Eastern Idaho Railroad

The Eastern Idaho Railroad (reporting mark EIRR) started running on November 21, 1993, as a collection of two disconnected clusters of former Union Pacific branches. EIRR is owned by Watco, Inc (WAMX), of Pittsburg, Kansas, a short line operator. EIRR operates two segments, that move more than 35,000 carloads per year to the Union Pacific, with interchanges at Idaho Falls on the Northern Segment, and Minidoka on the Southern segment. The annual income is reported as being under 25 million dollars.

The Southern segment

The Southern lines consist of:

• UP's former Twin Falls Branch (Minidoka to Buhl, 74 miles)
• UP's former North Side Branch (Rupert to Wendell, 57 miles)
• the Raft River Industrial Lead (Burley to Declo, 9miles)
• the Oakley Industrial Lead (Burley to Martin, 11 miles).

All lines connect for a total of 152 miles (245 km). Operations are based out of the ex-UP depots at Twin Falls and Rupert. The southern segment interchanges with U.P. at Minidoka, Idaho.

The Northern Segment

The Northern lines consist of:

• Union Pacific's former (Utah northern) main line in Idaho Falls (5 miles)
• the Yellowstone Branch (Idaho Falls to Ashton, 52 miles)
• the St Anthony Industrial Lead (Saint Anthony to Egin, 12 miles)
• the Goshen Industrial Lead (Ammon to Lincoln Jct., 4 miles)
• the East Belt Branch (Newdale to Orvin, 38 miles),
• the West Belt Industrial Lead (Ucon to Menan, 10 miles).

All lines connect for a total of 119 miles (192 km), served by four locomotives, with operations based out of an office trailer on the north end of the Idaho Falls yard, the point at which EIRR interchanges with UP's Montana sub.

External links

• Eastern Idaho Railroad