This article is about the contemporary short line railroad. For the railroad of the same name from the 1880s, see
Chili Line.
| Santa Fe Southern Railway |
Santa Fe Depot, with a Rail Runner Express train (right), alongside a diesel locomotive and observation car operated by the SFSR |
| Reporting mark |
SFSR |
| Locale |
Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA |
| Dates of operation |
1992–present |
| Track gauge |
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
Santa Fe Southern Railway (reporting mark SFS) is a short line railroad in New Mexico, United States. It carries both passengers and freight between Lamy and Santa Fe, a distance of 18.1 miles (29.1 km).[1] It is a tourist railroad that also carries freight: the passenger cars are vintage and most passengers are tourists.[1]
It began operations in 1992, after the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ended operations on the line and a group of local businesspeople purchased the line, initially operating freight service, but subsequently adding passenger trains.[1] Currently, the railroad operates mixed trains, hauling freight, which consists largely of building supplies, and passengers, which run at least twice a week, depending on the season.[1][2] It also operates occasional charter and special trains.[1]
The railroad's business fluctuates greatly; in 2004, it hauled 401 carloads of freight, and in 2007 carried 25,907 passengers, but in 2009 these counts decreased to 25 and 12,208, both record lows.[1]
On 8 October 2010, the railroad was purchased by STI-Global, Ltd., an Australian-based company. STI-Global said that the purchase would allow it to test the safety systems the company produces.[3]
On 20 May 2011, the railroad was evicted from its headquarters at the depot in Santa Fe to make way for a new visitors center planned to serve New Mexico Rail Runner passengers.[4]
The railroad operates several coaches formerly owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, as well as a dome car, a flatcar, and a caboose. Motive power consists of two EMD GP7s, one rebuilt to GP16 specifications.[1]
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SF Southern line,Winter 2010. A public hiking trail follows the rail line to Lamy.
Santa Fe Southern Loco 93 in Christmas finery, 2011
