It’s about a three-hour drive to get to The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, but once you’re there, you’re taken back in time more than a century.

Originally built in 1880 as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension that served the silver mining district of the San Juan Mountains, the rail width was three feet.

The silver industry died before the turn of the century when the Sherman Act was repealed and because the narrow-gauge didn’t conform to standard gauge — and with no money available to convert — it fell into disuse. Although a post WWII natural gas boom led to a short time of prosperity for the line, that dwindled to a trickle in the 1960s. The Interstate Commerce Com-mission granted the Rio Grande Railroad’s request to abandon its standard-gauge track system and ended the use of steam locomotives.

After that, a lot of the track was dismantled and recycled, but it wasn’t long before some diehard railroad fans worked to preserve the most scenic portion of the line.

In 1970, Colorado and New Mexico jointly bought the track and structures alongside the rails between Antonito, Colo., and Chama, N.M., plus nine steam locomotives, more than 130 rolling stock cars, and the rail yard at Chama and the maintenance facility there, for a mere $547,120.

In 1971, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad began its tourist operations — and the rest is history.

The season runs through Oct. 19, with daily departures out of Antonito and Chama starting at 10 a.m. Reservations may be made and schedules, fares and more found, at the railroad’s Web page (www.cumbrestoltec.com) or call 1-888-CUMBRES.

To get there, head north on I-25 to the St. Francis Drive exit (282) and follow that through Santa Fe, taking US 84 right into Chama.