History and Purpose of the (modern) Colorado Central Railroad - 1903 to 1959
- History:
- The "modern" Colorado Central Railroad Company started in 1903 to provide a link between Cheyenne, Wyoming (UP northern east-west corridor) and Santa Fe, New Mexico (ATSF southern east-west corridor); D&RGW forerunners having headed into the mountains to exploit the mining industry needs as had the Colorado and Southern (C&S) Railroad.
- Financially tough times following the First World War and the Great Depression nearly broke the railroad, which was re-organized in 1937, becoming the Colorado Central Railroad. By the start of World War II, most equipment was in sad shape. Motive power (Steam) was obtained during this period, second-hand, from other railroads and consisted mostly of Consolidations, Pacifics, and Mikados.
- The war brought prosperity and a new life to the railroad providing enough capital to renovation and rejuvenation. New diesel motive power quickly replaced the aging steam, with dieselization being completed in the mid-1950s. Today (1959) only two steam engines remain as potential tourist train units. In addition, rolling stock, worn out by the demands of the war was replaced with newer steel boxcars, covered hoppers and other modern equipment as older pieces reached the end of their economic service life.
- Purpose: North-South Bridge Route between Cheyenne, WY and Enid, OK.
- Bridge route along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to support the N-S flow of traffic between the great continental railroads (UP, SP, ATSF, D&RGW, CB&Q, CRIP). D&RGW is a bridge between Denver and Utah (Salt Lake City and Ogden). Colorado Central also supports the Front Range communities.
- Originally intending to terminate in Santa Fe, NM, interchanging with ATSF, the early activity by the Fort Worth and Denver and the ATSF caused the railroad to re-evaluate the original decision and divert to Enid, OK as the terminus, taking advantage of the agricultural products available in southern Colorado and western Oklahoma.
- Slogan: Serves the Front Range
- Divisions:
- Northern Division - Denver to Cheyenne, headquarters in Centennial, CO.
- Mid-Colorado Division - Denver to Pueblo, headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO
- Southern Colorado Division - Pueblo to Springfield, CO, Headquarters in Sugar City, CO
- Oklahoma Division - Springfield, CO to Enid, OK, Headquarters in Enid.
- Note: The northern Division follows much of the route of the actual UP from Cheyenne to Denver, and the Mid-Colorado Division utilizes joint trackage rights on the ATSF/D&RGW Joint Line from Denver to Pueblo
- System discussion of the model railroad including the type and models of motive power, the system schematic and timetable, etc. follows in subsequent pages.