Antonito, Colorado | Chama, New Mexico | 1-888-CUMBRES | info@cumbrestoltec.com

1-888-CUMBRES | e-mail us
TICKET OFFICES: Antonito, CO 1-719-376-5483 | Chama, NM 1-575-756-2151

Take a Ride: May 22 to October 17, 2010

Machinery

Cumbres & Toltec Train Whistles

Below are the whistles used by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. For hundreds of years, train whistles have communicated important functions among the crew. Each railroad has its unique set of whistles that its personnel need to know to work in conjunction with each other and ensure safety. Although the signals are the same for all engineers, each person has their own signature way of blowing the whistles. Click on the different whistles below to sample all the whistles used on the C&TSRR. Note: The whistles are illustrated to show • for short sounds and — for long sounds.

	—	Apply brakes
	• •	Proceed
	• • •	Backup / Stop at the next station
	• • • •	Call for signals / Second locomotive engineer assist in charging brake pipe
	— — • —	Approaching a crossing
	— — •	Approaching a meeting or waiting point
	• — •	Message to second locomotive engineer to set brakes
	— •	Obstructed view / Answer to yellow flag
	• •	General answer

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is known for its extensive collection of rolling stock which can be viewed at both our Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado rail yards. Walking tour brochures are available at our depots or you can download a walking tour map of our depots/yards on the Maps page. For a comprehensive list of the C&TSRR rolling stock, go to Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has four operating locomotives - #484, 487, 488, and 489. Locomotive #489 just joined the line in 2008 after an extensive recondition (see photos at right). Locomotive # 483 is on display at the Chama station but is not in operation. The 481, 482, and 485 are in Durango as a part of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Line.

Locomotive #489 was built for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad in August, 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive works, in Philadelphia, PA. The Rio Grande ordered ten of the new class, of which nine still survive, with 4 of then now running on the Cumbres & Toltec. Like all of her sister locomotives that run on the C&TS, 489 is a D&RGW class K-36, which designates her as a ‘Mikado” type locomotive, having a tractive effort of 36,000 pounds, and a wheel arrangement of 2-8-2, or 2 pilot wheels, 8 drivers, and 2 trailing wheels. She can pull as many as nine passenger cars from Chama to Cumbres, though the limit is usually 8. Her tender holds 5,000 gallons of water and 9.5 tons of coal. Her boiler generates steam pressure of about 195 pounds per square inch. The #489 last ran in October of 2001, when federal regulations required that her boiler be rebuilt. In the process of rebuilding, her running gear (wheels, valves, cylinders, rods and brakes) was also rebuilt.

C&T employees under the direction of Ed Beard, Shop Foreman are responsible for the reconditioning of the #489. Two years of dedication and focus make her ready to debut in August 2008 as a part of our 127th C&T season. It took much creativity and dedication to repair this 83 yr old engine. "Most people don't think about it, but parts for this engine just aren't around like they used to be 80 years ago", said Ed Beard. "We came across all sorts of surprises."

Click here to view photos of our trains in renovation and in the rail shops.

You be the judge!
The whistle being used on the 489 was donated to the C&TSRR by John Reed, the late president of the Santa Fe Railroad. He claims the Santa Fe whistles had a nicer sound than the Denver & Rio Grande Western whistles normally used on the K-36 locomotives. Come ride with us and YOU be the judge---

Testimonial: "I enjoyed being able to explore, at
will, the loco depot and yard at Chama and
to photograph the locos and rolling stock."