Re: The San Luis Valley. NNG

The perlite plant in Antonito has long been the tonnage source for the railroad out of the San Luis Valley. Without it, making a go of the RR is not possible. In the past, over 25 loads a day came out of the perlite plant and Colorado Lava generated another 5-6 loads of scoria rock.

Tonnage on the line west of Alamosa has been sporadic. The SLC will send out cars of grain during harvest season, and reefers of potatoes come out from fall through the spring. Nothing has come from west of Monte Vista since the lumber mill in South Fork closed in the 1990's. There are a couple of Ag products outfits that ship perhaps 10 cars a year. Coors was a steady customer that shipped 10-15 cars a week

Around 2008 the perlite plant closed because of a strike. Harborlite (the plant owner) shifted production to another facility. Eventually the strike was settled, but the business never recovered to the pre-strike levels. Without the perlite traffic, the place is in a world of hurt.

All the steam locomotives are still in Alamosa. There are no other steam operations with IPH, so unless someone buys one of them, they're staying put.

1744 had its boiler shipped to Alabama for major work. The work was not finished before the contractor retired and closed shop. The boiler was moved to the Texas State RR for storage until IPH was removed from the TSR property. The boiler was then moved back to Alamosa. 1744's running gear, tender and parts never left Alamosa. 18 is in the shop, its tender outside.