New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-01
REBUILDING NEW MEXICO
CENTRAL PROCEEDS

The New Mexico Central Railway
is being quietly rebuilt from one end
to the other. The present owners
are saying little, but working hard
to improve the road bed, the track,
and equipment The road has had a
varied career from the time it was
organized in 1900 as the Santa Fe,
Albuquerque and Pacific Railway
Company. In 1902 it became the San
ia Fe Central and actual construc-
tion began soon after. Later the
Albuquerque Eastern was organized
II 1908 this was consolidated with
the Santa Fe Central under the name
of the New Mexico Central Railroad.
For a number of years the road
was in the hands of a receiver. Early
IN 1918 the court ordered the road
sold The new owners took posses
SION in February last year. The
present official name is New Mex
fco Central Railway Company. Dur
ing the receWership the road scimp-
ed along as best it could, doing just
as little maintenance as possible
Efforts were even made to junk the
road. Ii was also feared that when
the present owners bought the pro-
petty, they intended to junk the road.
IN Improvements that are row un-
de, way, indicates that such will not
be the case,
The writer made a trip a few days
ago over the entire line from Santa
Fe to Torrance and was surprised
to find such extensive improvements
under way. In the first place new
ties are scattered along the entire
line. New ties are going in as fast
as men can place them. 1t is re-
ported that over $4,000 ties are on
hand and that $4,000 more will be
purchased as rapidly as they can be
obtained. Railroad ties are no long !
er a drug in the market. In fact
ties are difficult to get.
Drainage is a first essential to |
good railroad track. For years the |
cnts received little attention and the /
bitches gradually filled and the cent
er of the track caught all the water
and became soft whenevr it rained. |
A steam ditcher has been at work |
for some time and the bitches in |
nearly every cut are in excellent /
shape. The cuts are also being wild
ened at the same time wherever ne
cessary The material from the cuts
is used to widen the embankments,
bringing them np to standard width.
This work is still in progress.
The bridge and building depart
ment has already done much work.
Some of the bridges had become dan
gerous. In the Galisteo basin a large
force is at work and replacing sew
eral large bridges. Bridges and cul-
verts are being overhauled along the
entire line.
The telegraph line is being put in
to good shape as rapidly as new
poles can be obtained II is simply
a matter of getting material. |!
Many of the buildings have been
repaired and painted.
The shops of the company are locat- ;
ed at Estancia. This is a busy place.
Equipment is being repaired as ra- ,
pidly as possible. The locomotives i
are being sent to the shop and some :
OF them practically rebuilt. There 5
were two locomotives in the shop {
this week, undergoing very substan-
tial repairs.
In short time the entire system is 7
receiving attention. The road bed !
is being materially improved and +
The track is being |,
rebuilt. The sidings are receiving +
attention and at Williams the spur /
has been extended. The motive :
bower is an important factor and is G
being steadily improved. In fact 3
here is no part of the line that is
,ot receiving attention. q
But it takes time to bring a rail- (.
Dad up to standard that was so v
,adly impaired as the New Mexico
Ientral. 1t costs money to maintain +
railroad even when done at the
light time. But to make up defer
ed maintenance is exceedingly cost
y. A stitch in time in railroading i.
ertainly saves nine. lr
The present owners, show subs T.
antial faith in the future of the p
.stancia Valley by spending the a
money necessary to put the New o
dexico Central into decent condi- cl
ion: No figures as to the cost are
vailable at this time But rebuild N
ng lis miles of line in these DAYS e.
Z high cost of material. high wages. a.
nd short working hours is expen- "
I'VE and takes a respectable bank al