Description

Chama Engineering Map (CHM01)

The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad began construction of the San Juan extension in February 1880, a route that went from Alamosa, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado by way of Cumbres Pass, Chama and Durango. Railroad service to Chama began in February, 1881 and facilities for servicing railroad equipment, a depot, warehouses and stockyards were set up along the route surveyed for the railroad.

The brief period of construction from 1880-1881 was one of the most exciting episodes in the area’s history and Chama almost immediately became a boom town. The possibilities for development attracted both industrious and disreputable characters from all around. Individuals interested in developing the coal mines in Monero rapidly appeared on the scene as did representatives of the lumber industry, laborers, engineers and contractors to build the railroad and buildings required to accommodate the mass of people attracted to the booming railroad town of Chama.

For many years Chama remained a rowdy and exciting place to be. It was a very prosperous town with plenty of work and a great deal of entertainment in the forms of saloons, gambling houses, moonshine stills, etc. Groceries were expensive and outlaws, such as the Clay Allison gang, regularly held up the railroad pay car construction camps with large payrolls, saloons and gambling houses.

In present times Chama is a tourist destination and the western terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, narrow gauge heritage railway which carries visitors to and from Osier, Colorado, and Antonito, Colorado, during the summer months.

The CHM01 map itself was drawn in 1940 and revised by the D&RGW in 1951, it shows the entire rail yard in the heart of Chama, it also showing the depot, engine service tracks, roundhouse and car repair facilities

Map Print & Order Information

The map will be printed on architectural grade paper with a wide-bed laser printer. Physical size of this map is 44″ x 24″.  Keep in mind the details on the map when printed will likely be proportionally smaller and may be more difficult to read.

All map orders are printed on-demand once your order has been received by the Society and processed by our large format printing partner. For that reason please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery.