The local train depot in downtown Raton was the scene of an old west train robbery and just plain ole good time. About 300 residents from around the area were on hand Saturday morning to greet the Southwest Chief on its way through Raton to Los Angeles.
The crowd included cowboys and cowgirls, even a couple of train robbers. There was young and old alike as the train stopped in Raton for a few minutes.
Saturday afternoon about 100 people showed up to greet the Southwest Chief as it was headed to Chicago from Los Angeles.
Organizers and volunteers handed out such items as Amtrak goody bags, “Black Gold,” and informational pamphlets about funding from Kansas & Colorado, and lack thereof from New Mexico, to upgrade the tracks and keep the Southwest Chief on it current route.
As of today’s date, Kansas has said it will give funding for track repairs. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is set to sign a bill into law on the steps of The Historic Pueblo Union Depot on May 14th, making it the intent of the State of Colorado to save the Southwest Chief route and add a stop in Pueblo. New Mexico Governor, Susana Martinez, has not shown such support. She is requesting the repairs be the responsibility of the federal government as “That’s the way it’s always been funded,” Tom Church, Martinez’s Cabinet Secretary for Transportation has said. “The Santa Fe New Mexican as picked up by the Garden City Telegram, Garden City Kansas 4/30/14.”
