Author Description

Fascinating history of the Southern Pacific's lines in Mexico, detailing the construction and operation of the Southern Pacific of Mexico (the Ferrocarril Sud Pacifico de Mexico) and its West Coast Route (the Ruta de la Costa Occidental) which stretched 1094 miles from Nogales to Guadalajara. The American capitalists and Mexican politicians who combined forces to build this railroad system -- men such as Collis P. Huntington, William Barstow Strong, E. H. Harriman, Porfirio Diaz, Venustiano Carranza, Alvaro Obregon -- are brought vividly to life as the railroad struggled through revolution, banditry, tremendous engineering feats and sharp economic disappointments. Covers the railroad through the takeover by the Mexican government in 1951 and the major upgrading that occurred thereafter. The author also provides a very interesting look at the SP practices that continued to influence the railroad even as late as 1986. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. With all-time roster of the railroad and associated lines, 9 maps, route profile, and bibliography. End papers show system map. 168 pages with index.