Originally incorporated 1872 as the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railway Company as the successor to the Denver, Georgetown and Utah Railway Company. The Denver, South Park & Pacific Railway Company was incorporated June 14, 1873, "one of two spokes" constructed by [John] Evans in a wheel of which Denver was to be the hub." (from Railroads in the Rockies by Robert Ormes) Its purpose was a junction with the Southern Pacific at Ft. Yuma, Arizona. The trackage rights to Leadville were cancelled in 1883 and caused financial difficulties. It was foreclosed in 1889, purchased by the Union Pacific as the Denver, Leadville & Gunnison, then purchased by the Colorado and Southern in 1899.