Southern San Luis Valley

Company History: The SSLV was established late in 1953 to take over the struggling San Luis Valley Southern Railway. The line ran from a connection with the Rio Grande at Blanca 31 miles to Jarosa, Colorado. By the time of the SSLV start up, there was virtually no traffic on the Jarosa end and the ICC had just approved the abandonment of most of the line on that end. The new owners wanted to rid themselves of their two expensive to maintain former Rio Grande 2-8-0’s but lacked the cash to buy a diesel. Instead, they built one using an old tender frame, an I-H engine, a Cat hydraulic transmission and some chain and gears to power all four axels. The fires were last dropped on steam in 1957. The following year, all but two and half miles on the Blanca end of the line was abandoned. The two remaining customers were Colorado Aggregates who loaded lava rock and Mizokami lettuce packers in McClintock. In 1977, SSLV picked up an old Plymouth industrial switcher. Within three years, the packing company was gone and the railroad was sold to Hecla Mining (who now owned the lava rock pit.) In 2007, the railroad was sold again and merged into the San Luis & Rio Grande.

Successor/Parent History: The SLRG was established by the RailAmerica shortline group in 2003 to acquire three former Rio Grande routes radiating from Alamosa, Colorado from Union Pacific. The first runs east over La Veta Pass to Walsenburg. The second runs south to Antonito. The third runs west to South Fork. Tourist trains operating under the name Rio Grande Scenic Railroad were run on the first two in the warmer months. The Permian Basin Railways shortline group (a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings) bought the SLRG in 2005. Freight service is handled by a fleet of eleven B39-8E’s, two SD9043MAC’s and an SD40R. A large fleet of passenger service cab units, F40 rebuilds and former commuter service GP40FH-2’s are also carried on SLRG’s official roster for use by Iowa Pacific’s many passenger and tourist operations. In 2019, Iowa Pacific had defaulted on a loan and the SLRG and other properties were placed in receivership. Passenger service ended and some rolling stock was sold. In 2021 an auction was announced with the SLRG likely going to the Midwest & Bluegrass shortline group.

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