San Luis & Rio Grande

Company 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.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.