A Hurricane Hit This California Railroad in 1976 and It Has Never Fully Reopened

🌵 The “Impossible Railroad” was supposed to give San Diego its direct path to the east. Instead, it became one of the most punishing rail lines ever built in America. In this episode, we follow the story of the San Diego & Arizona Railway through revolution, war, floods, fires, washouts, bankruptcies, and the hurricane that nearly erased it in a single night. From John D. Spreckels’ gamble to the towering Goat Canyon Trestle, this is the rise and collapse of a railroad that never stopped fighting the desert. You’ll see how a line that took 12 years and a fortune to build became part of today’s San Diego Trolley system—while its most legendary stretch through Carrizo Gorge was left to rust in the canyon. 🚂 Inside this story: • Why San Diego desperately wanted its own eastern rail link • How the “Impossible Railroad” was forced through Carrizo Gorge • The engineering behind the Goat Canyon Trestle • Hurricane Kathleen and the destruction of 1976 • Why every revival attempt kept failing • How part of the route survived as modern transit If you enjoy forgotten rail history, impossible engineering, and abandoned infrastructure, hit subscribe and stick around for more from Railbend. 💬 Have you ever visited Goat Canyon Trestle, or hiked any part of the old Desert Line? Tell me below. #RailroadHistory #GoatCanyonTrestle #CarrizoGorge #SanDiegoAndArizonaRailway #ImpossibleRailroad #AbandonedRailroad #Railbend #TrainHistory #SouthernPacific #SanDiegoTrolley #HurricaneKathleen #AmericanHistory #EngineeringHistory #DesertLine #RailwayDocumentary 00:00 Intro 01:04 San Diego's Rail Problem 02:20 John D. Spreckels Plans The Impossible Railroad 04:28 Revolution, War, And Brutal Construction 06:20 The Line Opens At Last 07:27 Carrizo Gorge Starts Winning 09:25 Building The Goat Canyon Trestle 12:44 Decline And Hurricane Kathleen 16:26 From Railroad To San Diego Trolley 18:23 Failed Attempts To Revive The Desert Line 22:37 The Desert Line Falls Silent Again 26:03 Outro