Chile Line Water Tower at Tres Piedras, NM

On the way home from Antonito on June 28, 2020, we drove down Highway 285 which is close to the old right of way for the Chile Line. One of the only relics left of this line can be seen at Tres Piedras; the old water tower. The Chili Line ran 125.6 miles from Antonito, Colorado, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Denver and Rio Grande Railway (D&RG) began construction of the line in 1880 and completed the line from Antonito to Española, New Mexico, but could not build any further because of an agreement with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF). The Texas, Santa Fe and Northern Railroad was incorporated to complete the line, and the line between Española and Santa Fe opened in 1886 and was transferred to the Denver and Rio Grande shortly thereafter. The D&RGW closed the Chili Line in 1941 because of competition from road transportation.