United States Potash Railroad
Encyclopedia
The United States Potash Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad built in 1930 to carry potash
from the mines to the mill. The 16-mile railroad was located just east of Carlsbad, New Mexico
, USA, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park
.
The railroad was originally built and operated with former Death Valley Railroad
and Borate and Daggett Railroad
equipment, rails and employees. Steam locomotive
s were used initially, but were eventually replaced by diesel-electric locomotives.
The railroad ceased operation in 1967.
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
from the mines to the mill. The 16-mile railroad was located just east of Carlsbad, New Mexico
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435...
, USA, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns...
.
The railroad was originally built and operated with former Death Valley Railroad
Death Valley Railroad
The Death Valley Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated in California's Death Valley.It was built in 1914 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to carry borax with the route running from Ryan, California, located just east of Death Valley National Park, to Death Valley Junction, a distance...
and Borate and Daggett Railroad
Borate and Daggett Railroad
The Borate and Daggett Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad built to carry borax in the Mojave Desert. The railroad ran about 11 miles from Daggett, California, USA to Borate, California, USA.-History:...
equipment, rails and employees. Steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s were used initially, but were eventually replaced by diesel-electric locomotives.
The railroad ceased operation in 1967.