Our net this week will cover one of the most fascinating rail road stories of the 1900s - the San Diego and Arizona Railway. The Railway was created to open a commercial and passenger line from the Imperial Valley to San Diego, thereby completing a transcontinental route from east to west. The history of the SD&A Ry is chronicled in a terrific book by Reena Deutsch, Ph.D, entitled, "San Diego and Arizona Railway, The Impossible Railroad". Reena has made terrific use of a huge inventory of pictures ranging from its original construction to recent photos of the Railway as it exists today. She also presents the history of the Railway from its inception in 1907 to the present day.
In so many respects, the railway was not just a story of engineering marvels, but of the tenacity and devotion of its owners and operators throughout its life, which continues even today. Unlike so many of the stories of old rail roads, this one involves a RR which you can both visit and experience today. We are awaiting permission to use some of the fantastic pictures of the history of the Ry and will post as many as permission allows.
If you have any interest in rail roads of the past, this net should not be missed. Check back for pictures and text.
There is probably enough time before the net to purchase Reena's book. It is available on Amazon for less than $20.00:
http://smile.amazon.com/San-Diego-Arizo ... a+railroad .
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Today, one of the most fascinating parts of the SD&A Ry is the Goat Canyon Trestle. It is constructed entirely of wood and stands in virtually the same condition today as it was when it was constructed over 80 years ago. Time and the elements have weathered the wood, but it is still being used today and will continue to be so in the future. Quite a testament to the engineering work that went into its construction. Because the line is still in use (although somewhat intermittently) walking the tracks is both dangerous and prohibited. There are some exceptions, which we will discuss on the net, that will allow you to visit many of the tunnels and the trestles, including the one that spans Goat Canyon. If trips are offered in the future, they most likely will be posted on the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association website,
http://www.abdnha.org/. Due to the heat of the summer, no activities are planned until later in the year, probably October. More information on the Railway can be found at the website for the Pacific Southwest Railroad Musseum Association at
https://www.psrm.org/ .
There are three ways to experience the Goat Canyon Trestle, 1) hike the tracks (usually not allowed and dangerous, 2) do the mountain climbing - boulder hopping hike or 3) helicopter. Of the three, option number two is the best, but it involves some very strenuous hiking and climbing. Definitely not for the faint of heart or those who are not fans of hiking. We did the boulder hopping hike late last year, in the winter. This was the perfect time as the temps are comfortable. Our full trip report is available here:
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3804 .
The following are pictures from our hike to the Goat Canyon Trestle. Note: the pictures are numbered for reference during the net.
Picture #1. First views of the Goat Canyon Trestle as we crested the mountain
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Picture #2. Eastern portal of collapsed tunnel #15. It was this collapse in 1932 that gave rise to the construction of the the Goat Canyon Trestle. The trestle was not in the original construction of the RR. Note the tilting of the opening of the tunnel which was caused by movement of the earth which surrounded it.
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Picture #3. The Goat Canyon Trestle, today
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Picture # 4. Abandoned rail car
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Picture #5. Note the berm on the left side of the photo. This is where the track ended when tunnel #15 collapsed in 1932. On the right is the eastern portal to the old and collapsed tunnel #15.
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Picture # 6. Left over rails. Note the dates - 1913 and 1914.
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Picture #7. View of the Carrizo Gorge. This picture shows the impossible terrain through which the RR was constructed.
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Picture #8. Note the tracks in the distance. The dark portion are the side trestles that were necessary to support the weight of the trains as they traveled this very steep portion of the line
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Picture #9. These photos were taken near the western entrance of collapsed tunnel #15. It was this collapse, in 1932, which made it necessary to build the Goat Canyon Trestle. Note the buckled beams. It was a significant earth movement which caused this collapse.
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