Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad To Postpone Season Opening Due To Fire Threat

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(AP)- The commission that oversees a historic steam railroad in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado has voted to delay opening its operating season by nearly three weeks because of the extreme wildfire threats in the region.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Steam Train, in Autumn and fresh snow, from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado over Cumbress Pass 10,015 Elevation, along Highway 17. (Photo by: Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates passenger trains on 64-miles of narrow-gauge tracks between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado. The two states own the railroad, which provides an economic boost to a five-county region.

(credit: Cumbres & Toltec Railroad)

The commission voted during an emergency meeting Wednesday to delay the opening from June 11 to July 1. Thousands of firefighters are currently fighting major wildfires in New Mexico, including the largest in the state's recorded history.