Fires Cripple Two of Colorado's Scenic Railroads

Fires in two separate locations are causing major disruptions during the summer. The Royal Gorge Route has canceled trains due to a wildfire in Parkdale. More significant is the disruption caused by a fire at Lobato for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic.

A fire at the western end of the Royal Gorge near Canon City has curtailed the operations of the Royal Gorge Route. Trains for today, June 24th and tomorrow, June 25th are canceled because the fire is too close to the railroad's right of way for the trains to make a safe journey. The fire was possibly set accidentally by the train itself. More information will follow soon.


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Meanwhile, further south, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has been crippled by a fire of undetermined origin at the Lobato Trestle. According to an announcement on the Friends of the C&TS site,

The Lobato Trestle, second highest bridge on the 64-mile Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, was damaged by a fire of undetermined origin Wednesday night, rendering it at least temporarily impassable by trains.

Lobato Trestle is located on the New Mexico or western end of the C&TS line.


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Colorado Railroads will follow up on both of these stories as information develops.