Victorian Night Train on the C&TS

During August of 2021 the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad hosted the Victorian Iron Horse Roundup, a once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the C&TS. Five historic steam locomotives built before 1900 were featured, pulling special excursions across the railroad. On the last day of the event, the 29th of August, a very rare overnight train operated from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado, as a grand finale. The excursion was hauled by recently restored D&RG Ten-Wheeler 4-6-0 #168, and D&RG Consolidation 2-8-0 #425 (more commonly known to railfans as D&RGW C-18 #315). All equipment used on this train was backdated to represent the Denver and Rio Grande as it was during the end of the Victorian era. Below is a list of the rolling stock used:
D&RG Class-47 4-6-0 #168
D&RG Class-72 2-8-0 #425
D&RG RPO car #65
D&RG Coach 256
D&RG Coach 292
D&RG Tourist Sleeper #470
The 425 was road engine from Chama to Cumbres, Colorado. 168 acted as helper. At the top of the pass, the two engines switched places, and 168 hauled the train the remaining 50 miles to Antonito by 7 a.m. the next morning. 425 ran light back to Chama, arriving at approximately 3 a.m.
The sights, sounds and smells were unforgettable that night; the sparks and smoke flying from the locomotives, awesome stack talk as they labor up the 4% grades, and especially the beautifully haunting whistle of locomotive 168 echoing through the darkness will make your hair stand up on the back of your neck! Enjoy!