Western Railroad Discussion > San Luis Central RR at Monte Vista, CO

San Luis Central Railroad was all quiet 3 July 2019.  Everyone was off getting ready for July 4th.  Note the unique San Luis Central 1 caboose now grounded outside the shop building at Monte Vista, Colorado.  The thirteen mile long line uses all those refrigerator cars to haul potatoes grown in the the San Luis Valley around Center, CO, end of the line.

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Looks like they bought Amtrak reefers.

Does the SLC currently have any motive power? Also, does someone know the history of the mixed train caboose. Nice shot showing an historic but little seen railroad. It would make unusual model railroad with all those Amtrak express reefers. 

Here is a picture I took of SLC 70 (EMD SW8) in August 2013. I also added a couple of shots of the former AMTK Expresstrak cars from that same trip.  They are loading potatoes in the middle shot.

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Strange with those Amtrak reefers. Is the diesel left out at the end of the day or is it usually in the shop? Are the crews friendly or hostile? Looks like fun. Is that diesel still with them or is there a different until today? Thanks!

Assume it's still there as is the 70 tonner. Crews are OK, office isn't real keen on wander ins to shoot pictures
inside the facility. Overall it's pretty low key and there's plenty of wide open shots along the line. The little interchange
yard ism't too bad either.

Out

RRBaron Wrote:
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> Does the SLC currently have any motive power?

Believe two locomotives are on the property and stored inside the shop building after hours.  70 the SW8 received a new paint scheme back in 2010.

Arrived after everyone had gone home so I'm unable to answer any other questions.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/19 15:52 by cozephyr.

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The "RWIX" reporting marks are interesting.  Iowa Pacific got these cars to replace the SLC's fleet of former ATSF reefers that were expiring on the 50-year rule.  Somebody determined that there was a nation-wide shortage of reefer cars and IPH could make a fortune in the "rent-a-reefer" business, so they formed "Iowa Pacific Fruit Express"  (or IPFE, get it?).  Some time before, Amtrak had screwed IPH when IPH proposed to operate the old Rio Grande Ski Train from Denver to Winter Park.  IPH had motive power (leased SD-90's) and passenger cars (some IPH owned, some leased) set up in Denver and within a week or so of beginning service, Amtrak raised the insurance requirements and the whole thing went down the crapper.  IPH sued Amtrak some big number ($25 mill sticks in my brain) and actually won the suit.  Instead of collecting money from Amtrak, they settled for a big pile of unused Amtrak Reefer cars.  Why ask for cash to do something un-cool like pay bills, when you can get MORE STUFF, right?

It would seem the ATK reefers have been sold off to someone else....

Not nearly as sexy as those glass lined Coors water cars!

Out

That AMTRAK reefer concept was a good one, but poorly executed, from what I've read.  It sure brought in lots of EXPRESS business--great idea--wish it was still operating.  I think flower people really shipped alot with them.

Railroads raised hell with Amtrk for handling FREIGHT, which Amtrk in its formation agreed would not do.

callum_out Wrote:
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> Not nearly as sexy as those glass lined Coors
> water cars!
>
> Out

I don't belive the SLRG/IPH owned the Coors cars.  They were simply being stored on the SLRG.  We used a few of them as water cars to stage water for the steam locomotive, especially in La Veta, as the town fathers of La Veta refused to let us fill the tender of the engine with local water.  The Coors cars were sitting around taking up space so we reasoned that they wouldn't mind if we borrowed a few and filled them with potable water.  It turned out they did mind as the cars had been cleaned, sealed and charged with nitogen gas to keep them pristine....

Oops. sorry.

According to a comment by eee here on TO about six years ago, Iowa Pacific only acquired half of the AMTK reefers. These got IPFX reporting marks, and the Amtrak logos were removed.
The other half were acquired by the SLC's parent, Rail World, Inc . These latter are the RWIX cars. Rail World apparently haven't bothered to do anything about the Amtrak logos on their cars.

This was about the time a large part of the SLC's old fleet of second-hand reefers had to be retired due to being too old to be accepted in interchange traffic.

Earlk Wrote:
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> The "RWIX" reporting marks are interesting.  Iowa
> Pacific got these cars to replace the SLC's fleet
> of former ATSF reefers that were expiring on the
> 50-year rule.  Somebody determined that there was
> a nation-wide shortage of reefer cars and IPH
> could make a fortune in the "rent-a-reefer"
> business, so they formed "Iowa Pacific Fruit
> Express"  (or IPFE, get it?).  Some time before,
> Amtrak had screwed IPH when IPH proposed to
> operate the old Rio Grande Ski Train from Denver
> to Winter Park.  IPH had motive power (leased
> SD-90's) and passenger cars (some IPH owned, some
> leased) set up in Denver and within a week or so
> of beginning service, Amtrak raised the insurance
> requirements and the whole thing went down the
> crapper.  IPH sued Amtrak some big number ($25
> mill sticks in my brain) and actually won the
> suit.  Instead of collecting money from Amtrak,
> they settled for a big pile of unused Amtrak
> Reefer cars.  Why ask for cash to do something
> un-cool like pay bills, when you can get MORE
> STUFF, right?
>
> It would seem the ATK reefers have been sold off
> to someone else....

Peter Varlien
Heimdal,

Let me make a few comments and comment on comments!
 
 
San Luis Central Railroad was all quiet 3 July 2019.  Everyone was off getting ready for July 4th.
TNT-The normal hours are M-F 0630 to 1500 hours
 
Note the unique San Luis Central 1 caboose now grounded outside the shop building at Monte Vista, Colorado.
TNT-The inside was altered years ago to be the reefer parts. Even the inside cupola was sealed with a ceiling.
 
Does the SLC currently have any motive power?
TNT-Two locomotives- SLC 71, a GE 70 tonner, the road’s second locomotive ever owned. Currently waiting for delivery of two new cylinders and stored inside the shop.
 
SLC 70, an SW8, the road’s third locomotive ever. In service.
 
Also, does someone know the history of the mixed train caboose.
TNT-I do not know the history but here is a link to a photo of the car in service http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=649295
 
Is the diesel left out at the end of the day or is it usually in the shop?
TNT-Put to bed in the shop 99% of the time.
 
Are the crews friendly or hostile?
TNT-Very fan friendly as long as you present yourself in the office and don’t just walk around like you own the place!
 
Crews are OK, office isn't real keen on wander ins to shoot pictures inside the facility.
TNT-Not true, the office is very friendly. You can usually get a copy of their 100 year anniversary magazine if there are any left!
 
The "RWIX" reporting marks are interesting.  Iowa Pacific got these cars to replace the SLC's fleet of former ATSF reefers that were expiring on the 50-year rule.
TNT-Not true regarding the first 55 RWIX cars. Those 55 were purchased directly from Amtrak. SLC acquired 20 additional “former” IPFX cars from the lessor after IPH….well you know!
 
IPH could make a fortune in the "rent-a-reefer" business, so they formed "Iowa Pacific Fruit Express"  (or IPFE, get it?).
TNT-See above!
 
IPH sued Amtrak some big number ($25 mill sticks in my brain) and actually won the suit.  Instead of collecting money from Amtrak, they settled for a big pile of unused Amtrak Reefer cars.
TNT-This ”may” be true but this does not apply to RWIX cars.
 
The other half were acquired by the SLC's parent, Rail World, Inc . These latter are the RWIX cars. Rail World apparently haven't bothered to do anything about the Amtrak logos on their cars.
TNT-Correct.

We welcome visitors who are polite. Stop in early (before 0730 hours) and say hello!
 
Tom Tancula
General Manager
San Luis Central Railroad Company