Short Line Railroad Directory

Carrizo Gorge Railway, Inc. CZRY #132

Nature of Firm

CZRY operates freight service from a connection with UP at Plaster City, CA  to San Ysidro, CA (114 miles). Forty-four miles of the track is in Mexico running between Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico.

History

The San Diego & Arizona Railway was incorporated December 15, 1906 and opened between San Diego and El Centro on December 12, 1919. The company was reorganized as the San Diego & Arizona Eastern in 1932. In September 1976, a tropical storm washed out the line causing a suspension of service, followed by an abandonment application. Most of the property was purchased by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board in 1979. The KYLE Railroad operated freight service for nearly five years as the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Transportation Company before seeking release from their operating contract. On October 14, 1984 SDIY took over operations, but the line soon became blocked. Beginning in 2002, portions of the line underwent major repair by the Carrizo Gorge Railway, and the railroad was re-opened to traffic in 2004. Today, current management is committed to constantly improving the line to allow freight to be brought into the San Diego area from our eastern connection with Union Pacific.

Company Information