The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the nation’s largest railways. It was one of the three large mainline railroads that served Southern California, along with competitors Union Pacific and Southern Pacific.

Originally chartered in 1859, the railroad reached Southern California in 1883 when its subsidiary California Southern Railroad began construction of a line between Barstow and San Diego, challenging Southern Pacific’s monopoly on rail access.

The Santa Fe was perhaps most famous for its long-distance passenger trains. The railroad’s famed Super Chief operated an all Pullman car service between Chicago and Los Angeles and was known as “The Train of the Stars” because of the number of celebrities it carried. Santa Fe ceased operating passenger trains in May 1971.

The Santa Fe railroad was ultimately merged into the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in 1995.

Courtesy Private Collection.