Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | |
|---|---|
| D&RGW
| |
| Reporting marks | DRGW |
| Locale | Western United States |
| Years of operation | ? – 1988 |
| Rail gauge | 3'6" |
| Headquarters | ? |
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG or DRG) was founded in 1870 by general William J Palmer as a narrow gauge railway system with the intention of connecting Denver with Mexico City. The intended route was to pass over Raton Pass in what is now northern New Mexico, however a legal dispute erupted with the Santa Fe Railroad over which railroad had the right of way. In the end, the Santa Fe Railroad won the right to Raton Pass, while the D&RG won rights through the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River, and, consequently, to the Leadville mining district in Colorado. The name of the railroad was later changed to the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW or DRGW) .
In 1988, Rio Grande Industries, the company that controlled the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, under the direction of Philip Anschutz, purchased the Southern Pacific Railroad. The combined company took the Southern Pacific name due to its name recognition among shippers.
Today, the D&RGW's Ski Train serves the city of Winter Park, Colorado out of Union Station in Denver.
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