Re: More Chili Line Abandonment Info

Yes, the Ilfield Company was a major mercantile store and wholesaler business in New Mexico. One of their warehouses and business was located in Magdalena, NM across the street from the depot next to the AT&SF SG tracks. It served ranchers throughout southwest NM and the mining operations at Kelly. The 2-story warehouse building is still there though the spur line was abandoned circa. 1972 (recent photo attached, along with the existing Magdalena depot). I believe the "headquarters" was Las Vegas, NM, the first major city where the railroad arrived in NM 1879. Warehouses were built in other towns as the railroad expanded. There was also an Ilfield warehouse in Durango. The company continued until about 1960. As the photo below shows, they were the "Wholesalers of Everything." I *think* Santa Fe and Durango were the only businesses on the NG line, the others all being served by SG.