Sublette, New Mexico
History
The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad established Sublette in 1880 as a construction camp on its narrow gauge San Juan Branch. Once the line was completed, the camp served as a section crew station town, a base for the crew that maintained the track for the railroad. Structures included a section house for the foreman and his family, two bunkhouses for the section crew, a coal bunker, a speeder shed and a water tower.
The D&RGW operated trains over the branch until 1967, then in 1970 the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad took over the abandoned track between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, to operate tourist trains in the summer months. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec maintain the remaining structures in the interests of historic preservation. The water tower was dismantled in 1937 and replaced with an underground cistern; C&TSRR trains stop here to take water.
Nearby locations of interest
- Osier, Colorado 37°0′44″N 106°20′9″W / 37.01222°N 106.33583°W
- Toltec Gorge, New Mexico 36°59′3.9″N 106°18′22.2″W / 36.984417°N 106.306167°W
References
- Pearce, T.M. (editor) with Cassidy, Ina Sizer and Pearce, Helen S. (1965) "Sublette (Rio Arriba)" New Mexico Place Names; A Geographical Dictionary University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico, page 160
External links
- 1963 map of the area
- Photo of Sublette station
- Preservation work by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec
- Official Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Web Site
36°59′20″N 106°13′48″W / 36.98889°N 106.23000°W