A picture of me riding the vestibule on the FCP on 12/31/1998.
Let us go back in time once more to Mexico this time to look at passenger trains, cabooses and a few stations as well as locations where once you could have boarded a train. When I first started riding Mexico they had an extensive passenger service to all parts of their nation. When FNM came into existence trains started to disappear. When the government sold the national railroad into concessions they were not required to keep the trains running as bus service was now available to most parts of the nation. A few routes still survive such as the old CHP route to Copper Canyon which brings in much needed tourist money to that area of the nation. Now take a look at what use to be in Mexico.
My first train ride in Mexico getting ready to board to Mexicali on 4/7/1984.
The Crosses are a monument built for four railroad surveyors who got lost in a sand storm and died. They were Sanchez Islas, Torres B, Lopez Collada and Gustavo Sotelo.
Gustavo Sotelo on 4/7/1984.
SBC Heavy weight coach at Puerto Penasco on 4/7, 1984
SBC Kinko Sharyo Coach 5153 built made from kits from Japan at Puerto Penasco on 4/7/1984. This type of car became the standard car on the SBC,CHP and FCP.
The interior of one of these SBC coaches.
The Mexicali Rose at Puerto Penasco on 4/7/1984.
The SBC Maria Elena at Puerto Penasco on 4/7/1984.
SBC Tren 3, the Rapido at Puerto Penasco on 4/7/1984. Mexican trains always stopped with their engines in front of the station so that the crews could get there orders on the 'Dark" or nonsignaled railroads.
SBC Tren 3 with the Puerto Penasco Station on 4/7/1984.
SBC Tren 3 leaves with the through sleepers from Mexico City on the rear at Puerto Penasco on 4/7/1984.
The second trip to Mexico at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
SBC Coach Excursivo Para Pases 5110 at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
SBC Ten 3 "El Mexicali" at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
Mexico Comedor SCD 3664 "Saltillo" at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
Mexico Dormitero SCD 590 "Luxemer Pico" at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
Mexico Dormitero SCD 401 "Rio Plantia" at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
Mexico Dormitero SCD 506 "Noruega" at Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
SBC Tren 3 heading out of Puerto Penasco on 4/5/1986.
My first Copper Canyon trip started on SBC Tren 2 at Mexicali on 12/31/1987.
SBC Tren 3 at Coahulia, Son on 12/31/1987.
Tren 2 seen at Puerto Penasco on 12/31/1987.
The SBC Completion Monument at KP 326 on 12/31/1987.
CHP Tren 3 "El Chihuahua Pacifico" at Sufragio on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 3 at KP 770 on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 3 at KP 734 on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 3 at KP 718 on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 3 at Temoris on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 3 at Divisadero at 1/1/1988.
CHP Caboose 851 at San Rafael, Chih on 1/1/1988.
CHP Tren 4 at Creel on 1/2/1988.
NdeM Caboose 44140 at Creel, Chih on 1/2/1988.
CHP Tren 8 at Creel on 1/2/1988.
The Bananafish Cars waited at Creel for pickup on 1/2/1988.
SBC Tren 1 at MP 444 on 1/3/1988.
SBC Tren 2 at Caborca on 1/3/1988.
CHP Mixed Train 32 about to leave Cuidad Juarez on 5/13/1988.
NdeM Caboose 44062 at Cuidad Juarez on 5/13/1988.
NdeM Caboose 44492 at Cuidad Juarez on 5/13/1988.
Guzman, Chih on 5/13/1988 with a station and track workers homes.
Uristia, Chih on 5/13/1988.
CHP Mixto 32 at Sabrinal, Chih on 5/13/1988.
Santa Sofia, Chih on 5/13/1988 with just a telegraph shelter.
CHP Caboose 690 at Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
CHP 17 at Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
CHP Pay Car at Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
CHP Cabooses 659 and 676 at Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
FCP Autovia 11 at the Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
An NdeM Autovia 124 turned into a passenger trailer at the CHP shops at Nuevo Casa Grande on 5/13/1988.
CHP Mixto 31 exits the Cumbres tunnel on May 14, 1988.
CHP Mixto 31, our special train with NdeM 905 and our excursion engine for our next part of our trip the Bosques de Chihuahua H-16-44 1000 on 5/14/1988.
NdeM Caboose 44548 at Nogales on 9/28/1990.
FNM Caboose 44567 at Nogales on 9/28/1990.
FCP Sequenda 1354 at Nogales on 9/28/1990.
FNM Cabooses at Nogales on 9/28/1990.
FCP Sequenda Mary Lee 1552 at Aqua Prieta on 9/29/1990.
FCP Crew Cars at Aqua Prieta on 9/29/1990.
Santa Cruz,Son on 9/30/1990.
On my Second Copper Canyon Trip we ran into the worst rainstorm in Sinaloa's History. Here the trip approached the Chinipas Bridge on 12/28/1990.
CHP Tren 3 stopped by a boulder on 12/28, 1990.
Here is a picture of the boulder. After seven hours, we moved the train to Jesus Cruz for the night. 12/28/1990.
While we sat, it was still a beautiful scene on 12/28/1990.
