Cumbres & Toltec’s 2021 was good by most measures, and 2022 is shaping up nicely

CHAMA, N.M. — After weathering the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns of 2020 and 2021, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ridership rebounded to within 11% of 2019 ridership, railroad President Scott Gibbs tells Trains News Wire.

With most restrictions lifted by July 1, 2021, the railroad carried 37,735 riders for the year versus 42,451 in 2019, Gibbs said. Ticket revenue was 104% of the 2019 figure. Operating costs came in about 92% of 2019.

“We are extremely pleased with our 2021 season performance,” Gibbs says. “We wondered what the lingering impacts of the pandemic would be and were concerned about the delays in opening our full schedule. But railfans returned in force to support the C&TS and enjoy a steam railroad ride along the Colorado-New Mexico border. Despite the challenges, it was an outstanding season.”

On June 11, 2022, the C&TS launches a new season with streamlined ticketing options and new departures to celebrate its rich heritage, the love of railroading and beauty of Colorado and New Mexico. Building on the success of last year, the C&TS released tickets earlier than ever and some departures are already selling out.

The delayed opening — the railroad normally starts running trains over 10,000-foot Cumbres Pass on Memorial Day weekend when snows are melted and the tracks are clear — gives the railroad more time to make repairs to the Osier lunch hall, damaged by fire last September. Work continued through Dec. 22 when snow made it impractical to reach the remote location. The hall should be open when trains resume operation.

New for 2022 are historic consist dinner and brunch trains and a Chama-Cumbres turn every Friday in July to give families with younger children an option for a shorter trip, Gibbs says.  “We also scheduled doubleheaders out of Chama every Saturday in July and from Sept. 24 through Oct. 22. We will add additional double header trips as needed throughout the season.”

Capping off the year will be the Toltec Rattler Redux Photo Freight on Oct. 24 and 25, recreating the first ever photo charter on the C&TS 50 years ago. The Chama-Big Horn turn will feature a K-36 locomotive, freight cars, rider cars, and caboose, with maximum capacity set at 50.