Inter-California Railway

The Inter-California Railway, known in Spanish as the Ferrocarril Inter-California, also known as the Inter-Cal, is a former railroad line which connected the Californias by train. It operated between the American state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California.

History

The Inter-California Railway was incorporated on 15 June 1904, as a subsidiary of Southern Pacific [Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroads].
In 1929, the Ferrocarril [Mexicali y Golfo|Mexicali and Gulf Railway] was reorganized as the southern line of Inter-Cal.
Inter-Cal's lines in Mexico became the Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja California in 1960.
Souther Pacific was later acquired by Union Pacific. Inter-Cal's line from Niland to Calexico remains in operation as UP's Calexico Subdivision, interchanging with Ferromex at the US-Mexico borer.

Lines

Main line

The Inter-California Railway's northern terminus was in Niland, California, where the line connected to the Sunset line of Southern Pacific Railroads. The Inter-Cal then continued down through the Imperial Valley, connecting with the San [Diego and Arizona Railway] in El Centro. At Calexico, California, the Inter-Cal crossed the United States-Mexico border into Mexicali, Baja California. It then continued through the Mexicali Valley, before crossing the border again at Los Algodones, [Baja California] and finally terminating at Araz Junction in Andrade, California, where the line reconnected to the Sunset line.