The rhythmic sound of wheels hitting rail is loud but strangely soothing. We’re aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and the route has taken us across open prairie and up into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. We’re nearing Cumbres Pass, the highest mountain pass reached by rail in the United States, and the historic steam engine must work hard.
My parents, who have joined my husband and me on the journey, want to see the view from the pass, so we make our way to the outdoor observation car. Walking through a moving train is never easy, but we take our time.
