Conquering Raton Pass
AMTK #165 assaults the 3.5% grade of Raton Pass at Wootton with #3, the westbound Southwest Chief for Los Angeles.
The history of Raton Pass as a route over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains dates back to 1822, when the Santa Fe Trail opened up, linking Missouri with Santa Fe, then controlled by Mexico. The crossing has played host to Stephen Kearny's "Army of the West" during the Mexican-American War, which laid claim on New Mexico Territory from Mexico, and Union forces during the New Mexico Campaign of the Civil War.
After the Civil War, Richens L. Wootton opened a toll road over Raton Pass and made drastic improvements of the crossing. Wootton's toll road would last until the railroad arrived in the late 1870s. The AT&SF beat the Denver and Rio Grande to Raton, nearly resulting in bloodshed between the two companies. By 1880, the Santa Fe had reached Albuquerque, and by 1885, Los Angeles.
Conquering Raton Pass
AMTK #165 assaults the 3.5% grade of Raton Pass at Wootton with #3, the westbound Southwest Chief for Los Angeles.
The history of Raton Pass as a route over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains dates back to 1822, when the Santa Fe Trail opened up, linking Missouri with Santa Fe, then controlled by Mexico. The crossing has played host to Stephen Kearny's "Army of the West" during the Mexican-American War, which laid claim on New Mexico Territory from Mexico, and Union forces during the New Mexico Campaign of the Civil War.
After the Civil War, Richens L. Wootton opened a toll road over Raton Pass and made drastic improvements of the crossing. Wootton's toll road would last until the railroad arrived in the late 1870s. The AT&SF beat the Denver and Rio Grande to Raton, nearly resulting in bloodshed between the two companies. By 1880, the Santa Fe had reached Albuquerque, and by 1885, Los Angeles.