El Paso Railroad Timeline 1925-1945.
Modern Era of Steam Railroading.
1927
1927: Pullman car James Watt was Constructed. Donated to the Southwest Chapter by the Cowen Family in 1987 stored in a remote location. See the Other Rolling Stock part of this web site for more information and photographs.
May 19, 1927: A westbound Southern Pacific Sunset Limited leaving El Paso rear ends a freight train five miles west of El Paso Union Depot. Torpedoes were activated but the passenger train hit the caboose at a speed estimated between 20 to 35 mph. ASARCO Smelter Employees responded to the accident. The train was towed back to El Paso Union Depot and Sent on Its way One hour and 40 minutes after the collision. (Southern Pacific Officials Probe Train Collision 1927 May 20 El Paso Herald Pg. 2)
Sept 1927 Local Chairman D.L.P. Duke of lodge 135 the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen r. and Mrs. Duke Honored by Friends 1927 Sept 10 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
September 1928: Southern Pacific tank car SPMW 6512 is built. It is now a part of the 3420 collection. Again see the Other Rolling Stock part of this web site for more information.
1929
1929: American Car and Foundry builds Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway cabooses 1860 and 1868 latter rebuilt to cabooses 999388 and 999392 in 1969. Apart of the 3420 collection. See other Rolling Stock for more information.
1929: Construction of two oil refineries and the copper refinery occur six miles out of El Paso, Texas.
1931
1931: Southern Pacific Constructs Bonito Lake to expand the water capacity from the Rio Bonito.
1933
Aug 29, 1933: At least eight passengers perish and 44 are injured when the eastbound Golden State Limited discovers a washed out bridge five miles east of Tucumcari New Mexico. Ironically a Southern Pacific Bridge Inspector enroute from El Paso is one of the individuals killed. (Complete Identification of Eight Killed in Train Wreck 1933 Aug 30 El Paso Herald Pg. 1 Col 4)
1936
November 1936: Box Car 115497 is built. Today this car is a part of the 3420 collection. See the Box cars Section of this Web Site.
1939
August 1939: The Southern Pacific begins taking delivery of twelve AC-9 2-8-8-4 coal burning locomotives from Lima Locomotive works.
September 1939: WWII begins.
Southern Pacific 3807 in transit to El Paso, Collection for set up for operation from Lima Locomotive Works in 1939. Note the special lubricator on the smoke box , the missing main rods, and the locomotive messenger in the cab. Photographer Credited as D. W. Eldridge at Topeka Kansas. Robby Peartree Collection.
1941
January 1941: 1055 El Pasoans employed by the Southern Pacific in the El Paso General Shops on Piedras St. This is the largest number in years due to the depression. Six day work weeks are again in place.
1943
October 20: The Interstate Commerce Commission approves the abandonment of the 20.5-mile Capitan Branch in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The branch from Carrizozo to Capitan New Mexico was the original stated goal of the El Paso & Northeastern Railroad. (Abandonment Granted, 1943 October 21, El Paso Times, Pg. 3)
1945
August 1945: WWII ends. El Paso Southern Pacific Shops alone now employ over 1500 employees.
August 06, 1945: National Railways of Mexico announce improvements to the railways of Mexico costing $32, 000,000 in U.S. Dollars according to Pedro C. Morales, Assistant to the General Manager. This was announced during the inauguration of two diesel locomotives in passenger service between Juarez and Torreon. The locomotives were constructed at the Baldwin locomotive works and delivered to the National Railways of Mexico at Juarez where they entered service. Karl O. Wyler, President of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce christened the cream color locomotive sporting blue and red trim. Four employees would be sent to school at La Grange, Illinois to learn how to operate the locomotives. Ed: The units were later featured in a Baldwin locomotive Magazine article. (Mexico Plans $32,000,000 Rail Program 1945 Aug 07 El Paso Times Pg. 1 Col 6)
August 25, 1945: The voters of city of El Paso approve the $350,000 bond issue for the Super highway including the railroad grade separation. The results were 1920 for and 1265 against. (approval of Highway Bonds Starts Postwar Development 1945 Aug 27 El Paso Herald-Post Pg. 2 Col. 1)
September 7th, and 8th, 1945: Southern Pacific subsidiary Texas and New Orleans freight train with locomotive 921 (2-10-2 and caboose 148 left the yard eastbound at 9:28 am on September 7th with 45 cars 9:30 am for Valentine, Texas. The test was largely successful except for a 15 minute period here communication between the El Paso Dispatcher and the train was not available. The range of the radio was 20 miles. On September 8th the final local experimental trip using radio communication equipment on the locomotive 919 (a 2-10-2) and caboose 407 on a 37-car train. Radio communication between the engine and caboose were heard 15 miles away. The dispatcher in El Paso, Texas was able to communicate with the caboose. (Radio Used Successfully on Train Running from E.P. 1945 Sept. 07 El Paso Herald-Post Pg. 12 Col. 3) (Train-to-Train Radio Tested 1945 Sep 1945 El Paso Herald-Post Pg. 2 Col. 2) (Radio Gives Railroads Touch of Modernism in Test here 1945 Sept 08 El Paso Times Pg. 2 Col 4)
Southern Pacific 921 and the 919 were used in the radio test on September 7th and 8th 1945. The above view of 919 was taken on December 1, 1947. The 919 was acquired by the Texas and New Orleans subsidiary of the Southern Pacific from their Pacific Lines part of the Southern Pacific Company on September 16, 1930. El Paso, Texas was the dividing point between the Atlantic and Pacific Lines of the Southern Pacific. The railroad line running east to Sierra Blanca, Texas was apart of the Atlantic Lines and the other Southern Pacific trackage out of El Paso were apart of the Pacific Lines company. The Photographer is Author B. Johnson, Robby Peartree Collection. (Source: Diebert, Timothy S & Strapac Joseph A, Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Compendium, Pg. 387)
September 8, 1945: The Southern Pacific announces the purchase of 10 used 2-8-4 coal burning steam locomotives from the Boston & Maine due to the level of rail traffic even though WWII has just ceased hostilities. (More Locomotives 1945 Sept 8 El Paso Times Pg. 3 Col. 4)
Southern Pacific 3506 photographed at El Paso, Texas at the coaling tower om October 19, 1947 This is one of the former Boston and Maine Locomotives purchased by the Southern Pacific in September of 1945. Photographer Unknown. Robby Peartree Collection.
El Paso Railroad Timeline: Prior to 1881
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1881-1895
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1896-1910
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1911-1924
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1946-1960
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1961-Present