(Forwarded from the Dawson Railway Company)
The abandoned railroad route between Tucumcari and French, known as The Roy Branch, of which 44.819 miles have been abandoned, was once operated in New Mexico by the Dawson Railway Company and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
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This line is still intact and continues westward for many miles up the Vermejo River valley and terminates at the old York Canyon coal mine. This line was once abandoned and removed with the closing of the mines at Dawson, NM (site of the second worst coal mining disaster in US history in 1913). When the York Canyon mine was opened, the rail was reconstructed. That mine, too, has been closed.
Dr. James H. Olsen, Jr., PE Albuquerque, NM 5/3/2010
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The mine was closed in 2002, The property was subsequently sold to Ted Turner. He runs his Bison on it now.
Paul Noble Edgewood, NM 11/19/2012
I sent some digital photos of the old railroad grade at Mosquero, NM and where the grade crosses US56 near Taylor Springs, NM east of Springer, NM.
Dr. J.H. Olsen, Jr., PE Albuquerque, NM 11/23/2016
My maternal great Grandfather Albert Gray was the depot agent in Roy. I don't remember my great grandparents, but I was told in the early 1960's I rode "The Polly" to from Roy to Tucumcari.
Burt Ladd Nicholasville, KY 12/19/2016