El Paso and Northeastern Railway

El Paso and Northeastern Railway
Overview
HeadquartersAlamogordo, New Mexico
LocaleTerritory of New Mexico, Texas
Dates of operation1897; 127 years ago (1897)
–1905; 119 years ago (1905)
PredecessorKansas City, El Paso and Mexico Railroad
SuccessorEl Paso and Southwestern Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length163 mi (262 km)
El Paso and Rock Island Railway
Overview
LocaleTerritory of New Mexico
Dates of operation1900; 124 years ago (1900)
–1905; 119 years ago (1905)
SuccessorEl Paso and Southwestern Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length128 mi (206 km)
Dawson Railway
Overview
LocaleTerritory of New Mexico
Dates of operation1902; 122 years ago (1902)
–1905; 119 years ago (1905)
SuccessorEl Paso and Southwestern Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length132 mi (212 km)

The El Paso and Northeastern Railway (EP&NE) was a short line railroad that was built around the beginning of the twentieth century to help connect the industrial and commercial center at El Paso, Texas, with physical resources and the United States' national transportation hub in Chicago. Founded by Charles Eddy, the EP&NE was the primary railroad in a system organized under the New Mexico Railway and Coal Company (NMRy&CCo), a holding company which owned several other railroads and also owned mining and industrial properties served by the lines.

The EP&NE first connected El Paso with Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1897, further extensions allowed for tourist excursions to the Sacramento Mountains and some timber extraction. A link with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P) allowed for the introduction of the Golden State Limited in 1902. When a line connecting to lucrative coalfields was secured, the holding company and its system were folded into the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad, an affiliate of the predecessor of the Phelps Dodge Corporation. The lines of the NMRy&CCo were responsible for the founding of several settlements in the Territory of New Mexico (later New Mexico).

The main line of the El Paso and Northeastern is currently used by the Union Pacific Railroad as its Carrizozo Subdivision and Tucumcari Subdivision.[1]