Colorado Logging Railroads

As might be expected given the state's location there were a number of Colorado logging railroads. However, all were located only in the state's western regions along the Rocky Mountains since, of course, this is where the vast majority of the timber was located. Information about some of these operations is a bit tough to track down although as much as can be located will be presented here. It should be noted that both the Union Pacific and then Denver & Rio Grande had subsidiary operations in the state which moved quite a bit of timber and logs. In any event, the logging industry in southern Colorado began in the 1870s and 1880s, initially interested in harvesting local pine to serve the railroad industry for ties and other purposes as lines were just beginning to be heavily developed at that time.

This lumber company was served by the Colorado Utah & Southwestern Railway, which had a connection with the Denver & Rio Grande at Fraser and operated about a five mile branch to reach nearby timber reserves. It began operations in 1906 using a single Climax locomotive to haul loads and was a very shortlived logging line, as it was abandoned in 1919.

This operation had numerous tracts in the west from which it harvested and included the states of Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho. It was headquartered in Denver and was originally founded in 1867. While Hallack & Howard owned their own fleet of rolling stock and locomotives (all of which were ex-D&RGW or Colorado & Southern), in Colorado and New Mexico the company regularly worked with the Denver & Rio Grande, later the Denver & Rio Grande Western, to either move its finished lumber to market or serve its mills directly. The H&HL's history and general operations are tough to find information on although it remained in operation until its sale in 1960 when most of the rail lines were likewise sold off or abandoned. A further history on the company can be found here.

This lumber company was one of the oldest located in the west, dating as far back as 1869. At its peak the company owned about 60 miles of narrow-gauge railroad and vast tracks of timber in Colorado, which was primarily centered around its mill at McPhee. It began operations in 1891 as the Denver and Rio Grande Southern Railroad and slowly expanded over the years to grow to its peak mileage. Much of the company's locomotives were second-hand purchases from the Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande & Southwestern Railroad. Logging operations by rail mostly ended in 1932 although a short five-mile segment remained in use until 1948. For more information about the history of the railroad and company please click here.

This railroad was owned by the Pagosa Lumber Company, a company that was founded by Alexander T. Sullenberger, one of the most successful timber businessmen in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico. It was a narrow-gauge line serving Dyke and South Pagosa Springs with the company's sawmill located in Azotea, New Mexico. The RGP&N had connections with the D&RGW's nearby narrow-gauge operations (which were at Chama, about eight miles away), which moved the finished timber to market.

Some of the other Colorado logging railroads or companies that operated in the state include the Fisher Lumber Company Railroad, Rocky Mountain Railway, Rust Logging Road, Trinchera Estates Lumber Company Railroad, Montezuma Lumber Company Railroad, Rio Grand Southern, and Sayra Newton Lumber Company.

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(A deep thanks to the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University for allowing Ron Nixon's historic collection of historic logging operations to be featured here. Please note that the photos featured on this page feature their corresponding image number so that you may quickly and easily find more information about it from their website. To view Ron Nixon's entire collection please click here.)

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