Southwestern Railroad consists of two lines; one privately-owned and one leased.
The Whitewater Line, located in New Mexico, serves the Chino copper mining and smelting complex owned by Freeport McMoran near Silver City, as well as two other small shippers.
The original 25.9 track miles were purchased from the Santa Fe in June 1990, running from Whitewater to Hurley, Hanover Junction and Santa Rita. An additional 27 miles of track from Whitewater to Deming was purchased in July 1994. In 2002, the line was extended from Deming to Rincon, New Mexico with a lease from the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe. The other Whitewater branch runs from Rincon to Burrow Mountain Junction and serves the Freeport McMoRan copper mine at Tyrone, New Mexico.
The traffic-base on the line consists of industrial chemicals, metal ores, coke, scrap metals and copper products and byproducts. Both branches are laid with 90- and 100-pound rail.
The base of operations recently relocated to Deming from Hurley, New Mexico. Hurley is the location of the historic depot, fueling facility and sanding tower, which also were acquired in the purchase transaction. Ten locomotives are used to move copper ore. In addition, sulfuric acid and copper products are moved outbound from the Hurley refinery to the Black Mountain siding interchange six times per week. Nine people are employed on this line.
WHITEWATER DIVISION
JOHN ETHERIDGE
Manager
575-546-0493
John has been in the railroad industry over 27 years. He originally hired on with the Cottonbelt Railroad in 1978 and moved to the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1983. He has been with Southwestern Railroad since 1992, with the exception of six years. John’s experience coupled with his capability to move where required is a great asset to Southwestern Railroad.
Copyright 2009 The Western Group, All Rights Reserved
P.O. Box 1544, Ogden, UT 84402 / 3819 Airport Road Building N714, Ogden, UT 84405
Telephone: 801-621-5311, Fax 801-393-7733
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