The ATSF mainline arrived at Cerrillos (Los Cerrillos) in 1880 and it was a key stop on the ATSF.  The arrival of the train caused an exploration in the population of Cerrillos and proved to be its life blood until the mining claims played out and the town started its decline.

A key branch off the Santa Fe Railroad was the Cerrillos Coal Railroad between Waldo and Madrid.

Today the only trains that frequent Cerrillos are Amtrak Super Chief, the closet stop is nearby Lamy which is a few rail miles to the east.  The depot in Los Cerrillos is now a private home.

Related Links: Cerrillos (Then & Now) Video

Waldo (AT&SF Mainline) to Madrid, NM
The 6 ½ mile line ran between Waldo which is west of Los Cerrillos on the ATSF mainline and the coal mines at Madrid.   Construction started in 1888 and in 1892 the standard gauge line was completed.  The CCR crossed the Galisteo River and proceeded up Madrid Arroyo via Waldo Gulch on it’s way to Madrid.  Madrid was in the New Placers Mining District.  The district is said to have some of the oldest coal mines in the west, many dating back to 1835.  A coke facility was located in Waldo and was the destination of much of the coal mined in Madrid.

The CCR went into foreclosure in 1901 and the AT&SF Railroad took over operations and continued line operation until 1959 when the mines closed.  In 1960 the line was abandoned and torn up.

TTPT Related Links: Waldo (Coke Ovens) Video

aka: Santa Fe & Cerrillos Railway (SCR)
Santa Fe to Coal Fields north of Los Cerrillos
The 38 mile branch of the DRGW San Juan Division (also known as the Chili Line) started in Santa Fe and proceeded southwest from Santa Fe on it’s way to Golden in the New Placers Mining District.  Ultimately, construction stopped short of Golden, terminating in the Coal Fields north of Los Cerrillos.

Brief History of the DRGW Chili Line.

Hagan Junction (AT&SF Mainline) to Hagan
The 6 ½ mile line ran between Hagan Junction which is 20 miles west of Waldo on the ATSF mainline and the mines at Hagan.  Construction started in 1923 and completed a year later.  In 1930 the line had two daily trains, hauling both coal and bricks from a plant which was also in Hagan.

The Santa Fe Central Railway (SCR) started as the Santa Fe Albuquerque & Pacific Railroad with grand plans to reach the west coast.  The name was changed to SCR once the plans became more realistic (connecting the El Paso & Rock Island from Torrance to the capital city).  The SCR pulled into Santa Fe for the 1st time in 1903. 

The SCR fundamentally follows Highway 41 (the roadbed is visible on the west side) until the highway breaks to the east, were the SCR continues N-NW to Santa Fe crossing the AT&SF west of Kennedy.

In 1908 a branch was started from Moriarty to reach the mines in Hagan valley through Frost, the money ran out just north of the Bernalillo County line after crossing the future Highway 14.

In 1926 the AT&SF railroad purchased the SCR and by then the name had been changed to the New Mexico Central.  The Santa Fe started abandonment in 1928 and by 1943 ceased operation.

Santa Fe Central Railway (New Mexico Central) Map