Towns and Landmarks

Detailed List of Towns and Landmarks along the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad

between El Paso, Texas and Douglas, Arizona

Listed below are all towns and significant landmarks that were located on the portion of the "Southline" between El Paso, TX and Douglas, AZ.  Most of this information was obtained from either U.S. Geological Survey maps (mostly from the older 15 minute series) and from other old maps. Mileage and elevation figures were obtained from USGS topographic maps.

El Paso, Texas - El Paso County - Elev. 3,710

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: El Paso TX - 7.5 min. series 1955

31°46'01.52"N 106°28'42.78"W

   4.2 miles east of Rio Grande Bridge 

Bridge over the Rio Grande River - Elev. 3,736

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: Smeltertown TX/NM - 7.5 min. series 1955 - T29S-R4E-Section15

31°47'13.53"N 106°31'35.93"W

New Mexico / Texas State Line in center of River

   0.9 miles east of Bowen Tunnel (mileage from center of river)

   4.2 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Bowen Tunnel - Dona Ana County - Elev. 3,860

USGS: Smeltertown TX/NM - 7.5 min. series 1955 - T29S-R4E-Section9 & 16

31°47'34.15"N 106°32'26.01"W

The tunnel was later opened up to form the Bowen Cut. 0.2 mileseast of Bowen (mileage from center of tunnel)

   0.9 miles west of Rio GrandeRiver

   5.1 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Bowen ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 3,858

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: Smeltertown TX/NM - 7.5 min. series 1955 - T29S-R4E-Section9

31°47'39.61"N 106°32'40.12"W

On north side of Sierra De Cristo Rey (former Rodadero Peak)

   1.9 miles east of Pelea

   0.2 miles west of Bowen Tunnel

   5.3 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Pelea (Anapra),New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 3,848

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: Smeltertown TX/NM - 7.5 min. series 1955 - T29S-R4E-Section18

31°47'01.99"N 106°34'00.08"W

Right of way meets the Mexican border at this point. Track is adjacent to SP tracks at this point, crossovers exist. Track starts climbing outof the Rio Grande Valley.

   8.7 miles east of Mastodon

   1.9 miles west of Bowen

   7.5 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Western rim of Rio Grande Valley - Elev. 4,100  

(Display in Google Maps)

31°49'35.06"N 106°39'10.06"W

Eastbound trains begin their decent into the Rio Grande Valley at this point.

   3.0 miles east of Mastodon

   5.7 miles west of Pelea

Santa Theresa Port of Entry Highway crosses grade

31°49'23.84"N 106°41'03.33"W

   0.5 miles east of Mastodon

   8.2 miles west of Pelea

Mastodon ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,112

(Displey in Google Maps)

USGS: Strauss, NM - 7.5 min. series 1955 - T28S-R2E-Section 36

31°49'20.92"N 106°41'31.05"W

  10.2 miles east of Noria

   8.7 miles west of Pelea

  15.9 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Noria ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,127

(Display in Google Maps) 

USGS: Noria, NM - 7.5 min. series 1985 - T29S-R1E-Section 8

31°48'15.94"N 106°51'42.42"W 

   8.4 miles east of Potrillo

  10.2 miles west of Mastodon

  26.1 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Potrillo ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,247

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: Potrillo, NM - 7.5 min. series 1985 - T29S-R2W-Section 12

31°48'03.44"N 106°59'51.86"W

Post Office from 1908 to 1914 Old Borderland Highway is north oftracks. Southern tip of the East Potrillo Mountains are approx. 1 mileto the north.

   5.1 miles east of Mount Riley

   8.4 miles west of Noria

    34.7 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Phoenix/El Paso Airway Emergency Landing Field

Approximatly 3 miles sotheast of Mount Riley townsite

(Display in Google Maps)

Mount Riley ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,109

(Display in Google Maps)

USGS: Mount Riley SE, NM - 7.5 min. series 1985 - T29S-R2W-Section 6

31°48'58.75"N 107°04'53.61"W

Road to the north goes to the Mt. Riley Ranch & to Mt. Riley, Kilborne Hole. Road to the south goes to Riley Airfield & Mexican border.

   7.3 miles east of Monument

   5.1 miles west of Potrillo

   39.6 mles west of El Paso, Texas

Dry Lake Beds - Elev. 4,041

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Mount Riley SE, NM - 7.5 min. series 1985 - T29S-R3W-Section12

31°48'21.30"N 107°06'07.61"W

   5.7 miles east of Monument

   1.6 miles west of Mount Riley

Monument ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,111

(SeeTopographic Map)   (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: MT. Riley, NM - 15 min. series 1917 - T29S-R3W-Section 18

31°47'20.65"N 107°11'22.35"W

Old Borderland Highway is to south of tracks

   3.8 miles east of Malpais

   7.3 miles west of Mount Riley

  46.9 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Malpais ,New Mexico - Dona Ana County - Elev. 4,128

(SeeTopographic Map)   (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Camel Mountain, NM - 7.5 min. series 1965 - T29S-R4W-Section98

31°47'57.95"N 107°15'08.88"W

Road to the northeast goes to Guzman's Lookout Mountain Road tothe southwest goes to Birchfield Tank, Camel Mountain & Mexican border.Old Borderland Highway crossed the tracks here. To the east it is southof the tracks, to the west, it is north of the tracks.

