San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway
Encyclopedia
The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American
railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway
(SD&A) by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels
. Dubbed The Impossible Railroad by many engineers of its day due to the immense logistical challenges involved, the line was established in part to provide San Diego with a direct rail link to the east by connecting with the Southern Pacific Railroad
lines in El Centro, California
. The SD&A's 146.4 miles (235.61 km) route originates in San Diego, California
and terminates in El Centro, California
.
The SD&AE utilizes approximately 108 miles (174 km) of the original SD&A system, broken into four unique segments as follows:
The company took over the SD&A's operations in February 1933 after financial troubles led John Spreckels' descendants to sell off their interests in the railroad to the Southern Pacific. Throughout the years natural disasters and acts of vandalism rendered sections of the line unserviceable, and portions of the line have been sold off to various interests.
In 1979 the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
purchased the SD&AE railway for the purpose of establishing the San Diego Trolley
, an inter county light rail passenger line. The San Diego Trolley carry over 35 million riders annually. The remaining unused track into Imperial County is used for freight.
As of May 2004, freight operations are conducted by the Carrizo Gorge Railway
(CZRY) and the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
(SD&IV).
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum
maintains representations of the SD&AE's operations in both HO scale
(1:87) and N scale
(1:160).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway
San Diego and Arizona Railway
The San Diego and Arizona Railway was a short line American railroad founded by "sugar heir," developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels, and dubbed "The Impossible Railroad" by many engineers of its day due to the immense logistical challenges involved...
(SD&A) by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels
John D. Spreckels
John Diedrich Spreckels , the son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego, California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. Dubbed The Impossible Railroad by many engineers of its day due to the immense logistical challenges involved, the line was established in part to provide San Diego with a direct rail link to the east by connecting with the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
lines in El Centro, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The SD&A's 146.4 miles (235.61 km) route originates in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and terminates in El Centro, California
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
.
The SD&AE utilizes approximately 108 miles (174 km) of the original SD&A system, broken into four unique segments as follows:
- The Blue Line runs south from San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to San Ysidro, California (15.5 miles (24.94 km) in length). - The Desert Line runs northeast from Tijuana, Mexico to Plaster City, CaliforniaPlaster City, CaliforniaPlaster City is an unincorporated community in Imperial County in the U.S. state of California. It is located west of El Centro, at an elevation of 105 feet .United States Gypsum operates a large gypsum quarry and plant there, and owns the town....
(69.9 miles (112.49 km) total length). - The Green Line runs south from San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to Santee, CaliforniaSantee, CaliforniaSantee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
(7.2 miles (11.59 km) total length). - The Orange Line runs east from San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to La Mesa, CaliforniaLa Mesa, CaliforniaLa Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
(16.1 miles (25.91 km) total length).
The company took over the SD&A's operations in February 1933 after financial troubles led John Spreckels' descendants to sell off their interests in the railroad to the Southern Pacific. Throughout the years natural disasters and acts of vandalism rendered sections of the line unserviceable, and portions of the line have been sold off to various interests.
In 1979 the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States. MTS operating subsidiaries include the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated , and San Diego Transit Corporation...
purchased the SD&AE railway for the purpose of establishing the San Diego Trolley
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
, an inter county light rail passenger line. The San Diego Trolley carry over 35 million riders annually. The remaining unused track into Imperial County is used for freight.
As of May 2004, freight operations are conducted by the Carrizo Gorge Railway
Carrizo Gorge Railway
The Carrizo Gorge Railway is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from Tijuana, Mexico to Plaster City, California , San Diego, California to La Mesa, California and San Diego, California to Santee, California...
(CZRY) and the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad
The San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from San Diego, California to San Ysidro, California . The SD&IV has been owned and operated by RailAmerica since 2000; it had been previously owned by RailTex and operated with the...
(SD&IV).
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is one of the world's largest indoor model railroad exhibits and is located in San Diego, California.-Location:The museum is located on the of the Casa De Balboa on the Prado in Balboa Park-Mission statement:...
maintains representations of the SD&AE's operations in both HO scale
HO scale
HO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is...
