San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway Company

Carrizo Gorge trestle
Overview
Parent company	San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (1979-present) Southern Pacific Transportation Company (1932-1979)
Headquarters	James R. Mills Building 1255 Imperial Avenue San Diego, CA
Reporting mark	SDAE
Locale	California and Mexico
Dates of operation	1932–Present
Predecessor	San Diego and Arizona Railway
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway Company (reporting mark SDAE) is a special train line in the United States. It was started in 1906 by a businessman named John D. Spreckels. He first called it the San Diego and Arizona Railway (SD&A). Many engineers called it "The Impossible Railroad." This was because building it was very difficult. The main goal was to connect San Diego directly to the eastern United States. It would link up with the Southern Pacific Railroad lines in El Centro, California.

The SD&A's route is about 146.4 miles (235.6 km) long. It starts in San Diego, California, and ends in El Centro, California.

The SD&AE uses about 108 miles (174 km) of the original SD&A system. This is split into four parts:

• Main Line: This part runs 15.5 miles (24.9 km) from Downtown San Diego south to San Ysidro. The San Diego Trolley's Blue Line also uses this track.
• La Mesa Branch: This part runs 16.1 miles (25.9 km) east to the city of El Cajon. The San Diego Trolley's Orange Line also uses this track.
• Coronado Branch: This part is not used right now. It splits from the Main Line in National City. It runs 7.2 miles (11.6 km) south to Imperial Beach.
• Desert Line: This part has not been used since 2008. It runs 69.9 miles (112.5 km) from the Mexico–United States border near Tecate to Plaster City.

The SD&AE took over the SD&A's operations in 1933. This happened after Spreckels' family sold their part of the railroad. They sold it to the Southern Pacific because of money problems. Over the years, big storms and damage made parts of the line unusable. Some parts of the line have been sold to different groups.

In 1979, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bought the SD&AE from Southern Pacific. They wanted to create the San Diego Trolley. This is a train line for passengers within the county. The remaining track into Imperial County can still be used for moving goods. This was part of the deal when MTS bought the line.

As of 2021, the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad has special permission. They can use the SD&AE Main Line and La Mesa Branch. They move train cars from the end of the BNSF Railway in Downtown San Diego. They deliver to businesses in the San Diego area and to the Mexico–United States border at San Ysidro.

Key Moments in the Railway's History

Fallen Southern Pacific Railroad cars in Carrizo Gorge, 2010.

This timeline shows important events for the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway.

Early Years and Changes

• 1907: Building of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad begins.
• 1919: Construction is finished, and trains start running.
• 1932: An earthquake damages a tunnel. To fix this, the Goat Canyon Trestle is built. It is the world's largest wooden trestle.
• October 24, 1932: Spreckels' family sells their share of the San Diego and Arizona (SD&A). They sell it to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company for $2.8 million.
• February 1, 1933: The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway officially starts. It takes over all operations of the SD&A.
• January 11, 1951: The SD&AE stops carrying passengers. This is because fewer people were using the service.

Challenges and New Ownership

• September 10, 1976: Hurricane Kathleen causes a lot of damage. It destroys parts of the track and bridges on the Desert Line.
• 1978: The government agency Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) says no to Southern Pacific's request. Southern Pacific wanted to stop using the railway.
• August 20, 1979: San Diego's Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) buys the SD&AE Railway. They pay $18.1 million for it. The MTDB then hires Kyle Railways to run the freight service.

Later Developments

• January 1980: Desert storms cause more damage to the Desert Line.
• January 1983: After repairs in Mexico, Kyle Railways starts moving goods again. They ship between San Diego and Plaster City.
• June 18, 1983: A fire destroys two bridges on the Desert Line.
• March 18, 1984: The MTDB signs a deal with a company called RailTex. RailTex will provide freight service. This new service is called the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad.
• October 15, 1984: RailTex's San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad begins freight service. They operate from San Diego to El Cajon and San Diego to San Ysidro. They run at night when the San Diego Trolley is not operating.
• December 1, 1985: The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum starts special train rides. They use old steam and diesel trains.
• August 2, 1996: Southern Pacific is bought by Union Pacific.
• July 4, 1997: The Carrizo Gorge Railway, Inc. (CZRY) is formed. Their job is to run and fix the Desert Line.

The 2000s and Beyond

• January 4, 2000: RailTex is bought by RailAmerica. The railroad's reporting mark changes to SDIY.
• July 1, 2001: Carrizo Gorge Railway, Inc. (CZRY) becomes the new train operator.
• May 15, 2004: Repairs are finished on tunnels and bridges. The CZRY officially reopens freight service to Plaster City. They connect with the Union Pacific Railroad. They ship sand from the Imperial Valley for building. They also ship lumber and grain into Mexico.
• October 17, 2008: The Carrizo Gorge Railway stops traffic on the Desert Line. They want to fix the tracks. This is to help with a project for the Port of Ensenada.
• December 25, 2009: A fire damages Tunnel 3. This stops the special "Ticket to Tecate" train trips.
• January 1, 2012: Baja California Railroad, Inc. takes over from the Carrizo Gorge Railway.
• August 31, 2012: The Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR) takes over control of the Desert Subdivision.
• December 2012: PIR signs a 50-year lease to run freight trains on SD&AE track. They must make repairs and payments.
• June 9, 2016: Baja California Railroad takes over most operations and repairs from PIR. They agree to pay MTS $1 million or 7% of their earnings each year.
• October 2017: PIR sells its lease to operate freight on the desert line to Baja California Railroad. MTS still owns the line. BJRR must pay MTS US$1 million per year. BJRR plans to fix the line in three steps.
• Summer 2020: BJRR stops making its lease payments to MTS.
• July 2021: Tunnel 3 is fixed.
• November 2021: SD&AE cancels the Baja California Railroad lease.

See also