In a previous show I shared that the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C & TS) is taking responsibility for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad steam locomotive #168 that has been on display in Antlers Park since the late 1930s. As a reminder, the C & TS is a heritage scenic railroad that's 200+ miles and about 4 hours from Colorado Springs and came into being in 1970 when the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased 64 miles of the Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge railroad between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. On March 10, 2015, the City Council of Colorado Springs approved a lease agreement between the city and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad for the restoration and operation of Steam Locomotive #168. With trains on the brain I sought out former art teacher, local historian, author, and 16-year veteran of the Pike Peak cog railway Edward M. “Mel” McFarland for a chat. Mel’s current interest is the former Colorado Midland train route that served the Cripple Creek & Victor gold mines.