Surveyors called the San Diego and Arizona Railway (SDA) �The Impossible Railroad� because of its jagged; mountainous; and brutal desert route. The financier and driving force behind building this binational 148-mile rail connection to the east from San Diego; California; was businessman John D. Spreckels. Because of his perseverance; the jinxed 1907�1919 construction overcame a series of disasters; including the Mexican Revolution; a prolonged lawsuit; floods; World War I; labor shortages; a tunnel cave-in; and a lethal pandemic. Once up and running; the line was intermittently in and out of service and later sold and renamed the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway. While �The Impossible Railroad� still faces constant challenges and partial closures; freight and trolley service currently operate on its right-of-way; and tourist excursions are offered at its Campo; California; depot.
#3227875 in eBooks 2012-01-02 2012-01-02File Name: B009C8TZ7K
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