Built in 1880, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was part of the San Juan extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroads, with tracks running from Denver through the ore-rich Rocky Mountains to Silverton, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its path was carved through steep passes and deep gorges and was an engineering feat for the time. In the 1890s, the decline of silver mining ended the railroad's vital role and it was later abandoned in 1969, however the most scenic part of its route, its equipment, and its buildings were saved. Today, its a New Mexico & Colorado owned and operated tourist railroad. The railroad yard in the small picturesque town of Chama, New Mexico is open to visitors. One may walk around the area, which is filled with piles of coal and
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