There is a story in the Eads, CO newspaper that this line is being rehabilitated to Class 2 operating condition and is expected to be operational by July this year.
MC and others, is there any confermation of this.
Truth....They have a Kansas City railroad contractor that's been out there for a month under the direction of a KC based consulting engineer. Regular service to start July 3 (WATCO/ K&O is the operating side while maintenance and inspection is to be KVCN/Colorado & Pacific .... KVCN, large AG entity out of Texas, is the owner)
Getting it to Class 2 status is a challenge, given the willfull neglect by the previous so-called owner plus a burned bridge and another washed-out.
diningcar There is a story in the Eads, CO newspaper that this line is being rehabilitated to Class 2 operating condition and is expected to be operational by July this year. MC and others, is there any confermation of this.
A couple of year back MC wrote the following RE; Towner Co line:
Forum link @ http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/2935597/reply.aspx
"...Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, February 02, 2017 2:38 PM
CKR (OmniTrax) leased from Towner to Bridgeport + Lindsborg to Sid + trackage rights into Salina FD-33470 10-3-97 (Decided 10-1-97) / Filing 28425 (from UP) - As far as I know, Uncle Pete is still getting lease payments from K&O/Watco...(took over 6-12-2001 (FD-34030)..."
Look at the AAR and STB websites, the data is there. AAR rides heard on the operating certificates. (or take your chances with the Federal Register)..."
[I noted it at the time because of local interest in WATCP/K&O activities]
No idea where NA tower is, but figured it must be part of this line, and any upgrading would be of interest !
## Looks like Mudchicken just responded!
samfp1943No idea where NA tower is, but figured it must be part of this line, and any upgrading would be of interest !
NA Junction is the west end of the "Towner" line where it joins the BNSF (ex-AT&SF) line towards Pueblo. The junction is about 25 miles east of Pueblo.
MidlandMike Thanks! Midland Mike [Vince], Hope you're recovering, well! Here is a link to the K&O Route map [from the Watco website] @ https://www.watcocompanies.com/services/rail/kansas-and-oklahoma-railroad-ko/ Last time I was out in their area the equipment cabinets ay crossings were 'labeled' as 'UPRR' samfp1943 "NA Junction is the west end of the "Towner" line where it joins the BNSF (ex-AT&SF) line towards Pueblo. The junction is about 25 miles east of Pueblo."
Thanks! Midland Mike [Vince], Hope you're recovering, well!
Here is a link to the K&O Route map [from the Watco website]
@ https://www.watcocompanies.com/services/rail/kansas-and-oklahoma-railroad-ko/
Last time I was out in their area the equipment cabinets ay crossings were 'labeled' as 'UPRR'
samfp1943
"NA Junction is the west end of the "Towner" line where it joins the BNSF (ex-AT&SF) line towards Pueblo. The junction is about 25 miles east of Pueblo."
NA Jct: The former Missouri Pacific, which is the line under discussion, had its own track into Pueblo. Since the Santa Fe preceeded the MOP by many years there was a crossing frog at this junction which allowed all trains to proceed on their own track. There was a tower operator who controlled approach signals and it worked without any accidents at the crossing. The former name for this crossing was Nepesta Junction which name came from the small community of Nepesta that was nearby. In the ninety's, I think, an agreement was made to eliminate one track into Pueblo but the crossing remained and the two tracks were joined further west toward Pueblo.
samfp1943Thanks! Midland Mike [Vince], Hope you're recovering, well!
Your welcome, but I'm not sure who Vince is.
Miningman is Vince or conversely Vince Is Miningman. Well some people on the Forum abbreviate it to MM for both of us. In addition we are both Geologists and mention it once in a while regarding something or other so another possible source of crossed wires.
Anywho, Midland Mike is a cool dude.
.. and yes I was recently hospitalized for 10 days and another 2 weeks at home. It's been a slow go getting back to normal, but I did go back to work this last Tuesday...It's been rough. Forum members were absolutely terrific with Well Wishes and support. Thanks samfp1943.
We have driven along this line on SR 96 a few times and it would be great to see it active again. I'm wondering what the traffic would be. East of Towner, CO in KS there seems to be a fair amount of traffic. The area in CO is pretty much devoid of any apparent reason to have rail service.
High grade white wheat is why KVCN got involved. The drought out here is finally over.
There is also untapped limestone and two oil & gas fields north of the Arkansas.
Other MM, I thought that was you referred to as Vince, but I wasn't quite sure. Glad to hear you are doing better.
--(Midland) Mike
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