El Paso Railroad Timeline 1896-1910
A Second Generation of Railroads Companies Start to Influence the Area. The Eddy Brothers come to El Paso and begin the El Paso & Northeastern and the Arizona & Southeastern continues to benefit from the rapid growth in the use of copper and finds itself needing to have a better control of certain critical materials that will influence railroad construction in United States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and in Northern Mexico.
1896
June 5, 1896: The EL Paso & Northeastern is chartered to build from El Paso to White Oaks New Mexico and the El Capitan coal Mines.
1897
February 5, 1897: Southern Pacific Depot at Stein’s Pass New Mexico was lost due to a kitchen fire resulting in $1000 worth of damage. Miss Emma Rogers lost all of her clothing and furniture in the fire. (1897 Feb. 8 El Paso Herald Pg. 4 Col. 2)
June 1, 1897: Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway locomotives 203 and 255 ran onto a washout at the old dam site 19 mile south of Rincon, New Mexico Sheldon. Engineer J. K. Dellhart and Fireman C. W. McKay, who were operating locomotive 203, were trapped for twenty minutes between the tender tank and boiler. Engineer Jake Simmons and Fireman Joe Fair abandoned the cab of 255 by jumping from the cab before the accident. They then rescued Dellhart and McKay. McKay would suffer a broken rib. The quicksand almost rendered the locomotives out of sight. This is the same area that locomotive 106 was lost in 1892 and it took them two years to recover the locomotive. (Railroad Notes (1897 June 1) El Paso Herald pg. 3)
June 23, 1897: Street cars are now running around the belt line between Juarez and El Paso. Patrons of the line think that if the fare was reduced to five cents, the business of the road would be considerably increased. (Round About (1897 June 23) El Paso Herald pg. 4)
June 24, 1897: Madden, Texas. At approximately 5:20 pm a collision occurs between a Texas & Pacific Passenger Train #4 and a Galveston Harrisburg, & San Antonio Railway freight train #24 resulting in the death of the engineer of the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio train Mr. Samuel Pierson.
July 14, 1897: Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway Chief Engineer J. F. Mahl, Superintendent of bridges D.K. Colburn and party meet with the Texas & Pacific and Mayor Magoffin about a levee from Stanton Street east to the lines limit (Viewing the Levee, El Paso Herald pg. 1)
July 15, 1897: At 11 o’clock a Mexican Central passenger train derailed into the Mapimi ditch approximately 500 miles south of El Paso, killing Engineer F. W. Foote. Recent heavy rains had caused erosion at the three-truss stone pier bridge. The fireman jumped and swam to the nearest bank. The baggage car and passengers did not join the locomotive. For several days, stub service was provided was restored. (Went Though the Bridge 1897 July 16 El Paso Herald pg. 4)
Aug 18, 1897: The Mexican Central in in trouble today, great grief in fact, and all on account of Eliza” in this particular case a series of wash outs between Juarez and Chihuahua. At Laguna station a freight train is tied up between two washouts. Near Puerto station. Yesterday’s No.2 that left Juarez last evening ran into a wash out and the engine and baggage car are lying on their side in the ditch, and two coaches are also off the tracks, out not ditched. Then at Ensinillas station the north bound passenger due here this morning, is stuck between two washouts. So altogether, there is a regular merry go ‘round. The southbound passenger cannot be reached until the trains on either side of it are relieved (In A Pickle 1897 Aug 18 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Aug 20, 1897: The Southern Pacific Co is now having about 100 teams, and a large number of men at work on the track near Dragoon Summit and railroad pass under the direction of the company which is in the immediate charge of General William Hood who has for many years been chief engineer of this vast corporation. There will be four miles of track in the vicinity of Dragoon summit and eight miles near railroad pass to be changed, placed out of the washes and on higher ground beside strengthening the roadbed in other places. (Railroad Notes 1897 Aug 20 El Paso Herald Pg. 3)
Aug 20, 1897: “An order issued by the Treasury Department that all cars containing freight coming into Mexico via the Rio Grande must be unloaded in order that the contents can be inspected by the customs officers and then reloaded for their destination. Heretofore freight shipped from the United States to Mexico via El Paso came through direct.” (Railroad Notes 1897 Aug 20 El Paso Herald Pg. 3) (Ed: If you understand this congrats as I have not figured statement this out yet.)
