San Diego and Arizona: The Impossible Railroad

San Diego was truly endowed by nature with one of the world's finest harbors, yet its development languished far behind that of its rival port cities. Why? The lack of transportation options has made all the difference.

San Diegans did not want to be a satellite of Los Angeles, but..to naught. The wild and rugged mountain barrier behind the town was simply too much of an impediment-until John D. Spreckels came upon the scene.

This is the story of how Spreckels welded together existing short-line railroads to push through a tortuous but 'direct' railroad to the East. The spectacular passage through Carriso Gorge, fraught with construction and operating difficulties, was an expensive obstacle.

Illustrations follow every facet of railroad development form steam dummies to mainline construction, steam power, the diesel era, and early and modern passenger service.