Mexico’s Ferrocarril del Pacífico (FCP) - National Railways of Mexico, Part 3
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มี.ค. 2024
- In this video, C. Vision Productions and videographer Dan Hadley take you back to the early 1990s, as we tour Mexico’s Ferrocarril del Pacífico between Guadalajara and the Southern Pacific interchange in Nogales. Officially the “Región Pacífico” of the FNM by this time, the spirit of the Pacífico Railway was still present in all aspects of the operation. If you’re a fan of older Alco, MLW, and GE locomotives, FCP’s roster delivers on all fronts. Locomotive models seen include C628, RSD-12, M630, M630W, M636, M420TR-2, M424W, C30-7, C30-S7, C36-7, B23-7, U23B, API-620, BX-620, S-6, GP35, GP40, and GP40-2. The final four Alco PAs in North America are documented in this video as well, with numbers 16, 17, 18, and 19 all featured. The 16 and 18 are found in the deadline at Empalme, while the number 17 is captured in regular service on the FNM. We also visit the number 19 on display at the Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos in Puebla. We’ll follow fast freight and passenger trains across the Pacífico’s mainline, view yard operations at Guadalajara, Tepic, Mazatlán, Ciudad Obregón, Empalme, and Benjamín Hill, and take an extended tour of the famous Empalme Shops. The Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja California shops in Benjamín Hill are also visited, with both of SBC’s EMD FT locomotives featured in this segment. At the international border in Nogales, we’ll see the FNM interchanging traffic with the Southern Pacific.
Today, the Pacífico’s mainline is operated by Ferromex. The Alcos, MLWs, classic GEs, passenger trains, and Empalme Shops are long gone. Come along with C. Vision Productions, as we relive the history of Mexican railroading, in Part 3 of our National Railways of Mexico series.
More C. Vision content awaits you below:
Mexico’s Abandoned Branch Lines - National Railways of Mexico, Part 2
• Mexico’s Abandoned Bra...
Mexico’s Mainlines in the Early 1990s - National Railways of Mexico, Part 1
• Mexico’s Mainlines in ...
Mexican Steam’s Last Stand: Ferrocarril Mexicano del Pacífico (1990)
• Mexican Steam’s Last S...
Southern Pacific’s Desert Raceway - The Sunset Route in 1995
• Southern Pacific’s Des...
Arizona & California Railroad in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts: 30 Years of ARZC
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Trona Railway in the Mojave Desert: EMD SD40-2, SD40T-2, and Baldwin AS-616 Locomotives
• Trona Railway in the M... - บันเทิง
The huge 6-axle ALCo diesels, built in Schenectady and Montreal, made me smile.
We loved those units as well, MJ. As long as they were running properly, they could pull anything. There are stories of C628s pulling drawbars right out of “ore jennies” on the CNW. Classic locomotives, for sure. Thank you for watching the video.
57:40 i saw that train at the National Museum Of The Mexican Railways in puebla and it's a amazing engine!
of course, and this locomotive was rebuilt at Empalme, Sonora.
It’s great that you were able to see it in person! Those PAs are impressive locomotives. Alco was right on the money with that design - beautiful styling. We appreciate you watching the video.
Thank you for bringing another part of the National Railways of Mexico
You are very welcome! It’s our pleasure to share these Pacífico memories with our viewership. Thank you for watching the video.
Railroading the way God intended it to be, train orders, telegraph & handsigns.
Yes, sir! It was the way veteran railroaders like you got the job done - quickly, effectively, and safely. Your comment is very much appreciated.
Nice video my friend! 🚂🇲🇽
Thank you so much!!! We appreciate the friendly comment.
I wish I'd seen this back in 2018 before I took my trip north on the FCP.
As long as everything goes right, that would be an awesome ride. We give you a lot of credit for successfully navigating Mexico’s rail network. Stay safe out there, and thanks for watching.
➡️🚂⬅️📖🇲🇽viva México increíbles registro 🔝👏🏼🥇
Thank you so much! We’re happy to hear that you value this production. Your comment is appreciated.
57:41 I love that locomotive, I made that engine with cardboard a few months ago
PA number 17 was (and still is) a beautiful locomotive. It certainly is worthy of your interest. The story behind its rescue and rebuilding is pretty incredible. Our hats go off to the Empalme Shop forces that saved the unit. Thank you for watching the video.
