Misplaced Pages

Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 17:09, 25 January 2021 editDavidWBrooks (talk | contribs)Administrators41,021 edits trim unnecessary extra in the introductory sentence← Previous edit Revision as of 10:39, 24 March 2021 edit undoDeisenbe (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers76,648 edits →top: Expanding articleNext edit →
Line 51: Line 51:
}} }}
]]] ]]]
The '''Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico''' (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway), also known as '''El Chepe''' from its ] '''CHP''', is a major rail line in northwest ], linking ], to ] and its port, ].<ref>For a good but slightly dated guide to the railroad and the area, see Wampler, Joseph, "New Rails to Old Towns: The Region and Story of the Ferrocarriles Chihuahua al Pacifico," (1969, Berkeley, CA).</ref> It runs {{convert|673|km|mi|abbr=on}}, traversing the ], a rugged series of canyons that have led some to call this the most scenic railroad trip on the continent. It is both an important transportation system for locals and a draw for tourists.<ref name=Owen></ref> The '''Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico''' (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway), also known as '''El Chepe''' from its ] '''CHP''', is a major rail line in northwest ], linking ], to ] and its port, ].<ref>For a good but slightly dated guide to the railroad and the area, see Wampler, Joseph, "New Rails to Old Towns: The Region and Story of the Ferrocarriles Chihuahua al Pacifico," (1969, Berkeley, CA).</ref> It crosses the what in the United States is called the Rocky Mountains, in Mexico the ]. There is no road covering the trajectory.
It runs {{convert|673|km|mi|abbr=on}}, traversing the ], a rugged series of canyons that have led some to call this the most scenic railroad trip on the continent. It is both an important transportation system for locals and a draw for tourists.<ref name=Owen></ref>


The tracks pass over 37 ]s and through 86 ]s, rising as high as {{convert|2400|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level near Divisadero (the ]), a popular lookout spot over the canyons.<ref name=Chepe></ref> Each one-way trip takes roughly 16 hours. The track also ] to gain elevation. The tracks pass over 37 ]s and through 86 ]s, rising as high as {{convert|2400|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level near Divisadero (the ]), a popular lookout spot over the canyons.<ref name=Chepe></ref> Each one-way trip takes roughly 16 hours. The track also ] to gain elevation.

Revision as of 10:39, 24 March 2021

Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico
El Chepe half way between Anáhuac and Creel; 16 May 2006
Overview
Service typeTourist train
StatusOperating
LocaleNorthwestern Mexico
PredecessorKansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
First serviceNovember 22, 1961
Current operator(s)Ferromex (since 1998)
WebsiteChepe
Route
TerminiChihuahua City
Los Mochis
Stops20
Distance travelled415 miles (668 km)
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Bridge across the Río Fuerte at El Fuerte

The Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway), also known as El Chepe from its reporting mark CHP, is a major rail line in northwest Mexico, linking Chihuahua City, to Los Mochis and its port, Topolobampo. It crosses the what in the United States is called the Rocky Mountains, in Mexico the Sierra Madre Oriental. There is no road covering the trajectory.

It runs 673 km (418 mi), traversing the Copper Canyon, a rugged series of canyons that have led some to call this the most scenic railroad trip on the continent. It is both an important transportation system for locals and a draw for tourists.

The tracks pass over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels, rising as high as 2,400 m (7,900 ft) above sea level near Divisadero (the continental divide), a popular lookout spot over the canyons. Each one-way trip takes roughly 16 hours. The track also crosses over itself to gain elevation.

The headquarters were in turn located in Mexico City, Chihuahua and Los Mochis.

History

El Chepe at terminal station, 8 February 2009

The concept of the railroad was officially recognized in 1880, when the president of Mexico, General Manuel González, granted a rail concession to Albert Kinsey Owen of the Utopia Socialist Colony of New Harmony, Indiana, United States, who was seeking to develop a socialist colony in Mexico. The railroad was actually built by Arthur Stilwell as the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, starting about 1900. Financial difficulties caused by the cost of building a railroad through rugged terrain delayed the project, and the ChP was not completed until 1961.

The private rail franchise Ferromex took over the railroad from the Mexican government in 1998.

Schedule

In general, two passenger trains run daily: a slightly slower service with more stops for locals, with 15 official stops and more than 50 flag stops at which boardings or disembarkations can be made at passenger request, and the other a direct service for tourists, which is faster and more expensive. First-class trains are composed of two to three cars, each holding 64 passengers. Second-class trains have three or four cars, each holding 68 passengers.

There is also regular cargo service running between Topolobampo and Chihuahua that might be further increased and extended so as to connect with the Texas Pacifico Transportation Railroad at the Ojinaga Presidio Crossing into the United States as a part of the La Entrada al Pacifico.

On its way from Los Mochis to Chihuahua it runs through El Fuerte, Temoris, Bahuichivo, Posada Barrancas, Divisadero, and Creel, among others.

In popular culture

  • The American funk group Vulfpeck named a song off their 2016 album (The Beautiful Game) "El Chepe" which features sounds of a train on a track.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Working on the Railroad". Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  2. For a good but slightly dated guide to the railroad and the area, see Wampler, Joseph, "New Rails to Old Towns: The Region and Story of the Ferrocarriles Chihuahua al Pacifico," (1969, Berkeley, CA).
  3. ^ COPPER CANYON - Chihuahua al Pacífico Train
  4. ^ Chepe
  6. Topolobampo or Bust
  7. "Vulfpeck - El Chepe".

External links

Currently operating passenger rail, light rail, commuter rail, and rapid transit systems in Mexico
DF & Edomex
DF
Jal
NL
Chih & Sin
Chia, Tab, Cam, Yuc, Qui
Oxca & Vrcz
Vrcz & Chia
Categories: