Carl's Dad

Carl M. Eichenlaub, superintendent of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern since 1954, retired on May 31 after 47 years' service with the "railroad under two flags." Named to succeed him was W. B. Barker, with headquarters in San Diego. When Eichenlaub went to work as an office boy in 1914 for Chief Engineer E. J. Kallright the SD&AE had been under construction for six years and had reached 60 miles eastward from San Diego. With SP assisting the founding Spreckels interests, work continued on through WWI, John D. Spreckels driving the last spike in Carriso Gorge in 1919. SP became sole owner of the railroad - and acquired Eichenlaub in the bargain - in 1933. The line had been one of the last pieces of major railroad construction in the United States, and one of the most difficult to build. Today its main line between San Diego and El Centro, including the 44-mile Mexican subsidiary Tijuana & Tecate Railway, stretches 147 miles to its SP junction to provide the shortest rail route east from San Diego. And no one knows this rugged route better than the SD&AE's veteran and colorful retiring superintendent. There is probably no one more familiar with San Diego County from a saddle than Carl. He is a California registered civil and structural engineer, having obtained his engineering schooling through correspondence and night classes. Another of his interests is sailing. He is a member, and past Commodore of Mission Bay Yacht Club at San Diego. Barker has been on the SD&AE since January, with title of assistant superintendent, familiarizing himself with the duties of the top operating position.

KPBS Script The Impossible Railroad

In 1916, San Diego had the worst flood in its history, and many people attribute directly to the machinations of Charles Hatfield.

Charles Hatfield billed himself as a scientific rainmaker. He was hired by the city of San Diego to end a drought. He set up his base of operations at Lake Morena and in January 1916 it began to rain."

14 straight days of rain caused the Sweetwater Dam to burst, sending floodwaters rushing toward San Diego.

The railroad’s Chief Draftsman Carl Eichenlaub witnessed the damage...

We lost the fill in Sweetwater...we lost the fill in Otay...we lost the bridge across the Tijuana River.

The railroad was a heartbreaking wreck.

"The San Diego & Arizona was up to 25% washed away by the flood....So John Spreckels is left strapped, his railroad is washed out, his crews are demoralized, waiting for a word from their commander in chief. What do we do now? John Spreckels says put it back."