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June 20, 2025 62 mins

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Mason takes the gang on a ride through the history of the planning, construction, and operation of the only transnational railroad in North America. 

Learn about how San Diego City founder John D Speckles secretly conspired with southern pacific railroad man Edward Harriman to build the long-awaited line from San Diego to Yuma. What started as a practical idea, turned into battle against nature as construction crews slowly carved the line through a desert mountain landscape facing both the elements and at times hostile revolutionaries to complete 146-mile line. Find out why from almost opening day the line faced a constant struggles against the harsh desert climates and economics of a changing world.  

#Californahistory #Railroadhistory #SanDiegohistory #Westernhistory #sandiego&Arizona railway #Southernpacificrailwaymuseum #Johndspreckels # EdwardHarriman #Carrizogorge #GoatCanyonBridge 

Sources:

The Imposable Railroad

 KPBS San Diego 1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id2y3eT5dC8

 

The Imposable Railroad

All Around Nevada/ by Howard Goldbaum                   

https://allaroundnevada.com/impossible-railroad/

History of the San Diego and Arizona: San Diego’s “Impossible Railroad”

Railway Historical Society of San Diego/ by Richard V Dodge 

https://www.psrm.org/sda/

 

John D. Spreckels (1853-1926)

The San Diego History Center

https://sandiegohistory.org/archives/biographysubject/spreckels/

 

Well There's Your Problem | Episode 139: The Impossible Railroad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeHO8g0hDRM

 

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