Cumbres & Toltec 489: Los Pinos to Chama!

On July 3, 2026, we were in Chama, New Mexico for the annual Fireworks Train. Celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad painted their new diesel locomotive in a red, white, and blue livery to commemorate the event. Originally built in 1969 for the White Pass & Yukon Route, Locomotive 114 is a model DL-535E diesel engine built by the Montreal Locomotive Works. In 2006, the locomotive was damaged in a wreck. Because it is a rare and valuable piece of historic equipment, crews completely rebuilt the engine. It returned to active service in 2009. In 2024, the Cumbres & Toltec acquired the locomotive to support its fleet of authentic steam engines. While steam engines pull the passenger trains, Locomotive 114 provides reliable horsepower for track maintenance crews and backup passenger trips. 114 is based out of Antonito, but we were fortunate to see it at Cumbres Pass and set up a nice shot with 489 passing it while it was parked on the siding. The sheep grazing north of Chama, New Mexico, primarily belong to Antonio and Molly Manzanares, operators of Shepherd's Lamb and the Tierra Wools weaving cooperative. They run the only herded band of sheep outside of the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. Their operation has been running for over 30 years. Their flock of over 1,000 sheep primarily consists of Navajo-Churro and Rambouillet breeds. The sheep are unique because they still graze on wild land. They move with the seasons, spending their summers in the high mountain country north of Chama and wintering in the lower valleys of Tierra Amarilla