The BNSF Raton Subdivision is part of the old AT&SF mainline that ran from Los Angeles CA and Chicago IL. The subdivision runs in between Las Vegas NM, and La Junta CO. Most notably known for its historic equipment, and the 3.5% Grade of Raton pass, making the Raton Subdivision is quite a stand out in Colorado railroading, and railroading in general.
The line was constructed in the late 1870s, with a fight against the D&RG (Denver and Rio Grande Railway) to acquire the pass. Luckily the ATSF had won the fight, and began construction over the pass, however it was a rather difficult task. The route was temporarily completed in 1878, but it was a hell of a line, with tough 6% grades, and curves as sharp as 16 degrees. A year later, a 2,041 ft. long tunnel was constructed, reducing the grades down to 3.5% at most. In 1907 the ATSF opened the Belen cutoff, being a much easier and faster route from Chicago to Los Angeles, leaving the Raton line as more of a secondary route...
However, it still saw plenty of coal trains and revenue freights, as well as the Super Chief and the El Capitan, and eventually the Amtrak Southwest Chief. In 1995, the Santa Fe railway merged with the Burlington Northern Railroad, creating the BNSF Railway. BNSF still ran revenue freight service over Raton, up until 2008 when freight service was discontinued. Keeping the line alive was the Amtrak Southwest Chief, running 2 trains over the line daily, one in each direction. Due to this, FRA requirements were able to slip under the radar, leaving plenty of old searchlights, semaphores, and even wigwags to remain operational along the line, well into the 21st century. Today, you can still see many semaphores, and searchlights guarding the line, as the Southwest Chief still continues to operate up and down the line.
