Near Trinidad in Las Animas County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Transportation on the Santa Fe Trail
Photographed by James Hulse, July 10, 2021
1. Transportation on the Santa Fe Trail Marker
Raton Pass was a major obstacle to travelers on the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail and the difficulties of its travel led to the creation of Trinidad as a resting, refreshing and resupply point.
Stage coaches varied from simple wagons to the elaborate Concord Coach. Depending on the condition of a road, the stage might be pulled by two to six horses or mules. Stage drivers changed teams about 10 or 12 times in 24 hours taking only an average four minutes. The stage normally traveled 8-10 miles an hour.
On February 14, 1880, a Santa Fe newspaper in celebration of the arrival of the railroad, spread an epitaph in bold type across its front page:
"The Old Santa Fe Trail Passes Into Oblivion."
The railroad was faster and more efficient in transporting
this page online
El Moro is rich in history of Native Americans, Spanish Explorers and Mexican farmers, trappers, traders and finally settlers from diverse countries of the world. They came to mine cut stone, coke coal or supply services centered around the local coal mining camps.
Coal mining started as early as 1861 in this area. The climate was favorable, the water supply ample, and timber was available to shore up the underground mines. Coal from this region is some of the cleanest burning coal on earth. El Moro mine cornered the market and for a decade remained the state's largest producer of both coal and coke. Extracting the under-ground coal became more costly than open-pit extraction. As a result, all of the coal mines in the Trinidad fields are now closed.
Trinidad Street Railway, established in 1882, began operating with mulecars, replaced by horsecars in 1891. The horsecar system was replaced in 1904 by the Electric Railway & Gas Company and opened with five miles of
Photographed by James Hulse, July 10, 2021
2. The Transportation on the Santa Fe Trail Marker in the picnic area
Today visitors can take free trolley rides from the Colorado Welcome Center in Trinidad.
By 1922 the automobile had greatly reduced the number of people riding streetcars and the local lines were closed.
Captions
Upper Left: Santa Fe Trail wagon train
Middle Left: Concord stagecoach
Lower Left: Stagecoach to Trinidad and Stonewall
Middle Upper: Consolidation locomotive "Uncle Dick"
Middle Lower: El Moro coke ovens
Upper Right: Trinidad trolley
Middle Right: Trinidad, Sopris and Starkville trolley
Lower Right: Old auto on the Santa Fe Trail
Erected by Santa Fe Trail Scenic & Historic Byway - The Mountain Branch.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.
Location. 37° 13.517′ N, 104° 29.649′ W. Marker is near Trinidad, Colorado, in Las Animas County.
Photographed by James Hulse, July 10, 2021
3. The Transportation on the Santa Fe Trail Marker is the first marker from the left of the two markers
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comanchería, the Dust Bowl, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Ludlow Massacre / Cultural Frontier / Hispano Colorado / El Moro Country (within shouting distance of this marker); Santa Fe Trail (approx. 3.4 miles away); Christopher Carson (approx. 3.4 miles away); The Methodist Church of Trinidad (approx. 3.7 miles away); Zion's German Lutheran Church (approx. 3.7 miles away); Trinidad's First City Building (approx. 3.8 miles away); Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Barela Building (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trinidad.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 637 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