Aug 20, 1897: The Texas Railroad Commission has taken to do something no other railroad commission, state or national, has attempted, namely, to fix the rates of railroads. Heretofore the commissions have found it their duty to adjust rates, so as to prevent discrimination. The Texas Commission has lowered the rates bodily, entailing a loss upon the railroads estimated at a million dollars. The new Tariff is ordered to go into effect on the 16th, but so far none of the railroads has promulgated it. The legality of the procedure will be tested in the courts. Mobile Register (Railroad Notes 1897 Aug 20 El Paso Herald Pg. 3)
Aug 21, 1897: The Santa Fe is very strict with regard to drinking. Not a few of the railroad boys up the road have lately received letters, something as follows: “You are hereby discharged having been seen coming from ----------- Saloon at ------- hour, while on duty.” Water is good enough while working, boys. (Railroad Notes 21 Aug 1897 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Aug 24, 1897: The Mexican Central received today over the Santa Fe twenty new Box cars. The Corralitos road will receive today or tomorrow thirty-five new from the Santa Fe. Over thirty passengers from the belated Mexican Central trains reached Juarez yesterday by means of hand cars. The first regular train in a week is due to come through this afternoon sometime. (Railroad Notes 24 Aug 1897 El Paso Herald Pg.1)
Aug 24, 1897: The Southern Pacific is blocked today because of a derailment just this side of Fort Hancock at 6 a.m. The first section of No. 23 was passing through a cut when a flange broke and presto! Six heavily loaded freight cars were trying to climb their way out over the hill to the fill beyond. No one was hurt but the six cars were demoralized. A wrecking train was sent out at once from this city, but the wreck is so difficult to get at that it will be some time tonight before the line can be cleared. Later-Work progressed so favorably that the road was cleared by 2 p.m., and the belated trains were expected by 4 o’clock. The eastbound trains left on time. (A Smash up. 24 Aug 1897 El Paso Herald Pg. 1) (Editor’s note: Train 23 is the eastbound counterpart to train 24 that resulted in the death of Samuel Pierson on June 24 1897)
Aug 26, 1897: A long string of new box cars loaded with ties for the Mexican Central arrived at this point this morning. (Local Bites 1897 Aug 26 El Paso Herald Pg.4)
Aug 31, 1897: “Texas & Pacific “The El Paso Route” have inaugurated through sleeper service between El Paso and Nashville Tenn., to accommodate the travel to the exposition. Leave El Paso 2pm city time, arrive at Nashville at 11:00 pm second evening out.” (Railroad Notes 1897 Aug 31 El Paso Herald Pg. 2) The exposition was the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition May 1 to Oct. 31 1897.
Sept. 6, 1897: Contractors Harris and Ross began work this morning raising the joint track east of this city to near Alfalfa station, from one to five feet. About 150 men are now pushing things.
The Mexican Central is again in the soup. Part of the bridge over the San Pedro River near Ortiz has been washed out by another flood: so the train going south last night “tied up to the wharf” at Chihuahua. However, Mr. Comfort says that through travel tonight will be transferred at the washout.
The Texas & Pacific passenger due in this city yesterday morning was eight hours late because of an obstinate minded cow which preferred the track for a couch to the grassy sod, within three miles of Abilene. That cow is now decorating the stomachs of Mexican families in the vicinity, while the train escaped with merely the derailment of the engine trucks. No one hurt. (Railroad Notes 1897 Sept 6 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept 9,1897: The jar of a railroad collision has a strange effect on cattle. It has been known-as per claim filed-to transform a wild Texas heifer into a fine Jersey cow. N. O. Picayune. (Railroad Notes 1897 Sept 9 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept 16,1897: A decision of the secretary of the interior (sic) fixing the status of the lands embracing in the grant of the Southern Pacific Railroad between Mojave and the Needles Cal., has been promulgated. The lands embrace all the alternate sections between the two points mentioned for twenty miles on each side of the road, the distance being 242 miles. They lie along what is known as the Atlantic Pacific, leased by the Atlantic and Pacific company.