With 37 washouts ahead of our train, we turned back to Los Mochis. Before we could escape the canyon, at the last tunnel another rock came down and had to be removed on 12/29/1990. I always have said every trip is an adventure! For more details read about this trip on my trip page under the title, "Copper Canyon 2, Rain, Rain, and Drinking along the way!"
The cars Bananafish Tours used over the years are looked at next. Here is the Sierra Pelona at Puerto Penasco on 12/31/1990.
Next the Lounge/Diner 2746 at Puerto Penasco on 12/31/1990.
The ex New York Central Sandra Linda at Puerto Penasco on 12/31/1990.
The Rio Magico was at Puerto Penasco on 12/31/1990. The smoothest riding car I had ever ridden in.
They even had an ex Southern Pacific three quarter Dome Car for a few years. Now let us get back to the views and the passenger trains.
FCP 2 arrived at Benjamin Hill right at dusk on 3/23/1991.
SBC Tren 2 at Benjamin Hill on 3/23/1991.
NdeM Caboose 44558 at Sufragio on 3/24, 1991.
NdeM Caboose 44543 at Sufragio on 3/24/1991.
NdeM Caboose 44533 at Sufragio on 3/24/1991.
The Bananafish cars and group waiting to be picked up in Sufragio on 3/24/1991. The cars are on the FCP/CHP interchange track.
CHP Tren 7 at KP 720 with a derailed car in river on 3/24/1991.
CHP Tren 8 at Creel on 3/25/1991.
CHP Tren 4 at Creel on 3/25/1991.
CHP Tren 3 at Los Ojitos, Chih on 3/25/1991.
The CHP ran a caboose on the rear of most of their passenger trains. Through the Caboose is the Rock of Fertility at KP 610 on 3/25/,1991.
The Copper Canyon Express at Divesidero on 3/25/1991.
CHP Tren 3 at Divisadero on 3/25/1991.
CHP Tren 7 at Divisadero on 3/25/1991.
A Bananafish Special Train at Devisidero on 3/25/1991. After a mix up picking our cars up at Sufragio, the CHP dispatched two NdeM SD-40-2's to take us from Creel to Sufragio.
FCP Tren 3 at Empalme on 3/26/1991.
Ortiz, Son on 3/26/1991.
FCP Tren 4 at Benjamin Hill on 3/26/1991.
FCP Tren 1 at Benjamin Hill on 3/26/1991.
Vending food and drinks were a way of life at most Mexican Train Stations. Here are a couple of views at Benjamin Hill on 3/26/1991.
SBC Tren 2 at Mexicali on 12/27/1992.
SBC Tren 1 met 2 at Caborca on 12/27/1992.
FNM Tren 7 at Pasada Barrancas on 12/29/1992.
The Sierra Madre Express at Divisadero on 12/30/1992.
CHP Tren 8 at Divisadero on 12/30/1992.
CHP Tren 8 crossing one of the many bridges on the CHP on 12/30/1992.
CHP Tren 8 at KP 682 on 12/30/1992.
FMN Tren 1 loading for Nogales at Benjamin Hill on 12/31/1992.
There are steam engines on display at both Mexicali and Benjamin Hill, neither ever ran on the SBC. Here is FNM 2702 ex NdeM 1137-79 at Benjamin Hill on 12/31/1992.
SBC Tren 3 took the siding at Lopez Collada to let Tren 2 pass by on 12/31/1992.
Tren 2 comes across the Altar Desert into Lopez Collada on 12/31/1992.
CHP Tren 3 just west of Temoris on 12/28/1996.
FNM Train 7 with the President of FNM Business Cars on the rear at Divisadero on 12/30/1996.
FNM Tren 2 at Puerto Penasco on December 12/31/1996.
FCP Tren 3 at Empalme on 12/27/1997.
FNM Tren 8 at Sufragio on 12/27/1997.
CHP Tren 4 at Sufragio on 12/28/1997.
CHP Tren 8 at Sufragio on 12/28/1997.
CHP Tren 3 at Sufragio on 12/28/1997.
CHP Tren 7 at Divisadero on 12/30/1997.
FNM {NdeM} 44549 caboose at Sufragio on 12/31/1997.
FNM {NdeM} 44517 caboose at Sufragio on 12/31/1997.
San Blas, Sin station on 12/31/1997.
FNM Tren 3 crossing El Fuerte on 12/31/1997.
Maiaca, Son on 12/31/1997.
Navajoa, Son on 12/31/1997.
FNM Tren 3 passing through Vicom, Son on 12/31/1997.
FNM Tren 4 arrived from Nogales into Benjamin Hill on 12/27/1998.
FNM Tren 7 running over 12 hours late at Sufragio on 12/28/1998.
FNM Tren 4 at Chihuahuicane, Chih on 12/28/1998.
FNM Tren 8 at San Rafael on 12/30/1998.
Bananafish's ex Southern Railway Sleeper Rapidan River at Creel on 12/30/1998.
CHP Tren 3 at Creel on 12/30/1998.
CHP Tren 3 at Creel on 12/30/1998.
CHP Tren 8 passing CHP Tren 7 at Irigoyen on 12/30, 1998.
