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Central New Mexico contains the greater Albuquerque area, the largest metropolitan district in the state. As the crossroads of two major interstate highways, (see
The_Big_I ) it grows where the traffic flows.See some of the highlights of the largest
civil engineering project of the last century: harnessing the Rio Grande.
Follow this hyperlink to 
On April 22, 1880 the first passenger train pulled up to a group of boxcars serving as the depot for "New Town". Beer and whiskey were on sale for two bits a drink. And a stagecoach provided service halfway to Old Town where most of the 1,300 people lived. Over the next twenty years almost 5,000 more arrived. Albuquerque narrowed the gap with Las Vegas as the commercial center of the territory, and battled with Santa Fe as the capitol.
Today, the competition comes from other cities to attract corporate refugees with tax incentives, real estate and perquisites. Industry and commerce moved out of downtown to other new town centers. What remains of the railroad years is an intricate array of structures and gaps along the old Santa Fe line.
 | at Piece of the Block, see historic bridges, Albuquerque for more local attractions |
| For more on Albuquerque history: http://www.abqcvb.org/general/history.html |
| Corps of Engineers work in the area: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/info/history.htm |
Santa Fe Railroad Locomotive Shops
The
Santa Fe Railroad shops began to rise on the Albuquerque landscape in 1914. All
the major steam locomotive repair work for AT&SF and the A&P lines was
done in the natural light of 60 foot glass curtain wall structures. By 1919 it
was the second largest employer in the state. Today, the 26-acre site is up for
sale. Depending on who you talk to, it's either a landmark "cathedral of
industry", or a commercial property that needs clean-up and grading for
highest and best use.
| Find out more from the Wheels Museum: www.wheelsmuseum.org |
| For more photos: http://www.wheelsmuseum.org/gallery.html |
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Next page,
Atomic Museum... 
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