California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway facts for kids
The California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway was a special kind of company. It was a "paper railroad," which means it didn't actually run trains. Instead, it owned the tracks and other property for a bigger company, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). This company started in 1911. It joined with ATSF in 1963. Later, its tracks became part of the even larger Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
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What Was the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway?
The California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway was a "non-operating subsidiary." Think of it like a smaller company that works for a much bigger company. Its main job was to own important railroad lines. This helped the main company, ATSF, manage its vast network of tracks.
Why Have a "Paper Railroad?"
Railroad companies sometimes created these "paper railroads" for different reasons. It could be for legal reasons or to make it easier to manage different parts of their business. Even though it didn't run trains, it was a very important part of the ATSF system.
Railroad Routes and Ownership
The California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway owned some very important railroad lines. These lines connected key cities and regions. They were vital for moving goods and people across the American Southwest.
Connecting Cities and Deserts
The company owned the ATSF lines that ran between Phoenix and Ash Fork. It also owned the lines connecting Phoenix to Mojave. These routes were crucial for transportation in Arizona and California.
It also leased or bought tracks from the Southern Pacific Railroad. These tracks crossed the Mojave Desert between Needles and Mojave in Southern California. This gave ATSF a strong presence in the desert region.
Other Railroads That Joined the System
Over time, many smaller railroad companies became part of larger systems. The California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway itself was formed from parts of other, even older railroads. These companies helped build the rail network we see today.
Railroads That Came Before
Some of the railroads that eventually became part of the California, Arizona and Santa Fe system included:
- Arizona and California Railway
- Barnwell and Searchlight Railway
- Bradshaw Mountain Railroad
- California Eastern Railway
- Oakland and East Side Railroad
- Prescott and Eastern Railroad
- Randsburg Railway
- Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway
These names show how many different companies helped build the railroad lines across the American West. Each one played a part in connecting towns and cities.
