The St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad served the southern United States for 101 years. With mainlines connecting Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, this railroad became known as the “Cotton Belt”. In 1992, the Cotton Belt was formally consolidated into the Southern Pacific Railroad (SSW's parent company since 1932), which was then acquired by the Union Pacific four years later. Now 20+ years since the merger, a few select locomotives still wear the Cotton Belt name. During a pleasant break in the weather, an old Cotton Belt locomotive leads the Rocklin Rocket through Sheridan, California.
