Texas – New Mexico Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Texas–New Mexico Railroad is a shortline
railroad operating in west Texas
and southeast New Mexico
. The railroad line operates on 104 miles of track from a connection with the Union Pacific Railroad
at Monahans, Texas
, and terminates at Lovington, New Mexico
. The railroad primarily provides freight service for the oilfields and related industries in the region.
is the terminus of the TNMR. Before 1930, the planned Gulf, Texas and New Mexico Railway proposed to construct a branch running westward from Seminole, Texas
via Lovington, NM and terminating at Roswell, New Mexico
. However, the tracks were never constructed, and for a time the nearest rail line was the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
in nearby Seagraves, Texas
.
As a result of the oil discovered in the Permian Basin in 1927, the Texas–New Mexico Railway was incorporated on November 19, 1927. Within a year the railroad fell under the control of the Texas and Pacific Railway
. Construction commenced in 1928 and the line was completed on July 20, 1930.
In September 2011, Iowa Pacific Holdings
, which owns the TMNR, announced a major rebuilding of the railroad, including track upgrades and new locomotives, at a cost of more than $20 million.
ShortLine
Short Line is a brand name for three different Coach USA companies, Hudson Transit Lines, Hudson Transit Corporation, and Chenango Valley Bus Lines that provide local, commuter and intercity bus service in lower New York State, primarily along the Route 17 and Southern Tier corridor.-Service...
railroad operating in west Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and southeast New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The railroad line operates on 104 miles of track from a connection with 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....
at Monahans, Texas
Monahans, Texas
Monahans is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, Texas, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Winkler County. The population was 6,821 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and terminates at Lovington, New Mexico
Lovington, New Mexico
Lovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....
. The railroad primarily provides freight service for the oilfields and related industries in the region.
History
Lovington, New MexicoLovington, New Mexico
Lovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....
is the terminus of the TNMR. Before 1930, the planned Gulf, Texas and New Mexico Railway proposed to construct a branch running westward from Seminole, Texas
Seminole, Texas
Seminole is a city in and the county seat of Gaines County in west Texas, United States. The population was 6,430 at the 2010 census. It is the birthplace of Country music singers Larry Gatlin and Tanya Tucker...
via Lovington, NM and terminating at Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
. However, the tracks were never constructed, and for a time the nearest rail line was the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
in nearby Seagraves, Texas
Seagraves, Texas
Seagraves is a city in Gaines County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Seagraves is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
.
As a result of the oil discovered in the Permian Basin in 1927, the Texas–New Mexico Railway was incorporated on November 19, 1927. Within a year the railroad fell under the control of the Texas and Pacific Railway
Texas and Pacific Railway
The Texas and Pacific Railway Company was created by federal charter in 1871 with the purpose of building a southern transcontinental railroad between Marshall, Texas, and San Diego, California....
. Construction commenced in 1928 and the line was completed on July 20, 1930.
In September 2011, Iowa Pacific Holdings
Iowa Pacific Holdings
Iowa Pacific Holdings is a holding company that owns railroad properties across North America and the United Kingdom, as well as providing services such as railcar repairs and leasing and management and consulting services to other operators...
, which owns the TMNR, announced a major rebuilding of the railroad, including track upgrades and new locomotives, at a cost of more than $20 million.
Ownership of the line
- 1930–1976: Operated as a subsidiary of the Texas and Pacific RailwayTexas and Pacific RailwayThe Texas and Pacific Railway Company was created by federal charter in 1871 with the purpose of building a southern transcontinental railroad between Marshall, Texas, and San Diego, California....
(TP), which was a subsidiarySubsidiaryA subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Missouri Pacific RailroadMissouri Pacific RailroadThe Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
(MP).
- 1976–1982: Operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
- 1982–1989: Operated by the Union Pacific Railroad.
- 1989–1999: Owned/operated by RailTexRailTexRailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
.
- 1999–2002: Owned/operated by RailAmericaRailAmericaRailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
.
- 2002–present: Owned/operated by Permian Basin Railways.
Route
- Monahans, TexasMonahans, TexasMonahans is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, Texas, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Winkler County. The population was 6,821 at the 2000 census.-History:...
(interchange with Union Pacific Railroad mainline) - Cloyd, Texas (no longer shown in timetables)
- Prairie Spur, Texas (no longer Shown in timetables)
- Wink Junction (no longer shown in timetables - abandoned branch to Wink, TexasWink, TexasWink is a city in Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 919 at the 2000 census. By 2009, the population had reportedly crept up to 926.Wink was the hometown of singer and songwriter Roy Orbison, although he was born in Vernon, Texas....
) - Kermit, TexasKermit, TexasKermit is a city in and the county seat of Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt to the county.-History: -Establishment:...
- Magwait, Texas
- Cheyenne, Texas (no longer shown in timetables)
- Jal, New MexicoJal, New MexicoJal is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,996 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jal is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- Combest, New Mexico
- United Carbon
- Eunice, New MexicoEunice, New MexicoEunice is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,562 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Eunice, as of April 2007, is Matt White. Ground was broken for construction of a National Enrichment Facility, which uses Zippe-type centrifuge technology, to enrich uranium in...
- Kornegray, New Mexico (no longer shown in timetables)
- Warren, New Mexico
- Climax, New Mexico
- Hobbs, New MexicoHobbs, New MexicoHobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 28,657 at the 2000 census.Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lea County.-Geography:...
(yard/office) - Permco (Airfield) (no longer shown in timetables)
- Kimbrough, New Mexico (no longer shown in timetables)
- Southern Union Oil
- Lea CountyLea County, New Mexico-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*75.0% White*4.1% Black*1.2% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.6% Two or more races*16.5% Other races*51.1% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Oil - Lovington, New MexicoLovington, New MexicoLovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....