@@CVisionProductions1 Indeed, they did a magnificent job restoring this beautiful engine, a shame that the shops were closed
Agreed on both counts. Looking at satellite maps, it appears that the shops are nothing more than piles of rubble today.
Now THIS is the magnum opus!
Thank you very much, Alex! We’re glad that you enjoyed the video.
Love the ex-BC Rail units!!
Yes! They were fascinating locomotives. FNM had a good number of them in service during this era. Thank you for the comment.
Another splendid issue of Mexican railroad coverage! I was so happy to see 2 freshly painted SP units! If only there were still some today.
Thank you so much! The “Speed Lettering” era on SP was pretty incredible, in our opinion. That paint scheme hit all the marks. We appreciate the comment.
Excellent videography and captivating scenes. This coverage of Mexican railroad action is mesmerizing and action packed. Thank you very much for sharing this invaluable video footage.
Thank you very much for the kind words. We owe it to Mr. Dan Hadley for capturing this footage. It’s been our pleasure to share these videos with all of you. Your comment is greatly appreciated.
Nice to see former BC Rail units still on the job.
I had no idea those could be found in Mexico when I first came across Pentrex's release of this footage back in 2004-2005.
Yes! FNM got some good use out of those former BC Rail units. Following the privatization of Mexican railways, it seemed that Alco and MLW products fell out of favor. Thank you for the comment.
@@CVisionProductions1 I can't wait to hear your feedback on my comment sent. Do you think those EX-BCR diesels can be modeled in HO scale sometime in the future?
@colinmulder6806 Perhaps! They would be neat to see as models.
@@CVisionProductions1 In fact, got 4 of the SUPER 7'S in my collection as we speak.
Wow wonderful memories! I use to ride those trains 🚂 from Mexicali to Guadalajara back in the 80s with my family and grandparents. Beautiful times 👍 thanks 🙏
We’re happy to hear that you appreciate this footage! Mexicali to Guadalajara would have been a beautiful train ride. Great memories, indeed. Thank you for the nice comment.
Very nice video, I am 45 years old now , but this video reminds me when I was a little boy I saw a lot of trains passing thru the main line between Torreon and Jimenez Chih. these kind of videos are really good because your camera was very very stable
Thank you very much for the kind words. It sounds like you witnessed some awesome railroad action when you were young. The late 80s and early 90s were an exciting and colorful time in Mexican railroading. Thanks again.
Excellent production of the FCP Im beggin for anything on the Kansas City Mexico & Orient Thx
Thank you!!! We’re happy that you enjoyed the video. Regarding your request, we’ll see what we can do. Stay tuned!
Lindo recuerdo
Thank you! These were good days on the railways of Mexico.
Hola! muy buenos estos videos de aquellas epocas del tren en mexico, los felicito. saludos
Hello, and thank you!!! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed this program. Your comment is appreciated.
Gotta love those old ALCO’s and GE’s hard at work smokin’ up the sky. I’m also quite surprised of the amount of former Canadian power that is seen in this footage.
Yes! It seemed that nearly every unit on the FCP’s roster was capable of blocking out the sun with thick clouds of exhaust smoke. Those BC Rail units were pretty neat. The timing of the sale must have worked out perfectly. Mexico was looking to buy just as BC Rail was looking to sell. Thank you for the comment, Josh.
I was just thinking. I wonder if more Mexican rail footage was posted? And lo and behold. C Visions back at it again. Thank you for sharing these incredible scenes with us.
We’re glad that we could deliver for you! This project has been in the works for a long time, so it’s great to finally share it in finished form. Thank you for taking the time to watch the video.
Yeah baby! That's what I've been waiting for.
Thank you for keeping an eye out for this video! We’re glad that we could finally share it with you. This project has been in the works for quite a while.
Thanks to you as well, for the effort of bringing us this great view of our railroading past.
You’re very welcome.
I was hoping for a vid on the FCP. Thank you!!
You’re very welcome!!! We’re happy that we could bring this footage to you. Thank you for appreciating it.
@@CVisionProductions1 I was wondering if there was any more footage of either Nogales, Arizona, or the Empalme/Guaymas area? I grew up in those parts and I love watching all this old footage of them.
We appreciate the question. Looking at our archives, most of what was available from Nogales and Empalme has been used. However, we do have additional footage from other parts of Mexico that may be utilized for future projects. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
@@CVisionProductions1 Thank you! Even just the footage from this video was so great to see . I love what you guys are doing:)
It’s great to hear that you’re enjoying these videos! The positive response really has been overwhelming. Thanks again.
