The Eastern Idaho Railroad (EIRR) is a relatively new shortline operation beginning in late 1993 when it took over operation of two former Union Pacific branch lines in Idaho. The branches are disconnected and run roughly west/southwest from Minidoka, Idaho and north/northeast from Idaho Falls, Idaho (also the railroad’s headquarters). Today the Watco family of shortlines based out of Pittsburg, Kansas, owns the Eastern Idaho.
Overall the EIRR is quite busy between the two branches it operates, totaling nearly 300 miles and seeing well over 35,000 annual carloads. Of note for those who have seen the railroad its livery is interesting in being similar to that of the late Milwaukee Road with orange along the flanks and black used towards the bottom and top of the locomotives.
To give a brief history of the Union Pacific, it has been in operation since 1862 when it began building west to meet the Central Pacific and thus opening the country's first transcontinental railroad.
The Union Pacific we know today began to take shape in 1982 when it purchased rival Western Pacific, which granted it access to northern California, and soon after this it would take over the Missouri Pacific to reach Chicago, St. Louis, and Texas. In 1988 the company grew even larger when it purchased the Katy (the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad) and in 1995 did the same with the Chicago & North Western. Finally, just a year later in 1996 the UP purchased the gigantic Southern Pacific, a one-time powerhouse railroad that by the time of its take over by UP was a company that was floundering (so much so that it had been purchased earlier by the much smaller Denver & Rio Grande Western).
The future of the Union Pacific is as wide open as the great western plains where the railroad operates. However, if the company’s past is any measure of what may happen in the years ahead, I think we can safely say that when the merger movement picks up again the Union Pacific and its famous shield logo will continue to flank locomotives during their daily task of moving goods across the country.
Currently the Eastern Idaho’s motive power is made up entirely of EMDs (most of which are Geeps) and includes GP7s, GP35s, GP35rs, GP30s, and SD45s.
For more reading on shortlines like the Eastern Idaho Railroad consider the book American Shortline Railway Guide from author Ed Lewis. The book has gone through several updated editions to keep up with the ever-changing world of the shortline industry. Today, the publication highlights almost 600 shortlines across the country with general background information about each (such as roster information, rail line history, radio frequencies, etc.). If you have any interest in shortlines you will very likely enjoy this book.
