Re: Alamosa Branch sale

From what I can pick up among my shortline friends, bids went out and negotiations continue on the Alamosa "cluster", but no deal has been made. But it could probably happen any day.
Some time ago I heard one of the bidders was a consortium of Ed Burkhardt (ex-CNW, ex-Wisconsin Central, and who owns the San Luis Central) and Larry Parsons (ex-DRGW VP Transportation and more recently with the Wheeling and Lake Erie).
There is a fair amount of traffic. On my visits to photograph La Veta trains seem to regularly have full tonnage for five GP40's, and often have to leave cars behind.
I would guess the big liability of the line is all its 90 lb. jointed rail, which is pretty light stuff for long trains of 100 ton cars. As somebody noted, some of the 90 lb. rail on the Antonito line was apparently field welded...the only welded 90 lb. rail I have seen. With the exception of the 110 lb. (jointed) rail over the summit, basically the whole line is 90 lb. jointed. From what I have seen it is has been VERY well maintained, probably since the alternative for the DRGW/SP/UP was to spend a whole LOT of money on heavier rail. But it is old rail and at some point whoever runs the line is going to have to deal with rail replacement....or increasingly slower speeds and risk of derailments. Given the traffic levels and a relatively efficient operation, I would guess that is UP's big reason for getting out.