From the RailAmerica website: RailAmerica Acquires 50th Railroad with Line Purchase from Union Pacific Railroad BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2003--RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE:RRA) and the Union Pacific Railroad ("UNP"), a subsidiary of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP), today announced that UNP has sold a branch line in Colorado to RailAmerica's newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary, San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad Company ("SLRG"). The SLRG will commence rail service on June 29, 2003. This acquisition brings the total number of railroads owned and operated by RailAmerica to 50. The SLRG, headquartered in Alamosa, Colorado, operates two segments of rail line in Colorado totaling 154 miles from Walsenburg to Derrick, and from Alamosa to Antonito. RailAmerica expects to grow existing traffic levels as well as realize synergies and cost savings by operating the SLRG within RailAmerica's existing Heartland region, which includes the 692-mile Kyle Railroad that operates in Colorado and Kansas. The SLRG expects to generate approximately $3.5 million in operating revenue on this line in its first full year of operation. Major shippers on the line include Harborlite, Dicaperl and Coors Brewing. Principal commodities include minerals, potatoes and malt barley. SLRG interchanges with UNP near Walsenburg and the San Luis Central Railroad at Monte Vista. The history of the rail line dates back to 1878 when track was laid across the Rocky Mountains at La Veta Pass, which reaches an elevation of 9,234 feet, making it one of the highest known operating freight railroads in the United States. "We are pleased to count the historic SLRG as our 50th railroad in our growing portfolio of short line and regional railroads," said Gary O. Marino, RailAmerica's Chairman, President & CEO. "Our core business continues to be the safe and efficient operation of railroads in North America, and the SLRG acquisition is consistent with our strategic approach to manage geographic clusters of operations that achieve significant operational synergies and cost savings and grow the existing customer base. In addition, branch line transactions with Class I carriers, including the SLRG and the Mobile, Alabama line acquisition that we completed last month with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, allow RailAmerica to preserve rail service for customers in rural locations while at the same time provide carload growth for our Class I partners." "Union Pacific welcomes the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad as one of our short line partners," said Dick Davidson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Union Pacific Corporation. "We already have a very successful working relationship with RailAmerica and its growing family of short lines. We are looking forward to working with RailAmerica's newest railroad to help us serve Southwestern Colorado." RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE:RRA) is the world's largest short line and regional railroad operator with 50 railroads operating approximately 13,400 miles in the United States, Canada, Australia, Chile and Argentina. In Australia and Argentina, an additional 4,300 miles are operated under track access arrangements. The Company is a member of the Russell 2000(R) Index. Its website may be found at http://www.railamerica.com. IIRC, there is/was track existing to Creede, but no trains ran for quite some time. Here is the route map for that line. [ 12. July 2003, 18:37: Message edited by: friscobob ]
I had no idea that the San Luis Central Railroad still existed! Now I'm curious. I wonder if there's a web page with some info or history? Boxcab E50
