At the Gathering of Victorian Locomotives on the Cumbres and Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad in 2022, the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec demonstrated their restored Denver and Rio Grande Western pile driver.
The Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec are a large group of Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge enthusiasts who volunteer their time and money to travel from all over to restore and maintain original railroad equipment on the historic Cumbres and Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Colorado and New Mexico.
In 1968 the rail line was abandoned by the Denver and Rio Grande, and some was taken over by the states of Colorado and New Mexico to use as a scenic railroad. And later a group was formed to work with the Scenic Railroad to restore the huge collection of rail cars and equipment left by the Rio Grande.
The Friends have restored a large collection of maintenance of way equipment as well as other equipment. One of the fascinating pieces of equipment they have restored to operating condition is this pile driver. We attended a demonstration a few years ago at the top of Cumbres Pass, but today as part of the gathering they are also demonstrating it here at Antonito Colorado.
