Zuni Mountain Railroads Cibola National Forest, New Mexico

The steam logging railroads of the Zuni Mountains were, in retrospect, only a brief interlude in the history of the area. In many ways, they left little sign of their passing and they were little noted by many. For others, however, the logging railroads were part of pioneer life in the mountains, an integral part of a tough, rugged existence in a hard and remote land. For that reason alone, their story is worth the telling.

But the logging railroads served another purpose. one that has only rarely been mentioned in histories of the town of Albuquerque. That purpose was economic. For many years, the sawmill in northwest Albuquerque was one of the two largest employers of labor in the city, rivaling the AT&SF repair shops. Fed by the regular trains of logs from the mountains, the operation of the sawmill was a key element in Albuquerque's growth and economic vitality for many years. Only with the coming of the nuclear age was "the sawmill" eclipsed as one of the town's most important institutions.

Thus, these minor railroads made their mark on the community and on the land. Although they have passed from the scene, they have left behind some fascinating traces and memories of their time. This study has explored their history and physical plant to provide a record for future use and reference.

Figure 51. Zuni Mountain Railway Number 6 outside of Kettner with a log train. The engineer apparently halted his train for the benefit of the photographer, resulting in this interesting study of railroad logging in the Zuni Mountains. (Orsen Frederick Lewis. Keith Clawson collection)