Very nice video, likes from me .
Thank you! We’re glad that you enjoyed it.
I believe some engines and coaches shown in this video also ended up at the railway museum in Merida, Yucatan. Regarding the SBC B-unit I remember hearing that unfortunately Ferromex scrapped it along with some other remaining SBC equipment in the mid 00s-early 10s. You can find photos of it still sitting in Benjamin Hill in the 00s.
Thank you for providing this information. It’s great to hear that preservation efforts in Mexico have been successful. They seem to truly value their railroad history. We were concerned that the FT B-unit may have been lost. That’s very unfortunate news, but we appreciate you keeping us up to date.
@@CVisionProductions1 Thank you for your response! Out of curiosity, do you by any chance have any footage of the now extinct "Linea C"? This was the line that went from Mexico City to Iguala, Guerrero and very famously cut right through the heart of Mexico City. It is so difficult to find photo and video of this line. I think passenger service ended in the late 80s maybe very early 90s but freight lasted until 97-98.
You’re very welcome. As for your question, we are familiar with the line that you’re referring to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Mr. Hadley covered that route during his travels. Thank you for inquiring.
Is this the end of National Railways of Mexico or one more part show?
Hi there, Derrick! Believe it or not, there may be more. We have enough footage for at least two more videos covering the railways of Mexico. We’ll see how things look in the future for their release. We appreciate the question.
@@CVisionProductions1 Okay!! I'll be waiting for more!!
I love the look of those Super 7s. Also such a range of different locomotive s. No Amtrak here
Wonder if they still run passenger trains like this. Or trains 10 hrs late. Por Nadda. . .
Thank u Dan.
Pj.
Carpinteria Calif
Those Super 7s really were neat locomotives. Reusing those old parts to create a new locomotive was a great idea on GE’s part. As for the passenger trains, they are gone. They disappeared only a few years after these scenes were captured. Thank you, P.J.
At 13:05, appears one of the BUDD 10-6 sleepers from the original CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR, the former DRGW 1131 SILVER SUMMIT acquired in 1972 and renamed DORMITORIO SEVILLA 642.
It’s pretty impressive that you were able to spot that. There were so many hidden gems in Mexico… Thank you.
Always love seeing a new video from yall! Any more BN videos possibly on the way?
We’re glad that you enjoy our content! And yes, there will be more BN and BNSF in the future. It’s just a matter of getting all the scenes organized and edited. There are a lot of videos planned for 2024. Stay tuned, and thanks for watching!
Some of these exact scenes are in the Pentrex video "Mexico's Pacifico Railroad".
You are very correct on that, Bill. Mr. Hadley was working for Pentrex at the time that this footage was captured. There’s some interesting history associated with these video projects. Thank you for the comment.
1:20:10 Ford Fairmont. My first car was a 1980 Fairmont.
Ah, yes. Very cool! Those are some true classics.
Yessir😮
Thank you!!! We appreciate you watching the video.
Fantastic presentation. Love it 😎
*edit*. I also love how this presentation shares a lot more footage and more narration than the pentrex presentation 😎
It means a lot to us that you’d mention those details. We tried to include as much footage and information as possible. Mr. Hadley recorded some remarkable scenes in Mexico - all of which deserved to be seen. Thank you for the nice comment.
@@CVisionProductions1 You’re welcome. Keep up the good work 😎
Nogales york haciendo acto de presencia
I came for the PA's❤
Those PAs are beautiful locomotives! Their stories are quite incredible. We appreciate you taking the time to watch the video.
Is much of this trackage still in place, and who operates it now? Thanks!
Hi there. Yes, the former FCP mainline is still very active. Ferromex is the current operator. Thank you for watching the video.
Looks like they used a token (bastón) system for single track working.
As far as we know, this was all timetable/train order territory at the time. It was very similar to the method of operation employed by US and Canadian railroads in years past. We appreciate the comment.
1:04:16 - ATSF 59L
Long live the Alco PAs!
i hipe there there is some footage of the fcp in the 80s before the merger it would be cool to see what it looked like before the fnm took over
We wish there was. All of our footage from Mexico was captured in FNM days. Thank you for watching the video.
is there any more footage@@CVisionProductions1
From Mexico, yes. Early 1990s. Copper Canyon and more FNM. Nothing further on FCP.
How does the speaker know all these different locomotive s? Theres such a mix.
