The is a short-line
American Railroad (
AAR Reporting Mark '''SDAE''') originally founded in
1906 as the
San Diego And Arizona Railway (SD&A) by "sugar heir", developer, and entrepreneur
John D. Spreckels . Dubbed '''''The Impossible Railroad''''' by many engineers of its day due to the immense logistical challenges involved, the line was established in part to provide
San Diego with a direct rail link to the east by connecting with the
Southern Pacific Railroad lines in
El Centro ,
California . The ''SD&A's'' 146.4-mile route originates in
San Diego ,
California and terminates in the
Imperial County town of
Calexico .
The ''SD&AE'' utilizes approximately 108 miles of the original SD&A system, broken into four (4) unique segments as follows:
1) The ''Main Line'', which runs from downtown
San Diego south to the
San Ysidro / International Border at
Tijuana (15.5 miles in length). This line extends through
Mexico 44 miles and connects with the ''Desert Line''. The portion passing through Mexico, originally constructed as part of the ''Main Line'', is now owned by the Mexico national railway ;
2) The ''Coronado Branch'' runs from
National City south to
Otay Mesa (7.2 miles total length);
3) The ''Desert Line'' extends north and east from the International Border junction (referred to as "Division") to
Plaster City , where it joins the line from
El Centro (69.9 miles total length); and
4) The ''La Mesa Branch'' which travels through downtown
San Diego east to the City of
El Cajon (16.1 miles total length).
The company took over the SD&A's operations in February
1933 after financial troubles led John Spreckels' descendants to sell off their interests in the railroad to the . Throughout the years natural disasters and acts of vandalism have rendered sections of the line unserviceable, and portions of the line have been sold off to various interests. In
1979 the
San Diego '''Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB)''' purchased the ''SD&AE'', along with the bulk of its existing trackage, for the purpose of establishing the '''
San Diego Trolley ''', an interurban
Light Rail passenger line. The MTDB's popular "red cars" carry over 25 million riders annually and are considered an unqualified success. At the time of this writing plans for a major expansion of the lines are in the works. As of May
2004 , freight operations are conducted by the independent
Carrizo Gorge Railway (CZRY) and
San Diego And Imperial Valley Railroad (SD&IV).
The maintains representations of the ''SD&AE'' 's operations in both (1:160).
- for $2.8 million.
- February 1 , 1933 : The San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway is incorporated and assumes all operations of the SD&A.
- 1934 : Operation of the three gasoline-electric units is discontinued.
- January 11 , 1951 : The ''SD&AE'' ends passenger service due to years of continued declining patronage.
- (SP) relinquishes its interest the in 44-mile (72-km) to Mexico's national railway, ''' Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California ''', S.A. de C.V.
- destroys major sections of track and bridges on the ''Desert Line''.
- ( ICC ) denies SP’s request to abandon the railway.
- August 20 , 1979 : San Diego's purchases the ''SD&AE Railway Company'' in restored condition for $18.1 million (the SP retains ownership to the Plaster City to El Centro segment). The ICC approves operation of freight service by '''Kyle Railways''' under contract to MTDB. The MTDB reorganizes the ''SD&AE'' as a Nevada nonprofit corporation.
- January 1980 : Washouts caused by desert storms displace parts of the ''SD&AE'' ''Desert Line'' and Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California Line.
- January 1983 : With the Mexico damage repaired, Kyle Railways begins rail shipments between San Diego and Plaster City.
- June 18 , 1983 : Fire destroys two (2) bridges on the ''Desert Line''.
- (SD&IV) with the AAR reporting mark .
- April 25 , 1984 : The ICC denies Kyle Railways’ request to abandon the railroad.
- August 9 , 1984 : The ICC approves RailTex’s application to operate freight service.
- October 15 , 1984 : The SD&IV begins freight service south of San Diego during nighttime hours when the MTDB's trolley line is not in operation.
- and Miller Creek.
- August 1 , 1986 : The SD&IV enters into a multi-year agreement with the Mexican government to set tariffs and provide freight service into Baja California.
- July 14 , 1989 : The SD&IV begins repairs on the ''Desert Line'' as a prelude to the start of freight service to Imperial County.
- January 4 , 2000 : RailTex is acquired by and the railroad's AAR reporting mark is changed to '''SDIY'''.
- 2002 : The Mexican portion of the line is sub-contracted to the .
- interchange. Major shipments of Sand from the Imperial Valley are used to supply ready-mixed Concrete to the San Diego construction markets.
