade Creek at Milepost 319.95, as heads toward the yards at Chama, NM, via Cumbres Pass. The power today consists of a T-12, 10-wheeler #167, and a K-27 Mikado #463. It's an odd combination for sure, but photographic evidence circa 1930 suggests that some of the ancient T-12s, which were intended for passenger service, did occasionally work freights, late in their careers.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured the sole operable survivor of the T-12 class, #168, lettered as her long-lost sister #167. This was done to match a 1930 photo showing a lash-up just like this one, with 167 leading. For this re-creation, both engines were lettered in the livery that the D&RGW was using in that timeframe. The conversion of the 168 to the 167 was literally done overnight by crews from the Cumbres & Toltec and Lerro Photography, which organized this event.

The light over the Northern New Mexico desert is fading fast as a Denver & Rio Grande Western freight makes its way east around the Lava Loop at Milepost 291.4, heading for Alamosa, CO, a couple of hours away.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, organized by Lerro Photography, which on this day, featured a doubleheader, consisting of the 1883-vintage, T-12 #168 and the 1903-vintage, K-27 Mikado #463.

A crystal-clear October morning finds a D&RGW double-header taking a mixed freight westbound across the vast desert landscape just south of the Colorado/New Mexico Border, on the 64-mile run from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM. In this frame, we see T-12 Locomotive #167 (actually #168 lettered as 167), running in tandem with K-27 Mikado #463, passing Milepost 292.5, just west of Lava Tank, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which was organized by Lerro Photography. On this particular day, the power consisted of the 1883-vintage T-12 Locomotive #168, and the 1903-vintage K-27 Locomotive #463. The 168 was re-lettered as long-lost sister engine #167 and configured as she was in the 1930 timeframe to match a historic photo which depicted the ancient T-12 double heading with a K-27.

A pair of ancient D&RGW, narrow gauge steam locomotives rumble across the little wooden trestle at Milepost 285.87 at sunrise, as they take a mixed freight westbound on the San Juan extension, heading for the yards at Chama, NM via Cumbres Pass.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured a rather unique double-header on this particular day. Depicted here are the 1883-vintage T-12, 10-wheeler #168 (lettered as #167), running in tandem with K-27 Mikado #463. This combination is unusual, as the T-12s were designed for fast passenger service and would seldom be found on freights. By about 1930 however, the T-12s were getting pretty long in the tooth, and most of the D&RGW's premier passenger trains were by then being pulled by larger locomotives. Photographic evidence does show that in that timeframe, some of the remaining T-12s were occasionally used as helpers on freights. Of course, history also shows that just half a dozen years later, the T-12s were all retired.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Locomotives 167 and 463 take a long, narrow-gauge freight east out of Osier, CO, bound for the yards in Alamosa, several hours travel away. The train is pictured following the contours of the hills to the east of the Los Pinos River, near Milepost 317.2,

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured the 1883-vintage, T-12, 10-wheeler #168, lettered as her long-lost sister #167, running in combination with a 1903-vintage K-27 Mikado #463. Although the K-27 would be right at home with a long freight such as this, the pairing of a "Mudhen" with an ancient T-12, which was designed for passenger service, would seem to be something of an anomaly, yet photographic evidence exists to prove that it did happen. When this photo shoot was being planned, a 1930 photo surfaced that did indeed show T-12 #167 paired with a K-27 on a freight. With the original 167 having been scrapped nearly 90 years prior, charter organizer Pete Lerro hatched a plan to re-letter the only operable survivor of the T-12 Class, the #168, in order to re-create the train in the 1930 image. Literally overnight, the tender of the 168 was re-lettered in D&RGW livery with movie paint, a period-correct, Pyle-National headlamp was installed, and a new number plate was hand-carved in wood and painted. The result was a very sharp-looking replica depicting a T-12 in its final decade of service.

The fireman on D&RG Locomotive #168 is caught swinging the coal scoop as his locomotive rumbles westbound across the wooden trestle at Milepost 285.87, just outside Antonito, Colorado on a brisk October morning. This little wooden bridge is often called "Hangman's Trestle" or "Ferguson's Trestle" as it is supposedly the site of a summary hanging, during the early days of the railroad. Those allegedly responsible for the act are said to have commandeered a locomotive in the Antonito yard and run it out to the site, which was apparently used in lieu of proper gallows. With no official record of the event, it can only be assumed that if it really happened, it was more likely a case of vigilante justice than any kind of legal execution.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which on this day, featured the 1883 Baldwin T-12, #168, hauling a string of restored passenger cars that date to the late 19th century.

A clear October morning finds the Denver & Rio Grande's 1883-vintage Baldwin T-12, #168 taking a fast passenger train west on the lonely journey from Antonito, CO, to Chama, NM, a distance of 64 miles. The train is pictured here, near Milepost 289.1, just a couple of miles from her next water stop at Lava Tank.

This image was captured during an October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which featured Locomotive #168, which was restored to operation in 2021, after 80 years as an outdoor, static display. The location pictured here, just inside the northern border of New Mexico, has become a popular stop for photo excursions, because it has great morning light and provides a variety of elevated camera locations for photographers. This place has apparently acquired the name "Gravity Hill", but as far as I can determine, that name does not have its origins with the D&RG. Generically, a "Gravity Hill" is apparently a name given to a downward slope, which appears to be an upward one, due to the nature of the surrounding terrain. While the slope here is definitely upward from left to right, I can certainly see how the opposite perception is possible.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Locomotives 167 and 463 complete their late afternoon water stops at Lava Tank (MP 291.55), as they take a mixed freight consist east toward Alamosa, Colorado.
This image was captured during a 5-day, October 2024 photo shoot on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, organized by Lerro Photography. The locomotives pictured here are T-12 Class 10-wheeler #168 (lettered as 167) and K-27 Class Mikado #463 double-heading with 11 freight cars and a caboose. As improbable as this scene might seem, it's actually a re-creation of a historic photo, which depicted the ancient T-12 #167 running with the K-27 during the D&RGW era. With the 167 no longer in existence, the folks from Pete Lerro's team and the C&TS literally had to re-letter the extant sister engine #168 and change out the headlight overnight, not to mention hand-crafting a new number plate from scratch. There were definitely some late-night heroics involved. Suffice it to say that Pete and his colleagues got little, if any sleep....and it was a darn good thing that the Walmart in Alamosa was open late.