Jul 12, 2007 4:15 pm US/Mountain
New Train Offers Railroad Ride Over La Veta Pass
by Doug Whitehead
ALAMOSA, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Train aficionados have a new railroad route to explore. It's the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad and it runs between Alamosa and La Veta.
It's fitting to have a train running out of Alamosa once again.
"Aamosa was a hub for the San Luis Valley and for southern Colorado," said Dan Shank, a conductor with the railroad. "There were tracks going in four directions. It's been over half a century since a passenger train ran."
It was 1953 when the passenger trains stopped running and that means the line has been very busy since it reopened.
"The fanatics, the train buffs, the railroad aficionados have been coming in droves to ride the railroad," said Shank.
The train heads due east out of Alamos through the towns of Blanca and Fort Garland. Once it leaves Fort Garland, the train begins its climb up and over La Veta Pass.
Today's route follows a path opened by railroad pioneers.
"The steam engines they ran were a whole different deal," said engineer Mark Widener. "We've got it easier than they ever had it."
The train eventually makes it way to La Veta where the passengers get 90 minutes to shop and explore the small town before climbing back on board to head back to Alamosa.
A diesel engine pulls the train during the week but a steam engine takes over the runs on the weekend.
On weekends the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad also runs south on weekends to hook-up with the Cumbres - Tolltec Gorge Narrow Gauge in Antonito
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