See the ATSF Industrial Area for a brief discussion of El Paso history.

The SP entered El Paso from the west by crossing over the Rio Grande River on two separate bridges and crossing over the ATSF mainline coming down from Belen, NM. The SP had several yards and a large engine facility in addition to a number of industrial sidings. Originally on the west side of town and subsequently moved east of the main yards, the SP had a 4000 foot re-icing platform to service scheduled east bound reefer trains. All new locomotives bound for the West Coast were shopped in El Paso and tested before proceeding to California.

MODELING THE DALLAS STREET YARD AND SP INDUSTRIAL AREA

Following the prototype, the SP mainline crosses the Rio Grande, parallels the ATSF mainline, and runs past Smelter Town and Union Depot to Dallas Street Yard and engine facilities. Union Depot is modeled as two tracks. The Swift Meatpacking plant and associated stock yard is also modeled. Finally, the roundhouse, fueling station and caboose tracks are present.

In the mid-1950’s, the SP ran Trains 3 and 4 (Golden State) and trains 39 and 40, which were mail trains with a single (or sometimes two) coach. Three scheduled fast freights ran eastward and one scheduled fast freight ran westward. A number of local freights also operated out of El Paso.

Steam was still very prevalent in the mid-50’s on the SP: it was not unusual to see 4-6-0’s and 2-8-0’s service as yard switchers. Dieselization was in full swing: the SP had ordered a number of F3 and F7 units that were painted in the infamous Black Widow scheme and run as AB sets. GP9’s were also used extensively, including ten passenger units that were fitted with steam generators and large ash can headlights that were mounted at both ends of the engine.

It was not unusual to see T&NO and Pacific Lines equipment in El Paso. Cotton Belt (SSW) engines also showed up from time to time in El Paso. Even an occasional Rock Island locomotive might appear, having run through from Tucumcari. Each of these railroads appears during an operating session.

The SP Dallas Street Yard industrial area is located in the crew lounge, which is adjacent to the train room and is yet to be constructed.