View source for San Diego and Arizona Railway

===Antecedents===
[[Image:SDA Golden Spike November 15 1919.jpg|thumb|right|300px|{{SDA Golden Spike November 15 1919.jpg/credit}}<br />[[John D. Spreckels]] drives the "golden spike" to ceremonially complete his San Diego and Arizona Railway on November 15, 1919.<ref>Kimball: "''Spreckels made a short speech from a flat car, jumped down, stripped off his coat and drove the final spike. A thousand spectators observed.''"</ref> The spike, reported to have cost $286, bore the following inscriptions: "''Spike driven, by John D. Spreckels, President.''" and "''Last spike driven, San Diego & Arizona Railway, in Carriso Gorge - November 15, 1919.''"]]
[[Image:SDA train.jpg|thumb|right|300px|{{SDA train.jpg/credit}}<br />The first SD&A passenger train prepares to make its way to San Diego on December 1, 1919.]]
[[Image:SDA at San Diego depot.jpg|thumb|right|300px|{{SDA at San Diego depot.jpg/credit}}<br />The first San Diego and Arizona Railway through passenger train, No. X2708, arrives at San Diego's Union Station passenger terminal on December 1, 1919 to officially open the line.]]
[[Image:SDA.jpg|thumb|right|200px|{{SDA.jpg/credit}}<br />"Drumhead" logo signs such as this often adorned the ends of SD&A passenger trains.]]
* 1873: The Texas and Pacific Railroad (T&P) fails in its attempt to establish a direct rail link between San Diego and the East during the "[[Panic of 1873]]."
* 1905: The San Diego and Eastern Railroad (SD&E) conducts a survey for a planned rail line to [[Arizona (U.S. state)|Arizona]] but folds prior to commencing track laying.