Lots and lots of research. We try our best to provide useful and accurate information to the audience. It’s a long process, but it’s worth it. There are many online resources to assist us these days, which helps immensely. Thank you, P.J.
Just was tripping on RSD- 12 with big trucks. Pulling hoppers.
Those trains were sold after FNM privatized it, some were saved
Yes, it was nice that a few of those classic locomotives found good homes in museums or with other private owners. Mexico appreciates their railroad history, which is great to see. Thank you for the comment.
@@CVisionProductions1 You are welcome
Here again to point interesting factors for this video:
1. Out of the railroads in Mexico during the 90'S, the PACIFICO was undoubtedly the most interesting & colorful when it came to operations & motive power. Even the lineage of SP could be spotted on various diesels & trains when it came operation practices.
2. Whether it was you'd like to see VETERAN ALCO's smoking it up doing yard work or MODERN HI-TECH G.E.'S lugging passenger trains & priority freights on the mainline, PACIFICO back then would stand & deliver along with a wide variety of paint schemes created due to the creation of the FNM. Even reborn & rebuilt VETERAN ALCO PA'S being given a new lease on life would have the heads of railfans doing complete 180'S & 360'S.
3. The engine facility at Guadalajara, Jalisco is utilize to service diesels recently coming in from the North. Here they're fueled, serviced, & even sanded before being readied for another road trip back up the line. The B23-7 spotted was one of three currently on loan to the "PACIFIC" region during that visit.
4. The cut of passenger cars being towed by the ALCO RS-11 came in off the overnight express train from Mexico City, MX. Called the "EL TAPITIO", this was said to be that countries finest passenger service & used primarily by business employees to travel in-between Mexico City, MX & Guadalajara, Jalisco. Consist included a CLUB CAR, DINNER, & 6 SLEEPERS in addition to several FIRST-CLASS COACHES with a majority of the sleepers coming originally from various U.S. railroads. Reservations planned ahead are mandatory if hoping to ride a train like that.
5. When it came to the mainline freight's #'S 51&52 the SUPER 7'S were said to be the preferred motive power for them although as was spotted C30-7'S & EX-BCR M630'S would make cameo appearances from time to time. However the M630'S came to me as a SURPRISE & it made it look like Canada in Mexico country which made them become personal favorites of mine next to the SUPER 7'S.
6. The town Of Mazatlán has two faces which includes oceans, hotels, & fine restaurants for tourist & an engine house, modern passenger station, & yard for railfans. Passenger train power is fueled & serviced before continuing on. Train #2'S consist included a CLUB CAR & two SLEEPERS. This was actually a short lived experiment as a way to get tourist to Mazatlán by train when buying tickets in the U.S. but didn't become as successful so they were taken off.
7. The shops workers at Empalme, Sonora were undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with which is why finding out their shops were no longer in service came as a surprise to me. Certain this could never happen with how much hard work they've done into building, fixing up, & rebuilding various engines back into service. Even giving 3 of the 4 ALCO PA'S a second chance of life in railroad work was something the shop employees should be held in honor of. Of interest, passenger trains would often be used to deliver power dead-in-toe for a shop visit. Even ALCO PA #19 was originally in passenger service on the "PACIFICO" until officials placed it on display & since Mexico railroads would be short of power occasionally, the lost of that engine was a concern. At the time of this visit, #'S 18 & 16 weren't being worked on was due to their trucks either being missing or beyond repair.
8. The PACIFICO'S actually split into two divisions with the "SONORAN" to the north & "SINALOAN" to the south. Sufragio, Sinaloa serves as the division point of both & junction with the CHIHUAHUA-PACIFIC which Mr. Hadley visited in 1990.
9. I always did wonder what kind of service that FTA diesel for the FERROCARRIL SONORA BAJA CALIFORNIA was used for during that time, probably passenger service.
10. Trains #'S 11&12 were quite unusual to me. I had no idea that Mexico railroads did piggyback service. The only time intermodal service would show up would be in the form of APL/APC stack containers coming in from Laredo, TX headed to Mexico City, MX or inbound from Nogales, AZ to the FORD assembly plant in Hermosillo, Sonora where the ESCORT models are built. Although it wasn't shown here but once in Nogales, #51 passed a string of empty APL/APC containers that also would be going over the border later on that very same day but were those picked by the two SP GP40-2'S that brought in the APL/APC loads or was their visiting UP power waiting near by? Those without a doubt will make the THEN NEW symbols ADHFT & HFADT trains for interchange to & from the GTW in Chicago, IL.
Another slam dunk on the factors, Colin! 10/10. Regarding your Nogales question, we’re not sure on that. We’re fairly certain that we understand the operational details of those Ford trains circa 1995, but this was earlier than that. Things may have been a little different in the early 90s. As always, thank you for providing additional relevant information for us and our viewers.
@@CVisionProductions1 You've very welcome as always.
1. It was actually a surprise to me that SP power had the honors of doing the interchange work with FCP at Nogales. By that time U.P. power had become a common fixture on the FORD trains but if one is lucky enough or spend enough time spotting these trains working SP'S SUNSET & GOLDEN STATE routes with regularity you might get something different which was the case here.
2. Of interest, my family use to own one of those Ford ESCORTS back in the early 90'S ergo it's parts to assemble it must've came to the Hermosillo plant days earlier on that train.
3. If you ever do manage to succeed in my first 5 VHS ideas & I know you can do it in time, I'd like to have the MEXICO series done next. This series has become a personal favorite of me & my dad but primarily my dad for it introduced him & me to the SUPER 7'S. For those are quite a challenge to find in HO scale, especially in the ATLAS model. The visits to the CENTRAL & PACIFICO regions of Mexico showed me the greatest number of them at work while still looking like new from the shops & builders.
Thank you for these “follow up factors”, Colin. Ford was a big rail user back in this era. The VHS idea is interesting, but it’s more likely that you’ll see these videos released on DVD versus VHS. We’ll see what the future brings. Thanks again.
@@CVisionProductions1 You're very welcome once again.
1. I'd like to mentioned these in case anyone ask you folks a question about something featured in your uploads but not mentioned should they be curious about it.
2. I came up with this VHS revival idea as a result of you folks dedication of VHS releases from when you first started in 1994 all the way up to 2009. To me that's quite the accomplishment & managing to carry on this practice when others stopped.
3. To me, this idea would to be quite challenge you folks may've been looking for to prove & see if you've manage to keep your VHS producing skills up to par. As a reminder, feel free to utilize any of the available links I sent to you in case of the unexpected. Not to mention it's a proven fact that VHS tapes actually become very valuable & well priced on the collectors market which without a doubt can bring in lots of profit for you in the long run.
4. Right now, I'm in no rush. I'd like for you folks to take all time needed until you can find out a solution to make my proposed ideas possible. If it takes a few years, it'll all be worth it & pay off later down the line.
What years does this vid cover? Very interesting topic.
If I remember correctly it’s from 1991-1992
Bingo. Thank you for answering the question, azrailfan.
You mention those Engine shops are long gone. Do all those skilled workers go to another engine shop,or just loose their jobs? Dont they need these men to keep fleet running?
Hello there, P.J. - Unfortunately, many of these men lost their jobs. Privatization of the Mexican rail network involved some major downsizing in the workforce. Much of that was caused by the loss of passenger trains. Even in the years before privatization, the process of eliminating jobs and curtailing operations on certain lines had already begun. Today, the Empalme Shops are nothing but empty lots containing a little rubble. Pretty sad, especially considering the incredible work that was done at those shops over the years. As always, we appreciate your comments and questions.
El f c p es el mas hermoso saludos
The FCP certainly was an interesting operation. It was one of our favorites in Mexico. Thank you, and greetings!
Ale stare wszystko w tym Meksyku boże kochany w Polsce tak stary tabor kolejowy juz dawno poszedl na pocięcie na złomowisko , włącznie ze starymi torami, nawet na Ukrainie jest nowszy tabor kolejowy i tory
Yes! Mexico kept much of their older equipment in service well into the modern era. They were very resourceful. Thank you for watching the video.
FCP It's a copy of FEPAsa
Yes! Same name. Thank you for pointing that out.
That operator needs a bug.
We’d have to agree with you there! There may have been rules governing the types of keys that could be used, but we’re not certain. Might you be an Amateur Radio operator? If so, 73!
Telegraph operators used bugs too. My dad had three and he gave one of them to my older brother when he went to work for the AT&SF in 1967. Santa Fe still had some branch lines that only had telegraph communications, the Englewood branch for one. After the poles were taken down, a person only had the Bell telephone to conduct both company and civilian business. @@CVisionProductions1
Best regards to you as well@@CVisionProductions1
Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate that information, and so will others who read the comments. Best regards from C. Vision Productions!