Crossing the Canyon

A railroad bridge in Arizona was a major undertaking.

When the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (Santa Fe) was building a transcontinental line from Albuquerque to Los Angeles during the early 1880s, the major obstacle blocking their path was Canyon Diablo in northern Arizona. The deep gorge measured 550 feet across and 225 feet deep and would take a year construct. When the prefab bridge arrived, it was a few inches too short. Construction began in July 1881. The first train rolled across the new bridge on July 1st, 1882. The new line also led to the creation of one of the West’s most notorious end-of-track towns, Canyon Diablo.