AND THEN THE GOLDEN EMPIRE CAME CRASHING DOWN

The crash of Southern Pacific (SP) railroad company in the 1970s comprises the focus of this article. The author details the loss of traffic sources and bad investments by SP, as well as failed mergers, difficult chairmen and personality clashes. The companys diversification into Southern Pacific Pipe Lines, Black Mesa Pipeline, Bankers Leasing, Evergreen Freight Car Corp. are explored, as well as the inventions of Southern Pacific Land Co. The author looks at population growth in California and introduces Union Pacific and its head Edward H. Harriman. The analysis of the 1964 merger of UP, SP and Rock Island concludes the piece.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/6163876
• Corporate Authors:

  Kalmbach Publishing Company

  21027 Crossroads Circle
  P.O. Box 1612
  Waukesha, WI  United States  53187-1612
• Authors:
  • Hemphill, M W
• Publication Date: 2005-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 80-89
• Serial:
  • Trains
  • Volume: 65
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0041-0934
  • Serial URL: http://trainsmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Freight traffic; Freight trains; History; Maps; Profitability; Railroads
• Identifier Terms: Southern Pacific Railroad
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; History; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00986913
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 2 2005 12:00AM