Rio Grande in Kansas

[SFbrkmn]

I have read conflicting information from a number of sources pertaining to the Rio Grande rights over the Mopac Pueblo-Kansas City stemming from the 1982 MopUp combo. Was this a trackage rights or haulage rights operation? Who staffed the trains? Rio Grande or MopUp workers? Just exactly when did this format begin (early 1983)? This is an interesting segment of past rr history that is often overlooked. When my wife first became a Methodist pastor and had churches in Allen, Admire and Miller, the tracks by then had been converted into a walking trail in northern Lyon Co east of Council Grove. Interesting taking a walk over the former roadbed. Had to keep an eye out for snakes! This is about the only part of Rio Grande that I hold any interest of. If anyone can shed light of the subject, that would be greatful.

[samfp1943]

SFbrkmn

I have read conflicting information from a number of sources pertaining to the Rio Grande rights over the Mopac Pueblo-Kansas City stemming from the 1982 MopUp combo. Was this a trackage rights or haulage rights operation? Who staffed the trains? Rio Grande or MopUp workers? Just exactly when did this format begin (early 1983)? This is an interesting segment of past rr history that is often overlooked. When my wife first became a Methodist pastor and had churches in Allen, Admire and Miller, the tracks by then had been converted into a walking trail in northern Lyon Co east of Council Grove. Interesting taking a walk over the former roadbed. Had to keep an eye out for snakes! This is about the only part of Rio Grande that I hold any interest of. If anyone can shed light of the subject, that would be greatful.

 

 

  SF Brkmn: In 2009 there was a Thread here:

  http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/164953/1814884.aspx

 The Thread was referenced to the DM&G RR (nee: DM&ARR) and its presence in SC Kansas. Orig. designed to be NG (built as STD Gauge) out of Pueblo, Co to East.  And the presence still, of its discernable ROW in the area.

[MudChicken, provided some details in his response, you may find his response interesting?]

     Specifically through Belle Plaine,Ks.  That line[finally, MoP?], and the Midland Valley, also the Santa Fe Panhandle Div.) on a more southerly route; Wellington,Oxford and Winfield.   Were severed in the big floods in the 1950's/60's(?); when the Arkansas R took out their bridges at the Oxford, Ks. area. (at one point, the Oxford area had three rail lines serving it, M.V; MoP, AT&SF) 

 

 

[mudchicken]

They owned it (Hoisington Sub), maintained it and operated it (dispatched) briefly before SP(DRGW) was swallowed-up by UP.Prior to that it was trackage rights to the D&RGW (Later SP after DRGW swallowed SP whole/ Phil Anschutz)... I was the roadmaster on the next railroad parallel and south. The DRGW hustle mantra was a wake-up call to the MoP/UP guys. They put an awful lot of ballast and ties into what had been ignored by the MoP/UP leadership post-merger.(Lots of subgrade issues there that was killing DRGW with slow orders and derialments that UP dragged their feet on fixing - similar scenario as what just happened on the Joint line where UP was annoying BNSF and the FRA about their "efforts" to maintain that railroad with nobody and a prayer.)