Private company

Denver Rock Island Railroad

Logo: https://denverrockisland.com/, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

American Class III terminal railroad

The Denver Rock Island Railroad (reporting mark DRIR), formerly known as the Denver Terminal Railroad, is a Class III terminal railroad in Denver and Commerce City, Colorado. The DRIR works around Denver's stock yards and many industries in that area.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

  • HeadquartersAdams County1

The Denver Rock Island Railroad (reporting mark DRIR), formerly known as the Denver Terminal Railroad, is a Class III terminal railroad in Denver and Commerce City, Colorado. The DRIR works around Denver's stock yards and many industries in that area.2

The story

In June 2005, the Denver Rock Island Railroad filed with the Surface Transportation Board a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire from Union Pacific Railroad and operate rail lines commonly known as the Stock Yard Lead and the North Washington Industrial Track in Denver and Adams Counties, Colorado. The Stock Yard Lead consists of track extending from a point of connection with a UP main line north of East 58th Avenue in unincorporated Adams County to a point of connection with existing DRIR trackage at or near Race Court in the City of Denver, Denver County, a distance of 5,750 feet, or 1.09 miles. The North Washington Industrial Track extends north from the UP beltline industrial lead to serve several warehouses in the lumber industry. This line contains both a wye and half a block of street running on 67th Avenue.

From Wikipedia’s article on Denver Rock Island Railroad, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad1