Mexican International Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Mexican International Railroad (Ferrocarril Internacional Mexicano) was one of the primary pre-nationalization
railways of Mexico
. Incorporated in Connecticut
in 1882 in the interests of the Southern Pacific Railroad
(SP), it opened a main line from Piedras Negras
(across the Rio Grande
from Eagle Pass, at the end of an SP branch line) to Torreón
, on the Mexican Central Railway
, in 1888, and to Durango
in October 1892. Branches extended from Durango to Tepehuanes
and Reata to Monterrey
.
The National Railroad of Mexico
gained control in 1901 after the death of Collis P. Huntington
of the SP, and in June 1910 the government-owned Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
(National Railways of Mexico) took over the property. The line between Sauceda (west of Reata) and Matamoros
(east of Torreón) was soon abandoned, as it was parallel to two ex-Mexican Central Railway
and National Railroad of Mexico lines. On the other hand, construction of a branch from Allende
north to the border at Ciudad Acuña
, which had begun in 1911 and been suspended in 1913, was resumed in 1919, with the intent of connecting to a planned (and never-completed) branch of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
from San Angelo to Del Rio. During the privatization
in the 1990s, Ferromex
acquired the line between Piedras Negras and Monterrey. The branch to Ciudad Acuña was abandoned and removed. The remaining western piece from Torreón to Durango is part of Línea Coahuila Durango
.
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
railways of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Incorporated in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in 1882 in the interests of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
(SP), it opened a main line from Piedras Negras
Piedras Negras, Coahuila
-Natural Resources:This region generates a large amount of the national production of coal, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.-Tourism:Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:...
(across the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
from Eagle Pass, at the end of an SP branch line) to Torreón
Torreón
Torreón is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. As of 2010, the city's population was 608,836 with 639,629 in the municipality. The metropolitan population, including Matamoros, Coahuila, and Gómez Palacio and Lerdo in adjacent Durango,...
, on the Mexican Central Railway
Mexican Central Railway
The Mexican Central Railway was one of the primary pre-nationalization railways of Mexico. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1880, it opened the main line in March 1884, linking Mexico City to Ciudad Juárez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso and connections to the Southern Pacific Railroad, Texas...
, in 1888, and to Durango
Durango, Durango
-Climate:The city of Durango has a semi-arid climate, classified as Bsk in the Koppen system. The climate is temperate in the western portion , with the average annual temperature being 15 °C and consisting of an average annual rainfall of 1,600 millimeters. In the eastern region, the average...
in October 1892. Branches extended from Durango to Tepehuanes
Tepehuanes
Tepehuanes is both a town and a municipality in the Mexican state of Durango. It is located in the North West of Durango at 25°12'"-26°25'"N 105°23'"-106°40'"W , at an elevation of about 1,830 meters...
and Reata to Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
.
The National Railroad of Mexico
National Railroad of Mexico
The National Railroad of Mexico was one of the primary pre-nationalization railways of Mexico. Incorporated in Colorado in 1880 as the Mexican National Railway , and headed by General William Jackson Palmer of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, it completed a narrow gauge main line from Mexico...
gained control in 1901 after the death of Collis P. Huntington
Collis P. Huntington
Collis Potter Huntington was one of the Big Four of western railroading who built the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad...
of the SP, and in June 1910 the government-owned Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, was Mexico's state owned railroad company from 1938 to 1998, and prior to 1938 a major railroad controlled by the government that linked Mexico City to the major cities of Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juárez on the U.S. border...
(National Railways of Mexico) took over the property. The line between Sauceda (west of Reata) and Matamoros
Matamoros, Coahuila
Matamoros is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name located in the southwestern part of the state of Coahuila in Mexico...
(east of Torreón) was soon abandoned, as it was parallel to two ex-Mexican Central Railway
Mexican Central Railway
The Mexican Central Railway was one of the primary pre-nationalization railways of Mexico. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1880, it opened the main line in March 1884, linking Mexico City to Ciudad Juárez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso and connections to the Southern Pacific Railroad, Texas...
and National Railroad of Mexico lines. On the other hand, construction of a branch from Allende
Allende, Coahuila
Allende is a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila.The city serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of Allende.-History:The name "Allende" is in honour of Ignacio Allende, a hero of Mexico's War of Independence...
north to the border at Ciudad Acuña
Ciudad Acuña
Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at and a mean height above sea level of 271 meters...
, which had begun in 1911 and been suspended in 1913, was resumed in 1919, with the intent of connecting to a planned (and never-completed) branch of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, started in 1900 by American railroad entrepreneur Arthur Edward Stilwell, was the predecessor to the Chihuahua al Pacífico railroad in Mexico. It was intended to reach the Pacific Ocean at Topolobampo, Sinaloa...
from San Angelo to Del Rio. During the privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
in the 1990s, Ferromex
Ferromex
Ferromex is a private rail consortium that operates the largest railroad in Mexico.-Description:...
acquired the line between Piedras Negras and Monterrey. The branch to Ciudad Acuña was abandoned and removed. The remaining western piece from Torreón to Durango is part of Línea Coahuila Durango
Linea Coahuila Durango
The Línea Coahuila Durango is a short-line railroad company operating between the states of Durango and Coahuila in Mexico. It was created as a freight railroad company when the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico was privatized between 1997 and 1998. It started operations on 27 April 1998...
.