Chama in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Chama Railyard
Southern Gateway to Denver and the Mines
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
1. The Chama Railyard Marker
Built When Silver Was King
This portion of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge railway, known as the San Juan Extension, was built to serve the rich mining areas of western Colorado. In late 1880, the D&RG reached Chama from Denver, CO, continuing from here to Durango, CO and finally Silverton, CO in 1882. It operated as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad until the late 1960s when traffic dwindled to a trickle.
Buildings in the Yard
To your left you can see the water tank (1897), the coal tipple (1924), and the sand house and bin (1924). Straight ahead stand the remaining two stalls of the brick roundhouse, the machine shop, the boiler room and the oil house (1899). To your right sits the passenger depot (1899).
The 64-mile Museum
To save it from the scrap yards the states of Colorado and New Mexico purchased the stretch between Antonito, Colorado and Chama in 1970 and renamed it the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. As the longest and highest narrow gauge steam railroad in the United States, the National Park Service designated it a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
Erected by Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Coal Tipple (within shouting distance of this marker); Chama (within shouting distance of this marker); Denver & Rio Grande Railroad San Juan Extension (within shouting distance of this marker); 1881 Log Bunkhouse (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Spanish Trail (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Chama (approx. 3.1 miles away); Cumbres Pass (approx. 7.7 miles away in Colorado); Nurturing Forest (approx. 8.2 miles away in Colorado). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chama.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Denver & Rio Grande Railroad San Juan Extension
Also see . . . Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad: The Chama Yard (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Chama yard is where the railroad stores most of its freight cars and both rotary snowplows, Rotary(Submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)OY and Rotary OM. On the east side is part of the original roundhouse from the D&RGW. A fire burned most of the roundhouse years ago; what remains is used as storage for parts. On the far side of the old roundhouse section are the shops where the engines are serviced and prepared for the next day. The shops have two stalls and can hold two engines inside simultaneously. On the west side of the yard is the original depot from the late 1800s. At the south end of the yard, over 100 freight cars are visible. The yard is open and can be toured by anyone. About 40 of the cars in the yard are operational.
2. Marker detail: The railyard in 1905, before the coal tipple was built
3. Marker detail: The railyard in 1939
4. Marker detail: The railyard in 1915, coal tipple in background
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
5. The Chama Railyard Marker
Looking east from Terrace Avenue across the railyard.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
6. Denver & Rio Grande Water Tank, Chama Railyard
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
7. Denver & Rio Grande Box Car, Chama Railyard
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
8. Brick Engine House & scrapped locomotive, Chama Railyard
Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
