Monday, September 7th

We got to the train station & left at 10, Daddy Don is his same self & tried his best to talk the Engineer into letting him ride with him but no luck. :). A beautiful ride up a 2% grade for 50 miles. We can't describe the wonderful time we had, rolling hills, valleys, curves & switchbacks up canyons, across streams to Osier, 9,637 ft. then we had a really good buffet lunch, choice of turkey & all that goes with it, meatloaf, hot dogs, salad & dessert bar & drinks. We met the train there from Chama. Some rode the train up from Chama then rode it back down. We crossed the continental divide at Cumbres, 10,015 ft. & descended down a 4%

grade for most of the way down to Chama. The first 50 miles it was a 2% & last 10 miles it was 4%.  We crossed over the CO-NM line 11 times. We followed the Rio de Los Pinos River to almost Cumbres & then followed the Wolf Creek down to Chuma. We met some really nice people. In Chama we got on a very nice bus to bring us back to Antonito. We were pulled by engine #484. It was indeed a most wonderful experience!!  We saw 2 cute Cubs climbing a tree & a bear running away from us as fast as he could. A lot of cattle, some on the tracks that we had to nearly stop for.