The Railroad line in Colorado Springs, CO?

Question

Was the BNSF line in Colorado Springs formerly owned by BN or ATSF?

Answer 1

It was either the ATSF or the Denver and Rio Grande Western,  but there was a track building and right of way conflicts with the ATSF for much of the routes.    The conflict included gunmen and court cases,  and ended with the DRGW working westward to serve mining communities,   and the AFSF keeping the mainlines east  of the front range.

DRGW  was later absorbed by the Southern Pacific.

edit to add,   thank you hoghead.   I remembered the D&RGW from old western novels and movies,  and that got me to looking.   Can find nothing definite on which RR was the first into COSPGS,  but it was one of those two.  Denver was originally served by a spur from Cheyenne,  and lines continued south from there.    The line you were looking to La Junta and Pueblo came out of Kansas roughly parallelling the Arkansas River and would have also served Dodge City.   That line is still in use today.

Answer 2

ATSF.

I'm not 100%, but the line I think you are speaking of was a run between Colorado Springs and La Junta.  I think I've got an old timetable for this route.  I'll try to hunt it up and give ya some better info...

Addendum:  NOPE.  I was WRONG!  Checked Santa Fe Colorado Division TT #1, Effective 10-27-85.  No where is Colorado Springs listed.  Service to La Junta was from Dodge City, and From La Junta to Pueblo or Las Vegas.  Toss in a couple branch lines and a D&RGW Interchange.

So, it's gotta be an old BN line.  I dunno if I have any old CB&Q timetables, but I'll check...

Addendum:  WRONG again.  It WAS the D&RGW that served Colorado Springs.  The gentleman below, terell... had the answer first and 10 poimts due.  All I can do is confirm.

Thanks for the question.  I was bored.....