Re: SLRG between Salida and Buena Vista - NNG

When the UP sold the trackage through the Royal Gorge to the Royal Gorge Route and Rock and Rail the track still was maintained. The last through freight train went through about a year earlier and the Malta Local was still operating until the sale. The two carriers had the benefit of a right-of-way that was maintained by the Union Pacific up until the sale, a sort of certified pre-owned railroad.
The Salida-Buena Vista Railroad will take trackage that has been out of service for more than 10 years. It will need to be brought up to standards. The Brown's Canyon Route will not have a freight railroad partner to help defray the expenses of the MOW.
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Also went the Royal Gorge Route was sold, UP wanted to abandon the line between Canon City and Dotsero. There were governemental requirements about offering the line to interested parties. After the line was sold, UP changed its mind and declared the line rail banked ~ a suspension of service. This changes things legally. It also keeps the BNSF out. UP does not have the incentive to sell like it did the Royal Gorge.
Since I don't have any spies in Omaha, this doesn't mean they won't sell. As for the SLRG being at the meeting, you would have to ask the parties involved. It would be in their best interests to know what was going on, even if they weren't interested in running the line.