Standard/Dual Gauge Network

Some of these lines - in fact, many of them - started out as narrow gauge, since the D&RG was originally a 3' gauge railroad. However, as the Grande grew, its officers realized in the late 1880s that building a core standard gauge network was the only way to compete. Thus, many of the important, but originally narrow gauge, routes that were converted to standard-gauge or dual-gauge in order to build that network. These, along with other bits of the network that were always standard gauge (such as the ex-DNW&P / D&SL lines) are listed here.

Note: The following is obviously incomplete. I'm working hard to get all of the lines listed and, hopefully, at least a brief history filled in on each.

Joint Line - Denver, CO, to Trinidad, CO
SegmentFromToBuiltConvertedAbnd/Sold
Denver-Pueblo Main
The Joint Line
Denver, COPueblo, CO1871 (NG)1888 (3R)
1890 (SG)
---
* Hathaway SpurCastle Rock, COO'Brien Quarry1882 (NG)1889 (SG)1923+
* Madge Quarry SpurDouglas, COMadge Quarry1881 (NG)1900 (SG)1902
* Manitou BranchColo Sprgs, COManitou, CO1880 (NG)1888 (3R)
1902 (SG)
198?
Pueblo-Trinidad MainPueblo, COTrinidad, CO1876 (NG)1888 (3R)
1890 (SG)
1936
* Capers BranchMustang, COCapers, CO1924 (SG) --- ~1947
* Engleville BranchEl Moro, COEngleville, CO1877 (NG)1888 (3R)
1889 (SG)
1930
* Graneros BranchLascar, COGraneros, CO??? --- ???
* Sonora BranchSthrn Jct, COSonora, CO ??? --- ~1947
* Zinc BranchZinc Jct, COBlende, CO 1902 --- 1939
The Moffat (ex-D&SL) Lines - Denver-Bond-Craig
Main LineDenver, COBond, CO1902 (SG) --- ---
* Rocky Flats Spur?Rocky, CODow, CO1952 (SG) --- ---
Dotsero CutoffBond, CODotsero, CO1934 (SG) --- ---
Rollins PassTolland, COWinter Park, CO1902 (SG) --- 1935
Craig BranchBond, COCraig, CO1902 (SG) --- ---
Royal Gorge Route - Pueblo-Salida
Royal Gorge RoutePueblo, COSalida, CO1872 (NG)1888 (3R)
1911 (SG)
---
* Calcite BranchHoward, COCalcite, CO1903 (SG) --- 1936
* Chandler Creek BrFlorence, COChandler, CO1881 (NG)1905 (SG)1944
* Coal BranchFlorence, COCoal Banks, CO1872 (NG)1887 (3R)
1911 (SG)
1924
* Monarch BranchPoncha Jct, COMonarch, CO1881 (NG) 1956 (SG) 1982
* Oak Creek BranchFlorence, COCoal Mines1881 (NG) 1890 (SG) 1905
* Westcliffe BranchTexas Cr, COWestcliff, CO1900 (SG) --- 1938
Tennessee Pass Route - Salida-Grand Junction
Tennessee Pass RouteSalida, COGrand Jct, CO1880-
1889 (NG)
1890(SG) ---
* Aspen BranchGlnwd Sprgs, COAspen, CO1887 (NG)1890 (SG)2006
* Leadville BranchMalta, COLeadville, CO
Leadville Jct, CO
1880 (NG)1888 (3R)
1940 (SG)
---
** California Gulch BranchLeadville, COOro, CO1883 (NG)1890 (3R)1941
** Chrysolite ExtensionChrysolite Jct, COIbex, CO1898 (NG)1913 (3R)
1917 (SG)
1944
** Fryer Hill BranchChrysolite Jct, COFryer Hill1881 (NG)1917 (SG)1944
** Graham Park BranchGraham Park Jct, COWolftone Mine1900 (SG)1913 (SG)1941
See more of the Tennessee Pass branches in the Narrow Gauge section
San Luis Valley - Alamosa, CO, and Surrounding Area
La Veta PassCuchara Jct, COAlamosa, CO1876 (NG) 1899 (SG) ---
* Loma BranchWalsenburg, COAlamo, CO1988 (SG) --- 1968
