Kyle Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Kyle Railroad is a regional railroad line that runs from North Central Kansas
into Eastern Colorado
. It is based in Phillipsburg, Kansas
and runs on 561 miles (902.8 km) track, mostly the former Rock Island Railroad Chicago
to Denver main line. The Kyle has been owned by Rail America since 2002.
, the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railroad, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
and the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad.
Included was about 243 miles (391.1 km) of trackage from Belleville, KS to Limon, CO, with trackage rights over the Cadillac and Lake City Railroad
from Limon, CO to Colorado Springs, CO. Officially, on September 16, 1980, The Kyle Railroad signed with the MSPA (Mid-States Port Authority) a contract for the Hallam, NE to Limon, CO and Belleville, KS to Clay Center, KS line, as well as 90 miles (144.8 km) of trackage rights over the Union Pacific Railroad
from Limon, CO to Denver, CO, totalling 455 miles (732.2 km). The Kyle Railroad acted as the MSPA's operator of these lines.
Recently the Kyle Railroad bought the tracks on which it operates from the MSPA.
Power for the trains consisted of former Burlington Northern Railroad
ALCO Century 425
s, most tracing their heritage to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway
.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
into Eastern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It is based in Phillipsburg, Kansas
Phillipsburg, Kansas
Phillipsburg is a city in and the county seat of Phillips County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,581.-19th century:...
and runs on 561 miles (902.8 km) track, mostly the former Rock Island Railroad Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Denver main line. The Kyle has been owned by Rail America since 2002.
History
The Kyle Railroad was formed for the 1982 Northern Kansas Harvest season by the Willis B. Kyle Organization, which consisted of several railroad properties, including the San Diego and Arizona Eastern RailwaySan Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels...
, the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railroad, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over the Cumbres Pass, the highest point on a US passenger railway....
and the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad.
Included was about 243 miles (391.1 km) of trackage from Belleville, KS to Limon, CO, with trackage rights over the Cadillac and Lake City Railroad
Cadillac and Lake City Railroad
The Cadillac & Lake City Railway was a railroad which operated in the Midwestern United States. The operation was owned by Western States Properties, Inc...
from Limon, CO to Colorado Springs, CO. Officially, on September 16, 1980, The Kyle Railroad signed with the MSPA (Mid-States Port Authority) a contract for the Hallam, NE to Limon, CO and Belleville, KS to Clay Center, KS line, as well as 90 miles (144.8 km) of trackage rights over the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
from Limon, CO to Denver, CO, totalling 455 miles (732.2 km). The Kyle Railroad acted as the MSPA's operator of these lines.
Recently the Kyle Railroad bought the tracks on which it operates from the MSPA.
Power for the trains consisted of former Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
ALCO Century 425
ALCO Century 425
The ALCO Century 425 was a four-axle, 2500 horsepower diesel locomotive of the road switcher type. 91 were built between October 1964 and December 1966....
s, most tracing their heritage to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway
The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway was a United States-based railroad incorporated in 1905. It was a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River....
.