San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad

San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad
Diesel engine SLRG #115 in Alamosa on October 22, 2012
Diesel engine SLRG #115 in Alamosa on October 22, 2012
Reporting mark SLRG
Locale Colorado
Dates of operation 2003–Present
Predecessor Denver & Rio Grande Western, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 154 miles (248 kilometres)
Headquarters Alamosa, Colorado
Website San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad
SLRG yard in Alamosa on October 23, 2012
SLRG excursion train climbing out of La Veta, Colorado, 2008.

The San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad (reporting mark SLRG) is a class III railroad operating in Colorado.

The SLRG began operations in 2003 using 154 miles of former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad tracks on three lines radiating from Alamosa, Colorado. The SLRG operates an eclectic variety of equipment from the SD90MAC to 100-year-old steam locomotives. Steam engine #18 is sometimes found pulling freight, and also modern dome passenger cars on excursion trains.

The railroad interchanges with the San Luis Central Railroad at Sugar Junction in Monte Vista, Colorado.

The railroad was established by RailAmerica following the divestiture of the tracks by the Union Pacific (after acquisition of the D&RGW through merger with the Southern Pacific). Holding company Permian Basin Railways purchased the railroad from RailAmerica in 2005.

Heritage railroad

A subsidiary heritage railroad, the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, operates passenger excursion trains on the lines to La Veta and Antonito during the summer months only. The connection to Antonito is timed to meet a passenger train leaving and arriving Antonito on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic, affording visitors the convenience of staying in Alamosa. These lines were freight only for decades under the previous railroad owners, making it popular with railroad enthusiasts who like to log rare mileage. The route over Veta Pass goes past historic places that are inaccessible by any other way.[1]

References

  1. ↑ "Historic & Scenic Colorado Trains | Colorado.com". www.colorado.com. 4. Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. Archived from the original on 4 Oct 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.


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