The lands have been in controversy between the Atlantic and Pacific and Southern Pacific since 1884. A committee appointed by the secretary of the interior in that year recommended the acceptance of the Southern Pacific map, but the Atlantic and Pacific filed a protest, alleging that the grant claimed y the Southern Pacific was practically the same as that claimed by the Atlantic and Pacific under a former grant. The protest had the effect causing the secretary to lay the matter aside. (Southern Pacific Lands 1897 Sept 16 El Paso Herald Pg. 3)
Sept 18, 1897: Manager Van Vleck of the Atlantic system of the Southern Pacific tells the mayor that he will take up with the Santa Fe and the Texas & Pacific in the matter of the much talked of dyke. (Railroad Notes 1897 Sept 18 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept 20, 1897: Two different interest were presented to city council for the franchise for the White Oaks route. One group was represented by W. H. Burges and the other group was represented by W. A. Hawkins. (A Railroad War Dance 1897Sept 20 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept 23, 1897: The El Paso City Council approves the Franchise for the White Oaks Railroad to the Eddy Brothers who were represented by W. A Hawkins. (The City Grants the Franchise Asked by Mr. Eddy 1897 Sept. 23 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept 29, 1897: The Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway now only runs to San Antonio on account of the quarantine (ED: A Yellow Fever outbreak in the state) against Houston. (Railroad Notes 1897 Sept 29 El Paso Herald Pg. 4)
Sept. 30, 1897: The Biggest Locomotive ever turned out by the Brooks Locomotive Works reached this city (El Paso) last night, en route to Jimulco (Mexico) where it will be used for mountain service on the Mexican Central. 2-8-2 with 48-inch drivers and 28-inch pilot and trailing truck wheels. The 9ft 6in long by 4 ft. Belpaire Boiler is 84 inches in diameter at the smallest ring and 23 feet from back head to front tube sheet. The cylinders were an unusual ratio of 22” X 24”. The locomotive was said to weigh 97.5 tons and stand 12.5 to 13 ft tall. After all of these statistics in the newspaper the paper also mentioned that they could not find a locomotive messenger with the locomotive. Road Number of 207 and a Builder’s Number of 2806. (Multiple sections 1897 Sept 30 El Paso Herald)
Oct 07, 1897: The Texas Railroad Commission demands of the Southern Pacific Railroad that the business emanating from any shipment of freight hauled on that road in the State of Texas. Whether it be state or interstate shipment, must be transacted in the State of Texas.
Other requirements in line with this may be expected soon. This will affect both freight and passenger traffic in the State of Texas. In fact, every dollar’ worth of business transacted by that road within the borders of the state must have records of such transactions kept within the state. (R.R. Commission Speaks 1897 Oct 7 El Paso Herald Pg. 3 Col. 3)
Oct 08, 1897: General Manager Kruttschnitt of the Southern Pacific says “We have all worked with a view of being entirely independent from the oil supply in Southern California. We have certain supplies of coal but are willing to put oil burners on locomotives when the price of oil is satisfactory. When it raises above a certain price, as was the case in June and July, we simply take the burners off and return to coal. As the large production has decreased the price, we have bought considerable quantities of oil, and have at the present eleven locomotives equipped burning it. We have never been willing to surrender to the oil interest our supply of fuel, and shall cease burning oil if they raise the price to a figure where no economy will result: conversely, we shall use it as long as the price remains reasonable.” (Railroad Notes 1897 Oct 8 El Paso Herald Pg.2 Col 2)
Oct 08, 1897: The survey for the branch railroad three miles in length from San Jose to Santa Rita (New Mexico), has been completed and it is probable the contract for grading will soon be let. Preparations are being made for the filling of the large iron contract 3,000 tons per month, which the Santa Rita Copper and Iron company has made with the Pueblo Smelting Company. (Grant County Mines 1897 Oct 08 Santa Fe New Mexican Pg. 1 Col. 5)
Nov 02, 1897: The charters for the El Paso & Northeastern and the New Mexico Railway & Coal Co. were filed in Santa Fe New Mexico. (Rich Coal Fields made Accessible 1897 Nov 02 El Paso Daily Times Pg. 3)
Surveyors for the Bisbee, Arizona railroad are running a line to Nacozari in the Mexican State of Sonora, and are now at work in the San Miguel Canyon the only place on the line where there will be heavy work. (Mexican Matters 1897 Nov 02 El Paso Daily Times Pg. 2)
Dec 02 ,1897: The Santa Fe company is having the names of all stations painted in large white letters on the ends of all depots, where it is very conspicuous. (Railroad Notes 1897 Dec 02 El Paso Herald Pg. 2 Col. 2)
