Customer Reviews

The Southern Pacific of Mexico and the West Coast Route

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I recently completed my doctoral dissertation on this important railroad. Kirchner and Signor's book is the only published book-length treatment of the line, and although their focus is as much pointed at railfans and switch-counters as it is at historians, it is an interesting and accurate read. The line operated for nearly 50 years in Mexico, involved some of the most monumental construction work in railroad history, and has generally been ignored by railroad historians, even though it was owned by the Southern Pacific, the world's largest transportation company for much of the time it was in SP hands.

Is very interesting when some one out of your country writes about things that you really finds unimportatn for much of the people. I love my country, and as aserious railfan, I love the history that ivolves the railroad and Mexico. Mr. Signor and Mr. Kirchner takes the time to write about one of the most importatn railroads of Mexico, the "Ferrocarril del Pacifico". They make history, because from that old subsidiary of the Southern Pacific, emerges the Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California divisons of the Ferrocarril Mexicano. Gives you the enough information to understand the importance of this line not only for U.S. as well as Mexico. Provides also technical and historic iformation, very dificult to find by ther way.

A handsome book: Golden West Books, 1987. Large format hardback: textured green boards, released with dustjacket, 168 pp, 2 pounds. Bibliography and Index.

Illustrations throughout in b&w: photos, vintage prints, maps, railroad ephemera.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Mexican West Coast -- Empire of Opportunity
The Southern Pacific of Mexico and the West Coast Route
Southern Pacific South of the Border -- Railroading Down Mexico Way
The Ferrocarril del Pacifico -- Mexicanization and Progress
Roster of Motive Power
Bibliography