The Abandoned Railroad Grade to Muleshoe Curve 

I was with my father, and a friend of his in the early 70s..... We took a trip in a Chevy van to see Horse Shoe Curve, and spend 2 days walking around the whole area, and taking photographs... Carl Grubbs, and my dad Earl Tice "Big earl" were the ones who 'dragged " me along to see everything... ...... Well, after tromping around horse shoe for a full day, taking pictures, and taking a few pieces of memorabilia that were discarded along the right of way, we stumbled onto that Muleshoe curve branch, and walked up that very access ramp as shown... ...... At the time, there was an old semi , just parked in the ramp for some reason, but as we walked to the top where the tracks were, = the TRACKS were still in place.... 'Pleasantly surprised to see they (tracks) were still in place, and even at the time, that branch looked pretty old and "abandoned".... I only remember one track, but we heard a train coming our way, and at first, thought it was from the horse shoe.... So we were being careless, and walking between the rails.... Then, to our surprise, and shear horror for a split second, a train was coming down the Muleshoe!!!.. It had 3 old Alcos and a GM and from what I can remember, I think one was still painted in reading... maybe an EL unit in the mix, but there were 4 units on the front, and mostly shorter railcars... . They couldn't have been doing but 10 MPH..... just chugging, and lugging the tonnage past us as we stood there with our mouths open in absolute surprise and joy that we had actually been so fortunate as to have had just the right timing to see a train pass along in front of us... .. Both Carl and Earl are gone now... I just turned 53 today myself, but I will never forget those memories of my dad, taking the time to take me to see these things as a young boy..... I couldn't have been but 7 or 8..... .. So, THANks for posting that video... It really took me back to a magical time in my life... and in the afternoon of my birthday.. Thanks-Jason Tice

It was late seventies in May and I actually went swimming with my friends in that reservoir. The water was so cold.

Hi. I live a few miles from this location, but have never stopped and made the walk up the trail. Thanks for showing me what I’ve missed. And yes, this area is gorgeous in the fall!

I've hiked the entire line several times. I highly recommend doing it in the fall. I've biked from Muleshoe up to 22 and back. Much easier coming down!

Thanks for your effort to make this video and the info you've given. Been through here a few times but am still learning the history of the area.

I just found out about this while at the Horseshoe Curve museum earlier, I live in Blair county and never knew about this, imagine what a wonder this would be if that line was still there, I never would've guessed there was a separate line that went up the mountains

I have seen photos of Mule Shoe curve, where it connected to Horseshoe curve. I was told that the railroad would use it as a back up way of circumventing the curve it there was a problem. Still looking for old photo's on the net of that connection, not many to be found.

Isn’t this near the east broad top rr