The Black Hills & Western - What Could Have Been...

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Matt Short Line H
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The Black Hills & Western - What Could Have Been...

Unread post by Matt Short Line H »

The BH&W or Black Hills & Western was created by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad in 1992 as a subsidiary designed to operate the C&NW's Colony Line. CNW had filed to abandoned the line and DM&E immediately launched at the opportunity to buy the Colony Line. The Railroads announced a deal was made where the DM&E would buy the line for $6.2 Million. DM&E & C&NW officials thought highly of the deal. However in DEC of 1992 the C&NW scrapped the deal citing that the DM&E didn't have the financing and that the option to Buy the line had expired. The C&NW President at the time, said that after all the work they had put into the deal that they were angry that the DM&E failed to handle it. The DM&E eventually bought the Colony Line in 1996 when the C&NW was merged into the Union Pacific. The line was a island on the UP and the knew it. DM&E ran the first train 14 minutes after the deal with 4 out of the 6 ex CP rebuilt SD40-3's.

The Facts:
DM&E was supposed to pay $6.2 million for the branch line.

DM&E cleared budget for 12 new locomotives that they still bought when they officially bought it in 1996. (6 Rebuilt SD40-3's ex CP SD40's & 6 Rebuilt GP38-3's ex IC GP40's.)

DM&E didn't have the finances the first time to buy the line and make this subsidiary.

DM&E's option to buy the line ran out.
"You want to be original, you want to be yourself, and whether that's accepted or not accepted, that's not as important as being you" - Tyler Hubbard, Half of Duo Florida Georgia Line

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