ANTONITO -- The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad conducted a holiday fundraising effort during the weekends of December 9 and 10, and December 16 and 17, in Antonito and Chama, New Mexico, to help Toys for Tots and area Food Banks provide for families in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Santa Trains were offered for the cost of an unwrapped toy or a packaged or canned food item and a suggested $5 per adult ticket.

The ridership in Antonito was 1,168 and the ridership in Chama was 2,301 for a total of 3,469 passengers – nearly 200 more riders than in 2016. There was a total of 5,925 pounds of food and an estimated 1,263 toys collected, along with $1,200 in cash donations.  Both weekends were attended by eager kids, excited parents and proud grandparents.  Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus greeted the crowds and heard many sincere requests for toys from the happy children.

Built in 1880, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the longest and highest steam railroad in America and including the Santa Train passengers, carried 41,504 riders in 2017. The nation’s most authentic steam railroad travels 64 miles across rugged mountain scenery between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico, crossing the state border 11 times.  The railroad will begin regularly scheduled service with trains departing daily from both stations on May 26, 2018.