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San Diego and Arizona Railway: The Impossible Railroad
Surveyors called the San Diego and Arizona Railway (SD&A) "The Impossible Railroad" because of its jagged, mountainous, and brutal desert route. The financier and driving force behind building this binational 148-mile rail connection to the east from San Diego, California, was businessman John D. Spreckels. Because of his perseverance, the jinxed 1907-1919 construction overcame a series of disasters, including the Mexican Revolution, a prolonged lawsuit, floods, World War I, labor shortages, a tunnel cave-in, and a lethal pandemic. Once up and running, the line was intermittently in and out of service and later sold and renamed the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway. While "The Impossible Railroad" still faces constant challenges and partial closures, freight and trolley service currently operate on its right-of-way, and tourist excursions are offered at its Campo, California, depot.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 7, 2012
Railway, The Impossible Railroad by Reena Deutsch. This photographic history of the railway from San Diego to Yuma, with stretches in Mexico has plenty of factual data provided to the reader.
The real challenge of the construction was twofold. First, a man big enough to invest 13 million in a venture whose outcome was always in doubt. John Spreckels, who at one time paid ten percent of all taxes in SD County, filled the bill.
Second, the challenge of building a railroad through Carrizo Gorge and up the mountain scarp and down all the way to Dos Cabesas, on the desert floor. The area was isolated, rough and subject to extreme temperature swings. Tunnels were required to keep a low angle for the steam engine powered trains of that era and the rock varied from hard granite to unstable and dangerous. The terrain was subject to flash flooding and earthquakes.
The Goat Canyon trestle was built of wood, because of the temperature swings of 75 degrees during some months of the year. Must read for anyone who aspires to mountain bike or hike down to this monument to man's attempt to engineer a technological solution to withstand the forces of nature.
The real challenge of the construction was twofold. First, a man big enough to invest 13 million in a venture whose outcome was always in doubt. John Spreckels, who at one time paid ten percent of all taxes in SD County, filled the bill.
Second, the challenge of building a railroad through Carrizo Gorge and up the mountain scarp and down all the way to Dos Cabesas, on the desert floor. The area was isolated, rough and subject to extreme temperature swings. Tunnels were required to keep a low angle for the steam engine powered trains of that era and the rock varied from hard granite to unstable and dangerous. The terrain was subject to flash flooding and earthquakes.
The Goat Canyon trestle was built of wood, because of the temperature swings of 75 degrees during some months of the year. Must read for anyone who aspires to mountain bike or hike down to this monument to man's attempt to engineer a technological solution to withstand the forces of nature.
July 16, 2013
Lots of fun little bits of history of San Diego railroad history and the SD&A rail road specifically.
Some great photos and enough info to go with them to make it interesting.
Some great photos and enough info to go with them to make it interesting.
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July 19, 2016Enjoyed the photos. Nice adjunct to the Balboa train museum and the psrm org in Campo Ca.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews