The Joint Line

What is commonly referred to as the BNSF Pikes Peak Subdivision (east track) & the Union Pacific Colorado Springs Subdivision (west track). Built by the Santa Fe & Rio Grande, respectively, it was essentially an extension of the literal war between the two, with both lines literally being built right next to each other in a bid to win traffic between Denver & Pueblo. Thanks to WW1 & the USRA, they were turned into a directional double main, with the Santa Fe route being northbounds only & vice versa for the Rio Grande line. Today, both are owned by BNSF & UP utilize them in that same manner for that same length, with the exception of BNSF now using the Rio Grande route via trackage rights between Palmer Lake & Colorado Springs.