The space rockets of their time, the “iron horse” revolutionized the way the world functioned and operated. The railroad and the locomotives that ran on them made the world a more connected place with faster and more efficient travel times and prompted the development of a whole new economy. In New Mexico, the railroad played a crucial role in the development of the area and its future. The railroad played one of the largest roles in the history of New Mexico because of the conflict spurred by the race to reach New Mexico, the immediate affect of the railroad in New Mexico, and the lasting effects of the railroad in modern New Mexico.
When the railroad first started to blossom in the United States, many of the newly formed railroad companies …show more content…
While the AT&SF itself may have merged with the Burlington Northern Railway in 1994, many of the institutions and businesses created by the arrival of the railroad still survive to this day. For example, the Santa Fe Plaza still hosts a market full of Native American crafts for visitors to purchase. The University of New Mexico also survives to this day, as one of the state’s prominent universities. In Albuquerque, the town went from a settlement near the Rio Grande to a bustling city composed of an Old Town and New Town, which are still present today. Moreover, in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the rail yards which fell into disrepair in the mid to late 20th century with the arrival of more reliable diesel engines and the boom in popularity of the automobile, are now being revitalized with the farmer’s market in Albuquerque and new developments surrounding the tracks in Santa Fe. In addition, the same tracks built by the AT&SF still play a major role in New Mexico’s tourism and shipping industries. Many freight train companies such as the BNSF (the descendant of the AT&SF) and Union Pacific Railways still use the old AT&SF tracks to ship goods cross-country and export New Mexico’s oil and gas. Furthermore, commuter trains are present in New Mexico because of the AT&SF tracks. For example, the New …show more content…
state. While the railroad may be a relic of the past compared to our modern technology, it changed the world in ways never experienced before. The railroad connected the previously isolated New Mexico Territory with not only the rest of the U.S., but also the world, which helped to create New Mexico’s unique and distinct
When the railroad first started to blossom in the United States, many of the newly formed railroad companies …show more content…
While the AT&SF itself may have merged with the Burlington Northern Railway in 1994, many of the institutions and businesses created by the arrival of the railroad still survive to this day. For example, the Santa Fe Plaza still hosts a market full of Native American crafts for visitors to purchase. The University of New Mexico also survives to this day, as one of the state’s prominent universities. In Albuquerque, the town went from a settlement near the Rio Grande to a bustling city composed of an Old Town and New Town, which are still present today. Moreover, in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the rail yards which fell into disrepair in the mid to late 20th century with the arrival of more reliable diesel engines and the boom in popularity of the automobile, are now being revitalized with the farmer’s market in Albuquerque and new developments surrounding the tracks in Santa Fe. In addition, the same tracks built by the AT&SF still play a major role in New Mexico’s tourism and shipping industries. Many freight train companies such as the BNSF (the descendant of the AT&SF) and Union Pacific Railways still use the old AT&SF tracks to ship goods cross-country and export New Mexico’s oil and gas. Furthermore, commuter trains are present in New Mexico because of the AT&SF tracks. For example, the New …show more content…
state. While the railroad may be a relic of the past compared to our modern technology, it changed the world in ways never experienced before. The railroad connected the previously isolated New Mexico Territory with not only the rest of the U.S., but also the world, which helped to create New Mexico’s unique and distinct