The Southern Pacific apparently has two lines in southern New Mexico, running from Benson, AZ, to El Paso, TX. The northern line runs through Lordsburg and Deming, NM, while the southern route hugs the US-Mexican border.
I am interested in knowing when these lines were established, why two separate routes to the same destination were created, and by what (division) names are they called today. Thanks.
Suggest you purchase “New Mexico’s Railroads,” by David F. Myrick, University of New Mexico Press, 1990. Not very expensive and easy to order from places like Colorado Railroad Museum or abebooks.com.
Short answer: I think you are looking at a map more than 40 years out of date. Original Southern Pacific transcontinental built eastward from Los Angeles through Yuma, Wellton, Casa Grande, Tuscon, Lordsburg, Deming to El Paso in 1877-1881. The El Paso & Southwestern, a Phelps-Dodge Copper project, extended a small short line built to serve its copper mining and smelting properties westward to Tuscon and eastward to El Paso (the southern route) in 1900-1902, in order to obtain the profits from transportation as well as the copper mining and smelting. Copper prices collapsed following WWI and most of the mines and smelters were closed for several years. With no need for the railroad, Phelps-Dodge sold the EP&SW to SP in 1924. SP operated it as a secondary main line in some places and as a directional main line paired with its original main line in others, notably Tucson-Benson, Arizona. Substantial portions of the EP&SW in Arizona remain in operation but the EP&SW in New Mexico was abandoned in 1963 except for Anapra-El Paso, which remains as the No. 2 main track.
S. Hadid
S. Hadid,
What other books in the same vein would you recommend for Arizona, California and Colorado?
And for these specific lines:
D&RGW, AT&SF, SP, UP & WP
The historical time periods that interest me the most are up to and including the 1960’s.
My recommendation is to start with the Steam Powered Video atlases; it will at least tell you what you need to be looking for.
For Arizona, Myrick’s “Railroads of Arizona” are comprehensive, but some of the volumes (there are five to date) are out of print and very expensive.
Colorado, the best source would be “Colorado Railroads,” Tivis E. Wilkins, Pruett, 1974. Out of print but copies can be had for around $50.
California really doesn’t have anything equivalent, unfortunately. The best that can be done is piece it together from a lot of different sources. The Class Is (SP, ATSF, UP, WP, GN) are fairly simple to piece together but the short lines, logging roads, and interurbans are a challenge. Myrick’s Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California (2 vols.) covers the Mojave Desert and east-of-Sierra Nevada region comprehensively. Volume 2 is the southern Nevada roads.
S. Hadid
I’ve got all 5 printed so far (all bought new and am still waiting for the volume covering the Arizona Mining Belt that was promised in Vol I). Excellent books. The EP&SW is covered in Vol I and had some interesting tidbits about a possible transcon composed of the RI, EP&SW and the SD&A - which didn’t pan out in part due to Spreckels running out of money to complete the SD&A.
S. Hadid,
Yes, my information is not the most current, but it is not all that old either. I do have better information to offer:
The northern line ran from Benson, AZ, to El Paso, TX, via Lordsburg and Deming, NM. You say this was the original and is the main line.
The southern line ran from Douglas, AZ, to El Paso, TX via Hachita and Columbus, NM. Thanks for filling in the history of that ex-EP&SW line.
The southern line was in the news a few years ago (less than ten) because it ran so close to the US-Mexican border that Mexican bandits would break into the trains, parked or moving, and steal cargo, most often electronics.
I doubt SP would run trains just between Anapra and El Paso on that line. More than likely, the trains run the full length before joining the main line again in Arizona.
Dear Mr. Emery: I am intimately familiar with this line on a professional basis, not a casual basis. I don’t know where your information arises but if it claims that the former EP&SW is in place at present between Anapra and Douglas, or 10 years ago, then it is utterly wrong.
Anapra is just five miles west of El Paso – this is just a long lead into the yard! The SP and the EP&SW paralleled each other on virtually the same embankment from Anapra to El Paso and since 1924 SP has operated Anapra-El Paso as double track.
At Anapra (going westward) the EP&SW diverged southwesterly toward Douglas. From Anapra west to Douglas the EP&SW is GONE. The rails were pulled beginning in 1965.
S. Hadid
Mr Emery-
The former EP&SW has been gone for decades, have a look at this website-
Dale,
That history of the EP&SW was very useful. Thank you for the pointer.
S. Hadid,
My information comes from several different sources, some of it undated. I think now I have a better understanding of the “Southline” and its operations during the 20th Century.
My original post was based on a 1960 map from Rand McNally. I have now learned, and hopefully my understanding is now correct, that the SP Southline (ex-EP&SW) from Anapra west ceased operations in 1961, with track and ties pulled up in the years following.
That news story about Mexican bandits robbing freight trains of their cargo was correct. I did not write that it was along the ex-EP&SW, which you assumed. These events probably took place in Anapra, as it is on the international border.
I also did not know that the SP Northline joined the SP Southline at Anapra. Thank you for that information. The maps I have show two distinct and separate routes leading into El Paso. I have since found other maps which show the Northline in greater detail.
I believe now that my original and subsequent questions have been answered. My thanks to all.