(1:87) and N scale
N scale
N scale is a popular model railway scale/track gauge. Depending upon the manufacturer , the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the gauge is . The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148 scale with track gauge modelling...
(1:160).
Timeline
- October 24, 1932: Financial problems force Spreckels' heirs to transfer their share of San Diego and Arizona (SD&A) ownership to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company for $2.8 million.
- February 1, 1933: The San Diego and Arizona Eastern RailwaySan Diego and Arizona Eastern RailwayThe San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is a short-line American railroad originally founded in 1906 as the San Diego and Arizona Railway by sugar heir, developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels...
is incorporated and assumes all operations of the SD&A. - 1934: Operation of the three gasoline-electric units is discontinued.
- January 11, 1951: The SD&AE ends passenger service due to years of declining patronage.
- May 20, 1970: The Southern Pacific RailroadSouthern Pacific RailroadThe Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
(SP) relinquishes its interest in the 44 miles (71 km) Tijuana and Tecate Railway to one of Mexico's national railways, Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California, S.A. de C.V. - September 10, 1976: Hurricane Kathleen destroys major sections of track and bridges on the Desert Line.
- 1978: The Interstate Commerce CommissionInterstate Commerce CommissionThe Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
(ICC) denies SP’s request to abandon the railway. - August 20, 1979: San Diego's Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) purchases the SD&AE Railway Company in restored condition for $18.1 million (the SP retains ownership to the Plaster City to El Centro segment). The ICC approves operation of freight service by Kyle Railways under contract to MTDB. The MTDB reorganizes the SD&AE as a Nevada nonprofit corporation.
- January 1980: Washouts caused by desert storms displace parts of the SD&AE Desert Line and S-BC Tijuana y Tecate lines, on both US and Mexico.
- January 1983: With the Mexico damage repaired, Kyle Railways begins rail shipments between San Diego and Plaster City.
- June 18, 1983: Fire destroys two (2) bridges on the Desert Line.
- March 18, 1984: The MTDB signs agreement with the Texas firm RailTexRailTexRailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
to provide freight service. The new service operates as the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad (SD&IV) with the reporting mark SDIV. - April 25, 1984: The ICC denies Kyle Railways’ request to abandon the railroad.
- August 9, 1984: The ICC approves RailTex’s application to operate freight service.
- October 15, 1984: RailTex's San Diego and Imperial Valley RailroadSan Diego and Imperial Valley RailroadThe San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from San Diego, California to San Ysidro, California . The SD&IV has been owned and operated by RailAmerica since 2000; it had been previously owned by RailTex and operated with the...
begins freight service from San Diego to El Cajon and San Diego to San Ysidro during nighttime hours when MTS' San Diego Trolley's LRV's are not in operation. - December 1, 1985: La Mesa based Pacific Southwest Railway MuseumPacific Southwest Railway MuseumThe Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, located at the corner of State Route 94 and Forrest Gate Road near Campo, California, is a railroad museum dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of railroads as they existed in the Pacific Southwest....
, Association, Inc. (PSRM) reincarnates the San Diego & Arizona Railway (SD&A) and begins vintage 16 miles (26 km) roundtrip passenger excursion Golden State round-trips trips on the its facility in Campo between CampoCampo, CaliforniaCampo is a census-designated place located in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California. The population was 2,684 at the 2010 census....
to Miller Creek and/or Division with steam and diesel vintage trains. - August 1, 1986: The SD&IV enters into a multi-year agreement with Mexico's Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes to set tariffs and provide freight service into Baja California.
- July 1, 1987: Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja California, S.A. de C.V.Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja CaliforniaThe Ferrocarril Sonora–Baja California is a former railroad line of Mexico that operated from Mexicali, Baja California, to Benjamín Hill, Sonora. It was absorbed into Nacionales de México in 1984.-External links:*...
and major Mexican Railroads merge into a single system, the last nationalization is made into the new Ferrocarriles Nacionales de MexicoFerrocarriles Nacionales de MéxicoFerrocarriles Nacionales de México, was Mexico's state owned railroad company from 1938 to 1998, and prior to 1938 a major railroad controlled by the government that linked Mexico City to the major cities of Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juárez on the U.S. border...
