Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, San Juan Extension, Wolf Creek Trestle, Crossing Wolf Creek at Milepost 339.78, Chama, Rio Arriba County, NM

Significance: The San Juan Extension (SJE) of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG), now known as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS), is a relatively unchanged survivor of the first years of railroad building in New Mexico. The Wolf Creek Trestle (Bridge 339.78) is also a survivor of the early years of Rocky Mountain railroad engineering. Further, its design by C. Shaler Smith is associated with the mainstream of American bridge building in the post-Civil War era. Construction of the bridge is unchanged from the early as-designed drawings. The D&RG SJE is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as significant in the areas of transportation and engineering, with the period of significance determined to be 1880-1967. This railroad is described as a major technological contributor to the western expansion and economic development of the United States. The Wolf Creek Trestle is listed as one of the structures contributing to the historic status of the railroad.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1296
Survey number: HAER NM-16
Building/structure dates: 2010 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1883 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1913 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1914 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1934 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1936 Subsequent Work