The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which runs from Chama, New Mexico, to Antonito, Colorado, is one of the few remaining narrow gauge railroads in the United States. Built in the early 1880s by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, the line transported silver ore and passengers to and from remote Rocky Mountain mining towns. Its tracks were constructed at the very narrow gauge of 3 feet, which reduced costs and made it easier to lay the railroad tracks across the steep, rocky terrain. By 1900, the Denver & Rio Grande had converted many of their main line tracks to a standard gauge of 4-feet-8 ½ inches, but many of the lesser-used mineral routes, including the Cumbres and Toltec, remained narrow gauge. With the decline of silver mining and travelers' increasing preference for automobiles, the line was no longer profitable by the mid-20th century. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico purchased the line. It continues to operate as a tourist attraction, highlighting the golden age of American railroads.

Podcast Written and Narrated by Erika Wilhite, Public History Student at the University of West Florida.