Dec 02, 1897: Engineer Mott of the Mexican Central was arrested last night at the Santa Fe depot by the U. S. customs officers and held over night and his north bound passenger train was seized. It has been customary for the engineer of the central on coming over to this side, to slow up at the bridge to allow customs inspectors to board the train and look things over. Last night engineer Mott flew over the bridge at twenty miles per hour and never slowed up. When officers reached the Santa Fe depot, the passengers had scattered. Mott explained this morning to deputy Collector Magoffin that he saw no signals of any kind and did not know any officers were there. Mott was discharged with a reprimand and the train released. Next time any Central engineer tries the racket it will go hard with him. (Wouldn’t Stop 1897 Dec 03 El Paso Herald Pg. 4 Col. 3)
Dec 07, 1897: Jo Ballard, the car inspector of Deming, was killed Tuesday under shocking circumstances. He was standing on one of the tracks watching a train come in when another train backed towards him unobserved, striking him on the shoulders, throwing him under the slowly revolving wheels, which passed over his breast, mangling him in a frightful manner. (New Mexico News 1897 Dec. 10 El Paso Times Pg. 2 Col. 3)
Dec. 08, 1897: La Luz, New Mexico An outfit of six wagons and twenty men passed through here from White Oaks and Nogal bound for the Jarlila Mountains. They will locate a mining camp there and a Mr. Boone will open up a general merchandise store. Several wagons have also headed to the new camp from Las Cruces. The new town will be located about 50 miles north of El Paso on the El Paso & Northeastern. (La Luz Getting Lively 10 Dec 1897 El Paso Times Pg. 2 Col. 4)
Dec. 09, 1897: The Santa Fe has bought the Silver City & Northern Road, a short line running from White Water, New Mexico, to the mining Camps fifteen miles distant.
Dec 9 1897: Stein’s Pass is once again the site of a train robbery attempt. Southern Pacific train No. 20 was once again the target of unsuccessful train robbers. However, the adventures that ensued in telling the story leads to the two El Paso newspapers writing multiple stories and showing that they read their competitions publication.
Dec. 10, 1897: The first regular train o the Mexico, Cuernavaca, & Pacific Railway arrived in Cuernavaca on time. The road is now open business and trains will be run as scheduled. -Two Republics. (Mexican Matters 1897 Dec. 10 El Paso Times Pg. 2 Col. 3)
Dec 16, 1897: J Parker Whitney one of the large owners of the Santa Rita copper Mine of Grant County, New Mexico is at the Brown Hotel says the Denver News He has just visited the mine and is pleased with the progress made. “The mine is operated on the lease system” said Mr. Whitney last evening. The output is about 100 tons of ore daily. The Santa Fe Railway is building a branch road to the mine and three to four months a smelter will be in operation on the property. (Santa Rita is Doing Well 1897 Dec 17 The Santa Fe New Mexican Pg. 1 Col 3)
1898
June 15, 1898: The El Paso & Northeastern opens the line to Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo is a company town for Railroad shop and lumber operations.
May 25, 1898: Completion of the Cloudcroft branch to Cox Canyon, New Mexico.
September 29, 1898: Completion of the rest of the line to Capitan, New Mexico and the coal mines there.
A.T.&S.F. Ry.: Aitchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway
E. P. & N.E. Ry. : El Paso & Northeastern
T. & P. Ry.: Texas & Pacific Railway
G. H. & S. A. Ry. : Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway
M. C. Ry. : Mexican Central Railway
R.G., S. M. & P. Ry. : Rio Grande, Sierra Madre, & Pacific Railway
S.P. Ry. : Southern Pacific Railway
1901
July 1901: The Dawson Railway is incorporated with the territorial secretary.
December 1901: El Paso & Southwestern is chartered for the construction of a railroad from Douglas, Arizona to El Paso, Texas.
1902
January 6, 1902. Monday: El Paso & Southwestern #1 pulled a passenger special to Mesa Mexico to serve the Cananea Copper Company. The Engineer was Mr. James Ricket and the Conductor was Mr. Pickett. The train of one coach and a caboose carried Thirty-three passengers. Source Bisbee Daily Review Jan. 9, 1902 Pg. 1. Newspapers.com
January 12, 1902: Mandy the Mule is the first official passenger on the newly electrified El Paso Street Car line in recognition of the mules 35 years of faithful service to the communities of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. Starting at the Sheldon Hotel, Mandy the Mule along with 300 guests traveled the route. (Formal Inauguration of Electric Car System 1902 Jan 12 El Paso Times Pg. 1 Col. 1)
February 1 1902: El Paso & Northeastern builds from Carrizozo to Santa Rosa. To connect to the Rock Island completing the Golden State route. Later the El Paso & Northeastern would operate to Tucumcari. New Mexico.
