Heart of Texas Railroad
| Reporting mark | CTXR |
|---|---|
| Locale | Texas |
| Dates of operation | 2016– |
| Predecessor | Gulf, Colorado and San Saba Railway |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Length | 67.5 miles (108.6 km) |
| Headquarters | Brady, Texas |
The Central Texas & Colorado River Railway (reporting mark CTXR) is a short-line railroad headquartered in Brady, Texas. Formerly known as the Heart of Texas Railroad, the railroad operates a former Santa Fe branch line from an interchange with the BNSF Railway at Lometa to Brady. It acquired the line from the bankrupt Gulf, Colorado and San Saba Railway in 2013. The railroad is currently owned by OmniTrax. They bought the railroad in 2016.[1]
History
The Heart of Texas Railroad was organized in 2012 and acquired the 67.5-mile (108.6 km) line from the bankrupt Gulf, Colorado and San Saba Railway in 2013.[2] Operations began on January 29 of that year.[3] On May 19, 2013, a 300-yard (270 m)-long trestle carrying the tracks over the Colorado River about 10 mi (16 km) west of Lometa burned and collapsed. The fire, of unknown origin, began on the western side of the trestle about 4 p.m.; by the time volunteer firefighters from Lometa arrived, the fire was uncontrollable. There were no injuries. At the time the potential loss to the company was estimated at $10 million.[4][5] The company contracted with JCF Bridge & Concrete to replace the bridge, and the new span opened on May 16, 2014. The bridge cost $4 million.[6]
OmniTRAX announced its acquisition of the company in May 2016.
Operations
The CTXR interchanges with the BNSF Railway at Lometa. It primarily carries frac sand from hydraulic fracturing.
References
- ↑ http://omnitrax.com/our-company/our-railroads/central-texas-colorado-river-railway-llc/
- ↑ 78 FR 802
- ↑ "Employer Status Determination: Heart of Texas Railroad" (PDF). Railroad Retirement Board. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ↑ "Fire Consumes Central Texas Railroad Bridge". KWTX-TV. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ↑ "Burning railroad bridge collapses in Central Texas". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ↑ Tindle, Brian (April 2015). "Heart of Texas bounces back". Trains. 75 (4): 12–13.