* Placer SpurWagon Cr Jct, COGrayback Mine1881 (NG) --- 1904
* Reliance BranchReliance Jct, COOjo, CO1912 (SG) --- 1939
* Tropic BranchOakdale Jct, COTropic, CO1908 (SG) --- 1935
Creede BranchAlamosa, COCreede, CO1881 (NG) 1900 (3R)
1902 (SG)
---
Antonito BranchAlamosa, COAntonito, CO1880 (NG) 1901 (3R)
1970 (SG)
---
See more of the San Luis Valley routes in the Narrow Gauge section
Grand Junction, CO, Lines
Rio Grande JunctionGlenwood Sprgs, COGrand Jct, CO1889 (SG) --- ---
West Gunnison MainMontrose, COGrand Jct, CO1882 (NG)1906 (SG) ---
* North Fork BranchDelta, COSomerset, CO1902 (NG)1906 (SG) ---
* Ouray BranchMontrose, COOuray, CO1887 (NG) 1953 (SG) 1953-
1977
Utah Desert - Grand Junction, CO - Helper, UT
Utah Desert MainGrand Jct, COHelper, UT1880 (NG)1890 (SG) ---
* Ballard & ThompsonThompson, UTSego, UT1911 (SG) --- 1950
* Cane Creek BranchBrendel, UTPotash, UT1963 (SG) --- ---
* Southern Utah Railroad?Price, UTMohrland, UT1908 (SG) --- 1921
* Kenilworth & HelperIndep. Jct, UTKenilworth, UT1911 (SG) --- 1926
* Sunnyside BranchMounds, UTSunnyside, UT??? --- ---
Soldier Summit - Helper, UT - Provo, UT
Soldier SummitHelper, UTProvo, UT1878 (NG)1890 (SG) ---
* Kenilworth BranchHelper, UTKenilworth, UT1926 (SG) --- ???
* Marysvale BranchThistle, UTMarysvale, UT1890 (NG) 1891 (SG) 1983
** Castle Valley BranchSalina, UTNioche, UT 1903 (SG) --- 1942
** Morrison Branch?Ephraim, UTMorrison, UT??????1925
** San Pete Valley Branch?Ephraim, UTNephi, UT 1875 (NG) 1891 (SG) 1983
* Pleasant Valley BranchColton, UTClear Crk, UT1882 (NG) 1890 (SG) ---
* Provo Canyon BranchProvo, UTHeber City, UT1899 (SG) --- 1971+
* Tintic BranchSpringville, UTSilver City, UT 1891 (SG) --- ---
** Goshen Valley BranchPearl, UTDividend, UT 1903 (SG) --- ---
** Mammoth BranchMammoth Jct, UTMammoth, UT 1892 (SG) --- 1943
Wasatch Front - Provo, UT - Ogden, UT
Northern Wasatch MainSalt Lake City, UTOgden, UT1883 (NG)1889 (SG) ---
* Hooper BranchHooper Jct, UTCox, UT1905 (SG) ---
** Kingsville BranchKingsville Jct, UTFarnsworth, UT1917 (SG) --- 1956
Southern Wasatch MainProvo, UTSalt Lake City, UT1882 (NG)1889 (SG) ---
* Alta BranchMidvale, UTAlta, UT1872 (NG)~1891 (SG)~1900
* Little Cottonwood BranchMidvale, UTWasatch, UT1913 (SG) --- 1943
* Bingham Branch?Midvale, UTBingham, UT ??? ??? ???
** Garfield Branch?Welby, UTBingham, UT ??? ??? ???
** Lark Branch?Dalton, UTLark, UT ??? ??? ???
* Park City BranchProvo, UTPark City, UT1899 (SG) ---
* Orem BranchProvo Jct, UTOrem, UT1946 (SG) --- 1971
Kansas City Trackage Rights - Pueblo, CO - Kansas City, MO
As a concession of the 1980 UP-MP-WP merger, the D&RGW was granted
trackage rights in 1983 east out of Pueblo over the ex-MP line to Hoisington, KS,
and then over UP via Topeka into Kansas City.
KC Trackage RightsPueblo, COKansas City, MO1983 (TR) --- 1996
Questions/corrections/comments welcome - email me
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  Last modified on November 02, 2011, at 01:47 PM
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