April 10, 1902: Interlocking crossover placed into operation at Deming New Mexico after the ruling of Judge Parker on November 21, 1901 in Las Cruses, New Mexico.
May 21, 1902. E. H. Harriman stops in El Paso, Texas on an inspection tour of the Southern Pacific.
June 14, 1902: Southern Pacific finalizes preparations for oil burning operations out of El Paso, Texas. Locomotives 1642 and 1645 were withdrawn from service in El Paso, Texas and sent to Tucson, Arizona for conversion. Engineer Jno Richmond was assigned to locomotive 1642 and Dave Brack was assigned to locomotive 1645. A crew of workmen went through El Paso to build oil fuel facilities along the line.
July 2, 1902: Southern Pacific operated a special train from Valentine to El Paso for the benefit to bring Valentine Yardmaster J. E. Snelus young child to Hotel Dieu for a serious medical condition. They were unsure of the child’s ability to survive the journey. The child did recover. (Special Train for the Child under the Link and Pin column. 1902 July 02 El Paso Herald pg.4, Yardmaster Snelus Little Daughter is Better 1902 July 14 El Paso Herald pg.1)
August 17-23 1902: With the fuel oil facilities at El Paso, Texas and Lordsburg, New Mexico nearing completion the Southern Pacific places the first oil fueled passenger locomotives in service between Lordsburg, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. (Western Liberal August 22, 1902. 1902 August 22 Lordsburg Liberal Pg. 3 Col 1)
September 5, 1902: The Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific announces the winner of the $100 prize for the naming contest for their new limited train between Chicago Illinois and Los Angles, California, Santa Barbra, California, and San Francisco, California via (Tucumcari, New Mexico El Paso, Texas and Tucson, Arizona). The competition for naming the train, which is to start service on November 1, 1902, was won by T. H. Davis who is employed by the New York Central in Denver, Colorado. More than 7000 entries were received in the contest. (Golden State Limited Name the New Train Moline Daily Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) 1902 September 5, Pg, 2 Col. 5.)
November 4, 1902: Both the eastbound and westbound Golden State Limited make their first stops in El Paso as the inaugural runs are completed. (The Handsome Rock Island Flyer Starts El Paso Daily Herald Pg. 5 Col 1)
November 20, 1902; The first work train from Deming, New Mexico passed over the El Paso & Southwestern. The work on the Tunnel was not yet completed and is expected to take several more days before the line is ready to be opened. (Railroad News Work Train from Deming the First to Pass Through the New El Paso & Southwestern Tunnel-General Railroad Pickups 1902 November 21 El Paso Times Pg. 3 Col. 2)
December 1902: El Paso & Southwestern completes building a railroad from Douglas Arizona to El Paso, Texas. The El Paso & Southwestern Freight house at 420 N Campbell is constructed. Today this is the oldest remaining railroad freighthouse in El Paso.
The three advertisements , one above and two below, for the El Paso & Southwestern, El Paso & Northeastern and the Santa Fe were taken from the July 6 1903 El Paso Herald page 3 column 5. The paper courtesy newspapers.com. Note the different cities advertised in the ads.
Above we have the Southern Pacific advertisement for July 6, 1903 from the El Paso Herald on page 5 col 5.
Above we have the Daily train schedule the El Paso Herald published for July 6, 1903 on page 3 column 6.
Please note that each railroad left from their own depot at that point. This would be similar today if each air line left from a particular airport in a city instead of a commonly used facility. Also note the railroads serving Juarez, Mexico are listed in the newspaper. The construction of El Paso Union Depot was a great benifit to the cross country traveler. The material was found on newspapers.com
1903
June 7, 1903: Dawson Railway running from Dawson, New Mexico to Tucumcari New Mexico is completed.
October 1, 1903: El Paso & Southwestern #1 is retired from active service.
1904
May 14, 1904: G. W. Boschae, arrived in El Paso to begin overseeing construction of the New Southern Pacific Rio Grande Bridge. The Survey work would be completed by June 2, 1904. Construction work started on June 8, 1904. (Work to Start on New S. P. Rio Grande Bridge., 1904 May 14, El Paso Herald, Pg. 5, Col.) (New S. P. Bridge is Commenced 1904 June 09, El Paso Herald, Pg. 5, Col. 1)
June 9, 1904: Southern Pacific begins construction on their bridge replacement over the Rio Grande River. (Link and Pin, New S.P. Bridge is Commenced Workmen begin the Actual Task of Construction, 1904 June 09, El Paso Herald Pg. 5, Col. 1)
July 9, 1904: Tower 47 placed into service at noon. The El Paso. & Northeastern, Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway and the Texas. & Pacific. all cross in this area. This is located near present day Cotton St. and I-10 in El Paso, Texas.
