The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is hitting pause on its 2026 season, pushing back opening day because of severe drought and heightened wildfire danger across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The historic narrow-gauge line, which covers roughly 64 miles between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, had planned to welcome riders over Memorial Day weekend on May 23. Instead, the railroad’s commission voted to delay the season until Tuesday, June 9, with a formal safety review set for June 2. The move temporarily sidelines one of the region’s marquee summer draws that local towns lean on for tourist traffic and cash.
In a statement released via Cumbres & Toltec, the Commission said the delay was “made with deep respect for the land, forests, and communities where we operate” and framed the decision as a proactive safety measure. Colorado Commissioner Mark Graybill and CEO Eric Mason thanked ticket holders for their patience and noted the railroad’s longstanding safety record. Railroad officials added that guests with affected bookings would hear directly from the reservations office about how to handle refunds or rebooking.
According to Cumbres & Toltec, passengers whose trips fall during the shutdown window are eligible for a full refund or can shift their ride to a later date. Coverage by CBS News noted that the nearby Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad started its season on time in early May and that the Durango line agreed to pay $20 million to settle a federal lawsuit tied to the 2018 416 Fire. Railroad leaders have stressed that the Cumbres & Toltec slowdown is a precautionary step, not a reaction to any specific recent incident, according to CBS News.
Why crews are cautious
Rail managers are looking at a mix of ugly ingredients: dry fuels along the route, a weak spring snowpack, and gusty winds that can turn a stray ember into a serious problem far more easily than in a wetter year. Federal drought tracking shows wide stretches of New Mexico and southern Colorado locked in drought conditions this spring, while local forest agencies have been layering on stage restrictions and burn bans, according to Drought.gov and Fire Adapted NM.
Legal and industry background
The commission’s caution comes with some history in the rearview mirror. Multiple investigations concluded that an ember from a coal-fired locomotive helped spark the 416 Fire in 2018, and the Durango & Silverton line ultimately agreed to pay $20 million to settle federal claims, according to The Durango Herald. Since then, heritage railroads across the Southwest have been tightening up operations, from adding diesel locomotives into the mix to ramping up industrial fire restrictions on high-risk days, a trend covered by CBS News.
What riders should know
For now, anyone holding tickets should keep an eye on their inbox and the railroad’s official channels. The line says affected customers have been contacted directly and will be offered either refunds or a chance to rebook, per the update from Cumbres & Toltec. The commission has said trains will not roll again until the June 2 safety review signals that conditions are safe to operate, and businesses that depend on those summer riders will be watching that date closely.
