This unique railway line appeared on the background of the railway construction boom, which was peculiar to the end of the XIX-th, beginning of XX-th centuries. Atlantic coast in dire need of a web of roads.
The city of San Diego was the usual port town, which for a dramatic development is not enough rail traffic. At least, we thought so local business tycoons. So the idea to build a railroad through Arizona. Here are the builders of the future is not too wondered about the possible geographic terrain. Canyons, cliffs, mountain passes - all of this makes it difficult to lay out roads. Only in 1919, the ninth year construction was completed. Just 13 years later, one of the seventeen tunnels were under the rubble in the quake. This forced to build a bypass branch. And after 19 years, there has been discontinued passenger service. In 1976 on the tracks of the road tapped last locomotive. Now, the road has become a tourist attraction.