August 1904: The locomotive we know as Southern Pacific 3420 is built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, builder’s number 24586 for the El Paso & Northeastern, it was numbered 171.
Fall 1904: Southern Pacific constructs their bridge over the Rio Grande River. The first train over the bridge was the Eastbound Golden State Limited.
1905
January 3, 1905: The Southern Pacific completes their Rio Grande Bridge.(S.P. Bridge Completed Structure Across Rio Grande West of This City Opened Thursday (Sic), 1905 Jan 4, El Paso Times, Pg. 2, Col. 6)
January 5, 1905: The first revenue train over the Southern Pacific Rio Grande Bridge was the second section of train No. 9. This train was typically made up of Equipment from the Rock Island Eastern Express typically due at 6:07 am, and the daily Texas & Pacific passenger train due at 7:45 am. While the Texas & Pacific train was one hour late, the Rock Island train did not arrive in El Paso until 12:30 pm mountain standard time. The second section of No. 9 left El Paso at 1:15 pm with Southern Pacific Traveling Engineer J.S. O’Brien from Tucson at the locomotive’s throttle. (New S.P. Bridge was Opened Today 1905 January 5, El Paso Times, Pg. 5, Col. 5.)
The first train eastbound over the Southern Pacific Rio Grande Bridge Golden State Limited with conductor Frank C. Zwick and engineer William Gibson. (Sparks From the Engine, January 7, 1905, El Paso Herald, Pg. 5, Col. 5.)
July 1, 1905: The El Paso & Southwestern purchases the El Paso & Northeastern. El Paso & Northeastern 171 becomes El Paso & Southwestern 171.
1906
1906: El Paso Union Depot is opened with The Southern Pacific, Texas & Pacific, Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe, El Paso & Southwestern and Mexican Central/ National Railways of Mexico began using the Station. March 1, 1906 First train to arrive was of the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio with conductor Tim Sullivan. The first train to depart was the El Paso & Southwestern Flyer with conductor Marshall. The trains were running late that day.
1906 and 1907: The El Paso & Southwestern railroad shops at Piedras Street were constructed.
1907
1907: Hours of Service Act Passes Congress
June 29, 1907. Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway purchases the land that will become Alfalfa yard.
September 24, 1907: The first appearance of red caps on porters of a standard design and used at union depots throughout the United States. The hats were a bright red color so that passengers may distinguish their duties by the colors of their hat. The night policeman and gateman at the depot were provided blue caps with a gold braid. (Red Caps Arrive for Depot Porters., 1907 September 24, El Paso Herald, Pg. 2, Col. 1.)
November 7, 1907: Jesus Garcia saves the town Nacozari. His sacrifice creates the Day of the Railroader in Mexico.
1908
1908: Surface water from the South Fork of the Rio Bonito at Nogal, New Mexico, was the start of a pipeline for locomotive water along the former El Paso & Northeastern from Carrizozo, New Mexico to Pastura New Mexico.
1908-1910 Events leading to the Mexican Revolution take place.
1909
August 8, 1909: El Paso & Southwestern #1 was placed on Display at the railroad’s headquarters building in Downtown El Paso where Compass Bank is today.
In this 1990s view looking north we see the former El Paso & Southwestern Bridge and then the Southern Pacific Bridge. The El Paso & Southwestern Bridge would see every class of Southern Pacific steam locomotive in service and even locomotive #1 would bring an office special to El Paso in January 1903 soon after the bridge was constructed. Photo by Robby Peartree
This post card cancelled in 1908 shows the two Railroad bridges at El Paso. The closest bridge is the Southern Pacific Bridge with an abutment remaining from the previous bridge. The post card also shows the track along the west bank of the Rio Grande River for the El Paso Brick Company on the other side of the El Paso & Southerstern Bridge. Robby Peartree Collection.
El Paso Railroad Timeline: Prior to 1881
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1881-1895
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1911-1924
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1925-1945
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1946-1960
El Paso Railroad Timeline: 1961-Present