ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—A badly burned trestle along the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad route should be replaced in time for the May opening of the seasonal railway.
The historic railroad is expected to open along its entire 64 miles of track between Antonito, Colo., and Chama, N.M. on May 28, railroad spokesman Nick Quintana said.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation drew up plans for the reconstruction and a contract with the winning bidder was signed last week, department spokeswoman Megan Arredondo told the Albuquerque Journal. The low bidder was Reiman Corp. SW, a Wyoming-based contractor whose slogan is “Bridging the Rockies.”
Replacing the trestle’s steel girders and wooden deck can be done in 20 to 28 days, Quintana said.
The Lobato Trestle, about four miles from Chama, dates back to 1883 and is believed to be the oldest railroad bridge still in service in New Mexico. It was rendered impassable after it caught fire in June. The cause remains unknown.
The cost of repair was estimated at $1.9 million, but the bridge was insured for only $360,000.
Then-Gov. Bill Richardson announced last year he would provide $1.1 million from New Mexico’s $6 million share of federal “transportation enhancement” funding toward repairing the trestle. He called the Cumbres & Toltec “an essential part of our history and the regional economy.”
Numerous business owners in Chama reported lagging sales after the train had to shorten its route to avoid the trestle. Ridership decreased by 28 percent after the fire.
The remaining $800,000 needed for repairs has come from donations and from reallocating railroad operating funds, Quintana said.
New Mexico and Colorado share ownership of and funding for the train. The Cumbres & Toltec has been running on a seasonal basis for more than 40 years.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal,
