Current DVD Titles:

D&RGW 315 - A Decade in Steam
2017 Excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec

Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 #315 returned to steam in August of 2007 after a 7-year restoration by the Durango Railroad Historical Society. Ten years later the DRHS commemorated the anniversary of that first steam-up with 3 days of special excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. "A Decade in Steam" chronicles those 3 days in late August plus a 2-day photo freight in early June, as #315 spent all of 2017 on the Cumbres & Toltec.

Prior to opening day, #315's tender was painted with the "flying" Rio Grande logo for the first time since being returned to operation and it would remain that way for the rest of the year. This program starts with scenes from a photo charter organized by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec, a week after opening day. On Saturday June 3rd #315 ran from Antonito to Cumbres Pass, performing a number of photo runbys along the way. The next day the locomotive traveled back to Antonito with more photo stops en-route.

#315 would then spend the next 2 months on display in Chama before being fired up for the 10th anniversary festivities at the end of August. You'll see all 3 days of operation, beginning on Saturday August 26th with a trip from Chama to Cumbres Pass for volunteers and supporters. #315 would again climb the 4% grade to Cumbres the next day while traveling to Antonito for a second 10th anniversary trip on Monday. We'll conclude our coverage with this public excursion, which ran from Antonito to Osier and return.

Filmed entirely in HD, this program showcases the varied scenery of the 64-mile long National Historic Landmark Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, where it's easy to turn the clock back to an earlier time. This program has minimal narration (with the option to turn it on or off) and no distracting music. It's available on standard definition widescreen DVD, High Definition Blu-ray disc, and for rental or purchase through Vimeo's On Demand streaming service.

Running Time: 1 hour 52 minutes

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$20.00

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Winter on the Narrow Gauge

Winter is usually a quiet time on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, as regular passenger service is only offered from late-May through the mid-October. Heavy snow regularly accumulates on 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass during the winter months, making year round operation impractical. Nonetheless trains once operated over Cumbres year-round, as the Denver & Rio Grande Western had to battle Mother Nature throughout the winter in order to keep the tracks open.

In March of 2015 a rare 3-day winter photo charter took place on the east side of the railroad, as Historic Transport Preservation attempted to recreate winter operations on the Rio Grande. After a couple of major storms, K-36 locomotive #489 was dispatched to clear the line from Antonito to Sublette - a distance of over 25 miles. Equipped with a pilot-mounted plow, you'll see #489 pulling Flanger OJ and a short work train during 2 days of snow-fighting operations.

This program also takes a brief look at the other preserved portion of the Rio Grande San Juan Extension - the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Filmed at the same time as the flanger special, you'll see the Cascade Canyon Winter Train - a shorter excursion the railroad offers during the winter months. Both K-28 #473 and K-36 #482 are seen as they climb the grade from Durango to Rockwood. In addition, you'll also see #482 operating on the D&S after a snowstorm in December of 2014.

Filmed entirely in HD, this program features spectacular steam action amidst incomparable Rocky Mountain scenery. With fresh snow and clear blue skies, you'll see the Cumbres & Toltec like you've never seen it before. If you're a fan of the Rio Grande, you won't want to miss this unique look at "Winter on the Narrow Gauge." This program has minimal narration (with the option to turn it on or off) and no distracting music. It's available on standard definition widescreen DVD, High Definition Blu-ray disc, and for rental or purchase through Vimeo's On Demand streaming service.

Running Time: 1 hour 22 minutes

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$20.00

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Tripleheader to Cumbres Pass
Chama Steam 2014

With tourist season on the Cumbres and Toltec officially over, Rio Grande steam-powered freight trains returned to Cumbres Pass for one spectacular day in late October 2014. The Chama Steam "Fall Classic" was held on Saturday October 25th and the highlight was a rare tripleheader on the 4% grade from Chama, NM to Cumbres Pass, with all 3 D&RGW 2-8-2 locomotives re-lettered with the 1930's era Royal Gorge / Moffat Tunnel livery.

This program showcases the entire "Fall Classic" photo charter, focusing on the tripleheader with K-27 locomotive #463, and K-36 locomotives #487 and #489. With a different whistle on each locomotive, you'll hear a chorus of superheated steam echoing through the high country as the tripleheader climbs towards 10,015 foot Cumbres Pass.

Upon reaching Cumbres the tripleheader was broken up, as #463 continued light to Osier, #489 turned on the wye and returned to Chama, and #487 took the entire freight train downgrade to Osier. After turning on the Osier loop, the freight was re-assembled in the afternoon with #463 on the point and #487 as a mid-train helper for the westbound climb to Cumbres Pass. We'll cover all the action on the way back to Cumbres, and then follow #487 as she returns to Chama.

In addition to many trackside runbys, you'll climb inside the cab of #463 as the tripleheader gets underway in Chama. There's also a brief segment on the night photo shoot featuring #489 posed in front of the Chama depot. We cover all the iconic spots on west side of the railroad, plus a few new locations that have never been seen before.

Filmed entirely in HD, this program features great steam action amidst spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery. With clear blue skies, great stack talk, and a chorus of whistles - plus the sweeping vistas the Cumbres and Toltec is known for - this program is sure to please any fan of steam and the Colorado narrow gauge. This program has minimal narration (with the option to turn it on or off) and no distracting music. It's available on standard definition widescreen DVD, High Definition Blu-ray disc, and for rental or purchase through Vimeo's On Demand streaming service.

Running Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

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Work Extra 315

In the spring of 2014 Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 #315 operated a rare 3-day photo charter on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. This excursion featured #315 pulling a Rio Grande work train, with Pile Driver OB being steamed up and operated along the railroad's right-of-way. In addition to the work train, #315 also pulled a mixed freight during the 2nd day of the charter.

Starting in Antonito, CO we'll cover the east side of railroad, travelling as far west as Los Pinos and spending 2 nights in the high country at Osier. In addition to plenty of runbys at iconic locations, you'll see inside the pile driver as the Friends of the C&TS crew perform a demonstration with OB at the Big Horn wye. We'll also cover some entirely new locations on this historic and scenic narrow gauge line.

In addition to the 3-day event, this program covers a pre-charter doubleheader to move freight cars to Antonito before the trip. You'll see K-27 2-8-2 #463 and K-36 2-8-2 #488 on the 4% grade from Chama to Cumbres Pass, before #463 continues solo to Antonito. This video also chronicles the opening day passenger train from Antonito to Cumbres, a rare doubleheader with #315 leading #463. After this trip, #315 would be trucked back to her home in Silverton, ending a historic 10-month stay on the Cumbres and Toltec.

Filmed entirely in HD, this program features great steam action amidst the spectacular scenery of the San Juan Mountains. This program has minimal narration (with the option to turn it on or off) and no distracting music. It's available on standard definition widescreen DVD, High Definition Blu-ray disc, and for rental or purchase through Vimeo's On Demand streaming service.

Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes

Rent or Buy on Vimeo (HD)

Standard Definition DVD

$20.00

High Definition Blu-ray

$25.00