Southwest Chief Re-Route?

[Paul CHI]

Oh, well... just hate to see the route be completely abandoned. It took a lot of work and money to build. But once it gets to a certain point, I can understand that it would be almost like starting over.

 

[TVRM610]

Surely Iowa Pacific is looking at this line?

 

[zephyr17]

Why would they? There are no traffic generators on it at all. The lines they own up in Colorado generate freight traffic.

 

[TVRM610]

Why would they? There are no traffic generators on it at all. The lines they own up in Colorado generate freight traffic.

There is no possible freight customers on the entire line?

Where does the line begin and end? (The line that is currently in jeapordy).

 

[zephyr17]

The portion of line that is in danger of complete abandonment/embargo is between Lamy and La Junta. From La Junta on east (actually Las Animas Jct, line between La Junta and Las Animas Jct. is farily heavily used), BNSF plans on retaining line, but does not need it maintained to standards reasonable for passenger trains, pretty much just as a long industrial lead.

There really isn't much to generate traffic on the line. Livestock is generally not shipped by rail any more. The main traffic generator on the line was the York Canyon coal mine. Since that closed, there isn't anything.

The lines Iowa Pacific bought in Colorado had active shippers when they took them over.

 

[TVRM610]

Does the Iowa Pacific line(aka Rio Grande Scenic) connect with the Raton Pass line at all?

Well I answered my own question... the answer is no but it's close.

http://www.iowapacific.com/pdf/SanLuisAndRioGrandRailway2008Ver3.pdf

I'd bet they have their eyes on it... doesn't mean they will buy it but stranger things have happened!

 

[sechs]

For reference:

http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/div_co.pdf

 

[printman2000]

Some significant news here in Amarillo...

Amarillo Considers Purchasing Santa Fe Depot

http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2013-09-20/city-considers-buying-santa-fe-depot

“I think it’s a real positive move on the city’s part. That’s a historic property and could be really important to the development of downtown. And it’s important to the people of Amarillo as a historic building,” said Commissioner Ellen Robertson Green.

The proposed purchase includes terms allowing the current owner, Amarillo real estate investor and auction operator Bob Goree, to lease it.

“The lease is for three years, but there’s an immediate take-back clause. If we find a good use for it — it’s no secret Amtrak is looking at Amarillo — if something wonderful like that happened we could take it back,” Green said.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Some significant news here in Amarillo...

Amarillo Considers Purchasing Santa Fe Depot

http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2013-09-20/city-considers-buying-santa-fe-depot

“I think it’s a real positive move on the city’s part. That’s a historic property and could be really important to the development of downtown. And it’s important to the people of Amarillo as a historic building,” said Commissioner Ellen Robertson Green.

The proposed purchase includes terms allowing the current owner, Amarillo real estate investor and auction operator Bob Goree, to lease it.

“The lease is for three years, but there’s an immediate take-back clause. If we find a good use for it — it’s no secret Amtrak is looking at Amarillo — if something wonderful like that happened we could take it back,” Green said.

Two thoughts come to mind:

1) The town commissioners were obviously Scouts and took the Scout motto "Be Prepared" to heart. <_<

2) How many letters did you write, and how many meetings did you attend, before they finally listened to you? :giggle:

I still think the Raton Pass routing could be be saved, but, once being a Scout myself, I am riding the SWC this fall!

 

[SarahZ]

That's a beautiful building. I like the big horse.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con it will make a Real Depot available, not just an Amshak! What kind of shape are the Tracks,Switches and Platforms in around the Station???

 

[printman2000]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con it will make a Real Depot available, not just an Amshak! What kind of shape are the Tracks,Switches and Platforms in around the Station???

As you can see here...

https://maps.google.com/?ll=35.208467,-101.826255&spn=0.000772,0.001321&t=h&z=20

You can see what is left of the platforms has some significant distance between them and the rails. Not to mention the station is next to curved track. I am sure it is workable, but will require work (and money) to get it working again.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

 

[me_little_me]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

At the Big Texan? In the early '70s, we used to see the signs on the freeway for the place. Never stopped.

 

[Notelvis]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

Interesting wager - does it have a statute of limitations?

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

At the Big Texan? In the early '70s, we used to see the signs on the freeway for the place. Never stopped.

Is it still in business? :unsure: And what kind of joint is it?

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

Interesting wager - does it have a statute of limitations?

Say... 2017... to pull a number out of my Stetson..

 

[printman2000]

It is still here. I have been in Amarillo for 8 years and still not gone. It is a steak house. They have the deal where you eat some huge steak in an hour and you get it free. They may have been one of the first places to do that kind of challenge.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

It is still here. I have been in Amarillo for 8 years and still not gone. It is a steak house. They have the deal where you eat some huge steak in an hour and you get it free. They may have been one of the first places to do that kind of challenge.

STILL not gone? Boy that sounds promising.... not! :huh: I prefer Tex-Mex myself, but its your call!

 

[The Davy Crockett]

How about Mexico City Cafe in La Junta? Yelp

 

[gmushial]

It is still here. I have been in Amarillo for 8 years and still not gone. It is a steak house. They have the deal where you eat some huge steak in an hour and you get it free. They may have been one of the first places to do that kind of challenge.

Sounds like the old Trail Dust challenge (just west of Denver) - a 56 oz steak - you eat it all, and it's free.... watched a couple people manage the feat years ago. Personally would rather settle for a barely cooked ribeye ;-)

 

[printman2000]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

You forgot the third option, discontinuance. I guess, in that case, nobody wins.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Craig: Sounds like a Sweet Deal for Amarillo (ya'll have NIMBYs too! :giggle: ) and When (not If) Amtrak moves to the Trans-Con...

How about: The SWC does get rerouted: I'll buy you both lunch in Amarillo? If not: you both buy me lunch in La Junta?

:lol: :unsure: :unsure:

You forgot the third option, discontinuance. I guess, in that case, nobody wins.

Yeah, I agree. We all would loose in option three. Then we all stay home and drown our sorrows in the beverage of our choice? :help:

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

It's very hard to get the SWC axed, but you gotta admit, it's doing pretty poorly these days and a discontinuance isn't totally out the window.

 

[greatcats]

In what respects do you feel the SWC is doing poorly? The likely re-route has been widely discussed, but the business is good ( even the Flagstaff agents said so ) and this train is usually reliable.