(FNM) - October 10, 1987 PSRM is invited by the city of TecateTecateTecate is a small city in Baja California, Mexico and the municipal seat of Tecate Municipality. It is located on the border with Tecate, California, United States in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. There is a small port of entry betwixt the sister cities that serves as a calmer...
to run a special train from Campo to Tecate, for the city's fair. The event is a success, and 'Ticket to Tecate' excursion trains become regular once or twice a month. - July 14, 1989: SD&IV begins repairs on the 'Desert Line' as a prelude to the start of freight service to Imperial County.
- August 2, 1996: Southern Pacific (SP) is bought by Union Pacific (UP).
- July 4, 1997: Lakeside based Carrizo Gorge Railway, Inc. is formed to operate and repair the Desert Line.
- 2000: FNM is privatized and Tijuana-Tecate line's ownership is transferred to SCT, and is assigned to be administrated by the state of Baja California, 'Administradora de la Via Corta Tijuana-Tecate (ADMICARGA)' is created.
- January 4, 2000: RailTex is acquired by RailAmericaRailAmericaRailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
and the railroad's reporting mark is changed to SDIY. - July 1, 2001: The Mexican portion of the line is sub-contracted to Ferrocarriles Peninsulares del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V. (FPDN), a subsidiary of Carrizo Gorge RailwayCarrizo Gorge RailwayThe Carrizo Gorge Railway is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from Tijuana, Mexico to Plaster City, California , San Diego, California to La Mesa, California and San Diego, California to Santee, California...
, Inc. (CZRY), after 16 years of operation in Mexico, RailTex's SD&IV retires. - May 15, 2004: With repairs to Tunnels 8 and 16 complete and destroyed bridges rebuilt including the Goat Canyon Trestle, the CZRY officially reopens freight service to Plaster City and the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
interchange. Major shipments of sandSandSand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
from the Imperial Valley are used to supply ready-mixed concreteConcreteConcrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
to the San Diego construction markets, and other carloads into Mexico as well, such as lumberLumberLumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and grainGRAINGRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
. - April 20, 2005: Tierra Madre Consultants create Tierra Madre Railway which buys a caboose (TMRX 1) and leases it to Tren Turistico del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V., a tourist train that will operate from Tijuana to Tecate and from Mexicali to Puerto Penasco.
- October 10, 2008: The Carrizo Gorge Railway has placed an embargo on the line between Campo and Plaster City, which takes effect on October 17, 2009. The embargo involves a major rehabilitation project for the railway's support on the Government of Baja CaliforniaBaja CaliforniaBaja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
's project on the Port of EnsenadaPort of EnsenadaThe Port of Ensenada is a marine freight and cruise terminal in Ensenada, Baja California. This deepwater port lies in Bahia de Todos Santos and in 2010 brought in 3,592,891 metric tons of cargo. Ships arrive to the port from major ports in Asia, North America, and South America. The ports...
's intermodal terminal. - January, 2010: Tunnel 3 (Division) is damaged by a fire, preventing 'Ticket to Tecate' trips at that time.
See also
- Carrizo Gorge RailwayCarrizo Gorge RailwayThe Carrizo Gorge Railway is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from Tijuana, Mexico to Plaster City, California , San Diego, California to La Mesa, California and San Diego, California to Santee, California...
- San Diego and Arizona RailwaySan Diego and Arizona RailwayThe San Diego and Arizona Railway was a short line American railroad founded by "sugar heir," developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels, and dubbed "The Impossible Railroad" by many engineers of its day due to the immense logistical challenges involved...
- San Diego Electric RailwaySan Diego Electric RailwayThe San Diego Electric Railway was a mass transit system in Southern California, USA, using streetcars and buses.The SDERy was established by "sugar heir," developer, and entrepreneur John D. Spreckels in 1892...
- San Diego and Imperial Valley RailroadSan Diego and Imperial Valley RailroadThe San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from San Diego, California to San Ysidro, California . The SD&IV has been owned and operated by RailAmerica since 2000; it had been previously owned by RailTex and operated with the...
- San Diego TrolleySan Diego TrolleyThe San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...