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The bridge at Otowi
The Chili Line is still around if you take a look. The Chili line ran from Antonito to Santa Fe. The line operated from 1880 to 1941. It was a division of the Denver and Rio Grande. Tomasita's restaurant in Santa Fe was their station. It went over the Rio Grande at Otowi crossing and on to Espanola. The old Highway bridge and parts of the old railroad bridge are still there. Next time you go to Los Alamos slow down and take a look. The locomtives switched at Embudo then charged up Barranca hill,a 4% grade, to Taos Junction. Finally it ended in Antonito Colorado. It must have taken 3 days to get to Silverton from Santa Fe by rail in 1890. A small two truck Shay operated for the Santa Barbara Tie and Pole Company across the Rio Grande from Embudo. There was no river crossing. It was shipped to Embudo hauled across the river in parts and reassembled on the other side. |
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