CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Union Pacific at Nogales, Arizona 2019

Rail Fan Adventure --

2019 Western Vacation - Nogales, Arizona.

We arrived at the border city of Nogales AZ, late in the day on Friday, April 26th 2019.

1. Our first view of Mexico with a border patrol truck parked along the fence. Nogales AZ looking into Mexico.
Our first view of Mexico with a border patrol truck parked along the fence. Nogales AZ looking into Mexico.

2. Nogales AZ looking east along border wall.
Nogales AZ looking east along border wall.

3. Nogales AZ border wall warning sign.
Nogales AZ border wall warning sign.

4. Union Pacific track from Tucson at the junction point with Mexican railroad Ferromex. That’s X-Ray equipment to scan the two trains each way daily that pass through here. Saturday morning, April 27, 2019. UP border gate. Nogales AZ.
Union Pacific track from Tucson at the junction point with Mexican railroad Ferromex. That’s X-Ray equipment to scan the two trains each way daily that pass through here. Saturday morning, April 27, 2019. UP border gate. Nogales AZ.

5. U. S. Border patrol offices. UP x-ray equipment. Nogales AZ.
U. S. Border patrol offices. UP x-ray equipment. Nogales AZ.

6. The US border wall with Nogales, Sonora in the background. Nogales AZ.
The US border wall with Nogales, Sonora in the background. Nogales AZ.

7. This US customs gate doesn’t appear to be used. Nogales AZ.
This US customs gate doesn’t appear to be used. Nogales AZ.

8. US border wall. So close yet so far. Nogales AZ.
US border wall. So close yet so far. Nogales AZ.

9. Early morning on Morley St., and the stores are opening up. Nogales AZ.
Early morning on Morley St., and the stores are opening up. Nogales AZ.

10. Looking north across the railroad at Grand Avenue. Nogales AZ.
Looking north across the railroad at Grand Avenue. Nogales AZ.

11. Pimeria Alta Historical Museum. Nogales AZ.
Pimeria Alta Historical Museum. Nogales AZ.

12. Morley Street on a Saturday morning. There were very few vacant businesses. Looked like our downtowns 50 years ago. Nogales AZ.
Morley Street on a Saturday morning. There were very few vacant businesses. Looked like our downtowns 50 years ago. Nogales AZ.

13. Looking south on Morely St. with the border fence in the background. Sue visited some of the shops. Nogales AZ.
Looking south on Morely St. with the border fence in the background. Sue visited some of the shops. Nogales AZ.

14. “Rails Make Nogales” commemorated the arrival of three railroads at the Mexican border. William Morley was chief engineer for the Santa Fe. Santa Fe later gave up their quest to invade Mexico with their subsidiary Sonora Railway and sold this line to Southern Pacific. Nogales AZ.
“Rails Make Nogales” commemorated the arrival of three railroads at the Mexican border. William Morley was chief engineer for the Santa Fe. Santa Fe later gave up their quest to invade Mexico with their subsidiary Sonora Railway and sold this line to Southern Pacific. Nogales AZ.

15. Vehicle border crossing to Mexico on N. Grand Ave. US border crossing. Nogales AZ.
Vehicle border crossing to Mexico on N. Grand Ave. US border crossing. Nogales AZ.

16. Lots of people were walking across the border to shop in Nogales AZ, this Saturday morning. US border crossing.
Lots of people were walking across the border to shop in Nogales AZ, this Saturday morning. US border crossing.

17. Shops on N. Grand Ave. Nogales AZ.
Shops on N. Grand Ave. Nogales AZ.

18. N Grand Ave. View 2. Nogales AZ.
N Grand Ave. View 2. Nogales AZ.

19. Sacred Heart School and Parrish . Nogales AZ.
Sacred Heart School and Parrish . Nogales AZ.

20. I had never seen a Sonora Mexico license plate before!
I had never seen a Sonora Mexico license plate before!

21. One of the border patrol agents I had talked to alerted me that a southbound train would be coming within the hour. Sure ‘nuff the Union Pacific freight out of Tucson rolled in as predicted. The area to the left of the train was formerly the Southern Pacific yard, engine terminal and depot. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.
One of the border patrol agents I had talked to alerted me that a southbound train would be coming within the hour. Sure ‘nuff the Union Pacific freight out of Tucson rolled in as predicted. The area to the left of the train was formerly the Southern Pacific yard, engine terminal and depot. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.

22. The UP crew gets off and the Ferromex Railroad crew gets on. UP 5828-6396. View 2. Nogales AZ.
The UP crew gets off and the Ferromex Railroad crew gets on. UP 5828-6396. View 2. Nogales AZ.

23. The gate has been opened, and this train of cross-border commerce is heading into Mexico. That X-Ray equipment is scanning the train. UP 5828-6396. View 3. Nogales AZ.
The gate has been opened, and this train of cross-border commerce is heading into Mexico. That X-Ray equipment is scanning the train. UP 5828-6396. View 3. Nogales AZ.

We head east out of town.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young