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Imperial (SP train)

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Imperial
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleMidwestern United States/Southwestern United States/Baja California
First service1931
Last service1967
Former operator(s)Rock Island Rail Road
Southern Pacific Railroad
Route
TerminiChicago, Illinois
Los Angeles, California/San Diego, California
Distance travelled2,361 miles (3,800 km)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)Southwest: 39, Northeast: 40
On-board services
Seating arrangementsCoaches
Sleeping arrangementsOpen sections, roommettes, drawing rooms and compartments
Catering facilitiesDining car
Baggage facilitiesBaggage car

The Imperial was a night train of the Rock Island Rail Road and the Southern Pacific. It operated from Chicago to Los Angeles, via Kansas City (Missouri) and Tucumcari (New Mexico).

Route

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Among the Southern Pacific passenger trains running from Arizona to southern California, it was distinctive for stopping in Mexico and for having an international branch running into Mexico a second time, stopping between Calexico and San Diego. In most of the Arizona section, it passes through an area acquired by the Gadsden Purchase.

The Imperial's main route ran west to Los Angeles. Heading west of Yuma it went into Mexico for two stops, then returned to Calexico; there, the main route continued to Los Angeles.

A southern branch split from the main route at Calexico on the San Diego Short Line. It crossed the Mexico–United States border, then made stops in Baja California at Mexicali, before returning to California, stopping in Calexico and El Centro. It then crossed into Mexico, stopping at Tijuana, and finally crossed to the United States to finish in San Diego.[1]

The route had its origins as a local train between San Diego and Yuma. It was suspended from 1942 to 1946, as a result of World War II. Its service was truncated by 1958, continuing into 1967.[2]

Major stops

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San Diego Short Line branch:

  • Mexicali
  • Tijuana
  • San Diego

Notes

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