Blacklands Railroad

Blacklands Railroad

Blacklands RR Blacklands Railroad Midwest Metallic 4156

Blacklands Railroad

Named for the "black gumbo" soil prominent in portions of east Texas, the Blacklands Railroad operates approximately 65 miles of former Cotton Belt trackage between Mt. Pleasant and Greenville. The railroad's headquarters in in Sulphur Springs. Blacklands begin operations in 1999, taking over a failed operation known as the East Texas Central, which operated from 1996 to 1999 between Sulphur Springs and Greenville.

All trackage is owned by NETEX - The Northeast Texas Rural Transportation District; Blacklands is the line's operator. When Blacklands commenced operations in 1999, it operated only the trackage west of Sulphur Springs through Commerce to Greenville. A UP local out of Mt. Pleasant would deliver the cars to Blacklands at Sulphur Springs, via the UP ex-SSW Commerce Subdivision. In October 2000, NETEX acquired a 35-mile portion of this line, from Sulphur Springs to the Titus/Franklin County line near Winfield, which Blacklands now operates. Blacklands operates over Union Pacific trackage between Winfield and Mt. Pleasant to reach UP's Mt. Pleasant yard.

Blacklands' locomotive roster consists of three engines: ex-Magma Arizona RS3s # 2 and 3, and ex-Garden City Western GP8 201. No longer on the property, having been disposed of after the arrival of the RS3s, is Midwest Metallic (ex-C&NW) GP7 4156.

For more information on the Blacklands, consult the railroad's "official" website at: http://www.blacklandsrailroad.com. It's one of the most elaborate and detailed sites I have found on any shortline.

Please click on any of the following pictures to see a larger image:

	Blacklands' ex-Magma RS3 # 2 rests at Sulphur Springs TX on January 19, 2000: the day after the railroad took delivery of the unit from UP.
	Here's a head-on view of ex-Magma RS3 # 2 on the Blacklands Railroad at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 19, 2000. Note the ex-Cotton Belt depot to the left of the photo.
	Here's a broadside view of ex-Magma RS3 # 3 on the Blacklands Railroad at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 19, 2000.
	On January 19, 2000, Blacklands' entire locomotive roster (consisting of ex-Garden City Western GP8 201 and ex-Magma RS3s 2 and 3) was on hand at Sulphur Springs, TX.
	The train that transported the ex-Magma RS3s -- UP's L-AM40 local -- rolls over ex-Cotton Belt trackage through Weaver, Texas on January 18, 2000. Blacklands began operating a portion of this line -- from Sulphur Springs to Winfield, west of Mt. Pleasant -- in October 2000.
	Ex-Magma RS3s 2 and 3 roll through Weaver, Texas -- east of Sulphur Springs -- in transit to the Blacklands RR on January 18, 2000. Blacklands now operates this segment of trackage; NETEX -- The Northeast Texas Rural Transportation District -- obtained ownership of the line from Sulphur Springs east to Winfield in October 2000 from Union Pacific.
	During transit from Arizona to Texas, the cabs of Blacklands' ex-Magma RS3s were labelled with the message "Do Not Occupy". Photographed at Sulphur Springs, TX January 19, 2000.
	Here's a close-up view of the "Magma" lettering on the side of Blacklands RS3 # 3 at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 19, 2000.
	Blacklands' ex-Garden City Western GP8 201 was photographed at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 19, 2000.
	Here's a shot of the sunflower logo on the cabside of Blacklands' ex-Garden City Western GP8 201 at Sulphur Springs TX on January 19, 2000.
	Midwest Metallic GP7 4156 (ex-C&NW) sits at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 18, 2000. This engine is no longer on Blacklands property; it was apparently made surplus by the arrival of the ex-Magma RS3s.
	Here's a close-up view of the cab and stenciling on Midwest Metallic GP7 4156 at Sulphur Springs, TX on January 18, 2000.

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