Cumbres in the clouds. With low clouds and fog blowing in and out of the terrain just east of the 10,000 ft. high Cumbres Pass, Train 215 chugs slowly westbound into the Cumbres Loop, more popularly known as "Tanglefoot Curve". The train is barely a half mile from Cumbres Station as the crow flies, but still has a mile and a half of track to cover, and another hundred feet of elevation to gain. Given the low-hanging clouds and rain this day, I was very lucky to be able to see this train at all. Literally 5 minutes later, the low clouds you see in the background moved back into this location and this shot would have been impossible.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.