Santa Fe's New Mexico Division: Varnish, Coal, Copper and Cattle

Santa Fe Railway H&M Society. Softcover. New. Softcover, 196 pages, 240 photographs with 70 in Color, included are maps, charts, tables, appendices, and a bibliography. This volume continues the authors histories of the divisions of the Santa Fe Railway. Since this a an historical work, most of the photographs are B&W. Only after World War II will Color photographs appear. There is much data in this book including layout of the Albuquerque Shops, track diagrams, a synopsis of freight and passenger trains at various times, what local trains and switch engines worked and where. Timetable reproductions also are included. The branch lines are not left out. Also structures still standing are included. This is a very good work on this part of the Santa Fe Railway. As is usual, the territory of the New Mexico Division changed over time. This volume covers the history of the territory of the New Mexico Division from 1877 to 1995 as it was constituted in 1942. At this time, the division had a main line with associated branches that ran from La Junta, Colorado, to El Paso, Texas. The Division was unique in that passenger traffic was five times greater than freight traffic through most of its history. Almost all of the Santa Fe's famous passenger trains traversed the division at one time or another. Coal and copper, zinc, and iron ore constituted the bulk of online freight traffic throughout the history of the division. The division was one of the more scenic stretches of railroad on the Santa Fe's system and attracted photographers such as Otto Perry, Richard Kindig, Preston George, Stan Kistler, Steve Patterson and Joe McMillan, all of whom provided photographs for the book. Contents: Introduction, Acknowledgements, pp. 6-9, The Beginnings and Growth: 1876-1908, pp. 10-42, Consolidation Through the Roaring Twenties: 1908-1930, pp. 43-90, The Depression and WWII: 1930-1946, pp. 91-128, Post-War to Absorption: 1946-1961, pp. 129-146, A Part of Other Divisions: 1961-1995, pp. 147-178, Epilogue, pp. 179-186, Conclusion, pg. 187, Appendices (Locomotive Assignments), pp. 188-190, Bibliography, pp. 191-192.