Chama in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Coal Tipple
The Last of its Kind
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
1. Coal Tipple Marker
The Survivor
1924 saw the construction of three nearly identical coal tipples along the Denver & Rio Grande rail lines. Only this one survives, due to efforts by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad to shore up the foundation and replace rotting timbers. They salvaged the motor and pulley system in 2014.
How it Works
Coal tipples move coal from railcars to the car on the train just behind the locomotive, called a tender. A diesel motor in the tipple's base hoists coal-filled buckets up fifty feet by cable, where the buckets give their load up to an inclined ramp. The coal slides down the ramp into the waiting tender.
A Piece of History
These days, it's easier and cheaper to use a front-loader on a ramp to refill locomotive tenders. Today, the railroad uses the once more fully functioning tipple for demonstrations.
Erected by Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 36° 54.208′ N, 106° 34.725′ W. Marker is in Chama, New Mexico, in Rio Arriba County. It is on Terrace Avenue (New Mexico Route 17) north of 5th Street, on the right
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: The Chama Railyard (within shouting distance of this marker); Chama (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Denver & Rio Grande Railroad San Juan Extension (about 300 feet away); 1881 Log Bunkhouse (about 500 feet away); Old Spanish Trail (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Chama (approx. 3.1 miles away); Cumbres Pass (approx. 7.6 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 . . .
1. Tipple (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Basic coal tipples simply load coal into railroad cars. Many tipples had simple screening equipment to sort coal pieces by size before loading.(Submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Chama, NM: Preserved Wood Coal, Water Towers and 1899 Depot.
Excerpt:(Submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The Coal Tipple in Chama, New Mexico, was built in 1924, for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, to replace the deteriorating coaling trestle. It was included in the purchase of the 64-miles of the railroad that is now the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
2. Marker detail: Coal Tipple
While the coal tipple is no longer used to load coal into locomotive tenders, it is occasionally used for demonstrations. Over the years, the Friends have stabilized the building, worked on the engine, the bucket system, and more.
Most people only notice the front side of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroads Chama, New Mexico, coal tipple as they ride by on the train. If you look from the north side, you can see the coal ramp leading up to the coal towers below ground coal bin. Drop Bottom Gondolas were pushed up the ramp where they dumped coal that fell through grates into the holding bin. From this underground bin, coal could be picked up by the coal buckets and lifted up to the holding bin where it could fill locomotive tenders.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
3. Coal Tipple Marker
Looking northeast from Terrace Avenue across the railyard. The coal tipple is beyond the buildings in the background.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2025
4. Coal Tipple
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 158 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