  11.1 miles east of Arena

   3.8 miles west of Monument

  50.7 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Dona Ana / Luna County Line

   7.9 miles east of Arena

   3.2 miles west of Malpais

Indian Basin Road

Goes about 3 miles to the northwest to Indian Basin

   6.7 miles east of Arena

   4.4 miles west of Malpais

Altair ,New Mexico - Luna County (Exact location unknown)

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

  18 (approx.) miles east of Columbus

Arena Stock Tank & Windmill

Just south of tracks

   0.7 miles east of Arena

  10.4 miles west of Malpais

Arena, New Mexico - Luna County - Elev. 3,959

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Coyote Hill, NM - 7.5 min. series 1966 - T29S-R6W-Section12

31°48'06.05"N 107°24'54.07"W

Old Border Highway is on the south side of the tracks

  13.5 miles east of Columbus

  11.1 miles west of Malpais

  61.8 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Mirian, New Mexico - Luna County NM (exact location unknown)

   7 (approx.) miles east of Columbus

Columbus, New Mexico - Luna County - Elev. 4,064

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Columbus, NM - 7.5 min. series 1965 - T28S-R8W-Section 34

31°49'41.50"N 107°38'23.04"W

Post Office from 1891 to present Old Border Highway is south oftracks, Primitive dirt to the east, paved NM Highway 9 to the west.

   7.2 miles east of Mimbres

  13.5 miles west of Arena

  75.3 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Mimbres, New Mexico - Luna County - Elev. 4,348

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Malpais Hill, NM - 7.5 min. series 1965 - T28S-R9W-Section10

31°48'04.30"N 107°45'13.78"W

  12.8 miles east of Hermanas

   7.2 miles west of Columbus

  82.5 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Ford, New Mexico - Luna County (exact location unknown)

Hermanas, New Mexico - Luna County - Elev. 4,453

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Hermanas, NM - 7.5 min. series 1964 - T28S-R11W-Section 22

31°51'04.87"N 107°57'10.49"W

Branch Line to Deming connects here. Old Water tank still standing and used by ranchers Post Office from 1903 to 1925

   5.1 miles east of Savoya

  12.8 miles west of Mimbres

  95.3 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Savoya, New Mexico - Luna County Elev. 4,585

(SeeTopographic Map) 

USGS: Victorio Ranch SE, NM - 7.5 min. series 1965 - T29S-R12W-Section 1

31°49'09.16"N 108°00'58.83"W

   7.6 miles east of Victorio

   5.1 miles west of Hermanas

 100.4 miles west of El Paso

Victorio, New Mexico - Luna County - Elev. 4,576

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Victorio Ranch, NM - 7.5 min. series 1965 - T28S-R13W-Section23

31°51'03.61"N 108°08'09.26"W

   5.9 miles east of Continental

   7.6 miles west of Savoya

 108.0 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Grant / Luna county line

   0.5 miles east of Continental

   5.4 miles west of Victorio

Continental, New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,707

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Hat Top Mountain, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T28S-R14W-Section 12

31°53'11.65"N 108°13'21.73"W

   6.4 miles east of Hachita

   5.9 miles west of Victorio

 113.9 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Hachita ,New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,514

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Hachita, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T27S-R15W-Section 36

31°55'08.54"N 108°19'19.52"W

Present town site established in 1902. Post Office from 1882 to 1892, then town moved, Post Office 1902 to present. Junction of Arizona & New Mexico RR to Lordsburg

   3.2 miles east of Minero

   6.4 miles west of Victorio

 120.3 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Minero, New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,519

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Hachita, NM - 15 min. series 1918 - T27S-R15W-Section 28

31°55'57.38"N 108°22'27.87"W

   4.6 miles east of Vista

   3.2 miles west of Hachita

 123.5 miles west of El Paso, Texas

(Old)Hachita , New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,850

(SeeTopographic Map)   (See Aerial Photograph)

Continental Divide - Elev. 4,648

   1.5 miles east of Vista

   3.1 miles west of Minero

Vista, New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,679

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial photograph)

USGS: Hachita, NM - 15 min. series 1918 - T27S-R16W-Section 12

31°57'56.77"N 108°25'55.88"W

   3.7 miles east of Pothook

   4.6 miles west of Minero

 128.1 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Continental Divide - Elev. 4,694

   3.1 miles east of Pothook

   0.6 miles west of Vista

Pothook, New Mexico - Grant County - Elev. 4,553

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Hachita, NM - 15 min. series 1918 - T27S-R16W-Section 8

31°58'26.50"N 108°29'32.17"W

   5.8 miles east of Playas

   3.7 miles west of Vista

  131.8 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Hidalgo / Grant County Line

