Denver to St. Louis

Denver Union Station to Pullman Junction

• 2005 Route Description

Pullman Junction (Denver) to Limon

• 1994 Route Description

Roswell (Colorado Springs) to Limon

• 1979 Route Description

Limon to Belleville Junction

• 1979 Route Description

Belleville Junction to McFarland

• 1979 Route Description

From Denver to Limon has always been a Union Pacific line. Colorado Springs to Limon is abandoned. Limon east to McFarland was taken over by Kyle Railways after the Rock Island bankruptcy in 1980.

From McFarland east to Kansas City, this line is the same as the Golden State Route, and is today operated by the Union Pacific, successor to the Southern Pacific's Cotton Belt subsidiary.

McFarland to Topeka

• 1999 Route Description

Topeka to Kansas City (West Yard)

• 1999 Route Description

West Yard to Sheffield/Rock Creek Junction

• 1999 Route Description

Sheffield to Leeds Junction

• 1999 Route Description

Leeds Junction to Elmwood Park

• 1979 Route Description

Elmwood Park to Harlem (St. Louis)

• 1979 Route Description

After the Rock Island bankruptcy in 1980, the St. Louis line was sold to the Cotton Belt (as was the Golden State Route between Kansas City and Tucumcari), but was in such bad shape that it was largely abandoned. The Central Midland Railroad took over operations easty of Union, MO, including the Labadie Power Plant coal operations and those to the water terminals along teh Missouri River.