I had been thinking about it for three weeks, so last Sunday, I got up early and hit the road.

To ride the train.

The Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad is famous for its fantastic fall train rides between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. The narrow gauge line, established in the 1880’s to help get miners and supplies into the mountains along Southern Colorado, now ferries sightseers into the hills and winds astride mountainsides to deliver some amazing scenery- especially when it is the beginning of fall and the aspens and oak have donned their fancy attire.

Part of my pull to take the ride was because of memories doing a few years back with my brother and his kids- before they moved out of state. Memories from that trip had been rolling though my mind recently.

The other part of the pull was simply thinking about the beauty of New Mexico in the fall, and hearing that the trees were entering prime time in northern New Mexico from a friend.

The drive up was beautiful through Espanola and on into the Abiquiu area in the fresh daylight and under clear skies. The air was lightly touched by cool when I arrived in Chama, but the day turned out to be perfect for standing in a viewing car and soaking in the scenery.

Engine 315 and its tail of work cars left Chama a half hour before us, but the engine had some problems near Windy Mountain. Stalled, our train waited until 315 regained power and pushed up and around the nearby mountain ahead of us.

I took the full trip and spent most of all it standing out in that open car, free to move back and forth to take photos. The train was under sunlight and no winds most of the day, and the temperature was just comfortable. I enjoyed a meatloaf and mashed potato lunch in the big cafeteria at Osier, and after the splendor of the foliage settled down near the end of the ride, I enjoyed seeing a harem of elk cross the plain.

A bald eagle sails over the railroad track.

A harem of elk ignore the rolling metal cars behind them.

The excitement didn’t end once we were off the train. On our slow and cautious bus ride back to Chama from Antonito near dusk, no less than 16 deer were seen on or by or crossing the road. The driver clearly knew they were out and about for some pavement time.

I am glad he tipped me off, because leaving a sleepy Chama after nightfall, I drove defensively on the dark road toward Espanola- and was able to slow and stop in plenty of time for 5 more deer to cross the road.

The train trip was everything I hope it to be, with the trees glowing at their peak level- at their peak time, the train docent noted.

The trip was one of good timing, indeed.