   4.0 miles east of Playas

   1.8 miles west of Pothook

Playas ,New Mexico - Hidalgo County - Elev. 4,311

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Playas Lake North, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T27S-R17W-Section 7

31°58'14.75"N 108°36'31.80"W

Post Office from 1913 to 1918

  12.0 miles east of Animas

   5.8 miles west of Pothook

 137.6 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Continental Divide - Elev. 4,510

   1.0 miles east of Antelope

   5.4 miles west of Playas

Antelope, New Mexico - Hidalgo County - Elev. 4,496

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Beacon Hill, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T27S-R18W-Section18

31°57'22.52"N 108°42'52.45"W

   5.6 miles east of Animas

   6.4 miles west of Playas

 144.0 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Animas, New Mexico - Hidalgo County - Elev. 4,404

(SeeTopographic Map)   (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Animas, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T27S-R19W-Section 20

31°56'55.67"N 108°48'20.53"W

Established in 1843. Post Office from 1909 to Present

   5.4 miles east of Pratt

   5.6 miles west of Antelope

 149.6 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Pratt, New Mexico - Hidalgo County - Elev. 4,425

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Antelope Pass, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T27S-R20W-Section21

31°56'34.46"N 108°53'40.10"W

Post Office from 1905 to 1913.

  12.7 miles east of Rodeo

   5.4 miles west of Animas

 155.0 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Antelope Pass - Elev. 4,410

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

Pass through the Peloncillo Mountains

  11.1 miles east of Rodeo

   1.6 miles west of Pratt

Apan, New Mexico - Hidalgo County (Exact location unknown)

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

Rodeo ,New Mexico - Hidalgo County - Elev. 4,128

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Antelope Pass, NM - 7.5 min. series 1982 - T28S-R21W-Section30

31°50'08.56"N 109°01'54.21"W

Post Office from 1903 to Present

  12.7 miles east of Apache

  12.7 miles west of Pratt

 167.7 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Arizona / New Mexico State Line

  10.7 miles east of Apache

   2.0 miles west of Rodeo

Mora, Arizona - Cochise County (Exact location unknown)

Apache, Arizona - Cochise County - Elev. 4,382

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Apache, AZ - 7.5 min. series 1987 - T20S-R31E-Section 13

31°41'23.41"N 109°07'59.24"W

   8.7 miles east of Chiricahua

  12.7 miles west of Rodeo

 180.4 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Chiricahua, Arizona - Cochise County - Elev. 4,674

(SeeTopographic map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Paramore Crater, AZ - 7.5 min. series 1986 - T21S-R30E-Section24

31°35'38.25"N 109°14'20.77"W

   5.6 miles east ot Bernardino

   8.7 miles west of Apache

 189.1 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Bernardino, Arizona - Cochise County - Elev. 4,503

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: Paramore Crater, AZ - 7.5 min. series 1986 - T22S-R30E-Section17

31°30'51.28"N 109°18'39.69"W

   9.3 miles east of Cazador

   5.6 miles west of Chiricahua

 194.7 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Cazador, Arizona - Cochise County - Elev. 4,599

(SeeTopographic Map)  (See Aerial Photograph)

USGS: College Peaks, AZ - 15' series 1958 - T22S-R29E-Section 29

31°29'30.84"N 109°25'23.18"W

  14.6 miles east of Douglas

   9.3 miles west of Bernardino

 204.0 miles west of El Paso, Texas

College Peak, Arizona - Cochise County (Exact location unknown)

Lee, Arizona - Cochise County (Exact location unknown)

Acacia, Arizona - Cochise County (Exact location unknown)

Douglas, Arizona - Cochise County - Elev. 3,979

(SeeTopographic Map)   (See Aerial Photograph)

Branch Line to Courtland connects here. USGS: Douglas, AZ - 7.5 min. series 1958 - T24S-R27E-Section 13

31°21'22.26"N 109°32'58.87"W

  38.2 miles west of Apache

 218.6 miles west of El Paso, Texas

Calumet, Arizona

Forrest, Arizona

Crook, Arizona

Crook Tunnel

Bisbee Junction, Arizona

   Branch Line to Bisbee connects here.

Osborn, Arizona

Naco, Arizona

Stark, Arizona

Herford, Arizona

San Pedro, Arizona

Lewis Springs - Arizona

   Branch Line to Ft.Huachuca connects here.

Charleston, Arizona

Fairbank, Arizona

   Branch Line to Tombstone connects here.

   Branch Line to Benson connects here.

Boquilla, Arizona

San Juan, Arizona

Whetstone, Arizona

Miramonte, Arizona

Mescal, Arizona

Amole, Arizona

Buell, Arizona

Patitamo, Arizona

Irene, Arizona

Vail, Arizona

Rita, Arizona

Xavier, Arizona

Cruz, Arizona

Caliche, Arizona

Tuscon, Arizona

This page is part of the "Ghosts of the Southline" website, a site describing the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad and many of the abandoned towns along its route.  

Photographs and documentation found on this website are the property of Lloyd W. Sumner

This site was created and is maintained by Lloyd W. Sumner