Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico

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.[3] It crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental, part of the range that in the United States is called the Rocky Mountains. There is no road covering the trajectory.

El Chepe
The Chepe Train
Overview
Service typeTourist train
StatusOperating
LocaleNorthwestern Mexico
PredecessorKansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
First serviceNovember 22, 1961[1]
Current operator(s)Ferromex (since 1998)
WebsiteChepe
Route
TerminiChihuahua City
Los Mochis
Stops20
Distance travelled668 kilometres (415 mi)
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
image icon Tren Turístico railway map[2]
Bridge across the Río Fuerte at El Fuerte
El Chepe at terminal station, 8 February 2009

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.[4]

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.[5] 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

The goal was to build the shortest (1,600 miles) transcontinental railroad from Pacific coast to the Midwest.[6]

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[4][7] 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[1] as the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, starting about 1900.

From 1910 to 1914, Mexico North Western Railway (sp. Ferrocarril del Noroeste) completed the Temosachic-Casas-Grandes line. Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway completed the Chihuahua-Ojinaga section.[8] Enrique Creel's Chihuahua al Pacífico railroad completed the Chihuahua-Creel section.[8]

In 1940, the Mexico acquired rights from Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.[8] In May 1952, Mexico took possession of a line operated by Mexican Northwestern Railway.[8] In 1955, Mexico merged them as Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico, S.A. de C.V.[8]

Financial difficulties caused by the cost of building a railroad through rugged terrain delayed the project, and the ChP was not completed until 1961.[4][1]

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

Schedule

In general, two different passenger trains run daily: Chepe Regional, a 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 luxury, Chepe Express, direct service for tourists, which is faster and more expensive.[5] 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.[5][9]

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.

  • The American funk group Vulfpeck named a song off their 2016 album (The Beautiful Game) "El Chepe"[10] which features sounds of a train on a track.

Further reading
  • Wampler, Joseph K. (1969). New Rails to Old Towns: The Region and Story of the Ferrocarriles Chihuahua Al Pacífico (First ed.). Berkeley, CA: The Author. OL 13385746M.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Working on the Railroad". Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  2. "Ruta". Chepe Express en México al Pacífico. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. 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).
  4. COPPER CANYON - Chihuahua al Pacífico Train
  5. Chepe.mx
  6. "The "Chepe Express" (Train)". American-Rails. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  7. Topolobampo or Bust
  8. "THE STORY OF THE CHEPE". Chepe.mx. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  9. "Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico". Mexico Activities. Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  10. "Vulfpeck - El Chepe". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
  11. "Joseph Wampler". Amazon.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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