Mexico Northwestern Railway Company

The Ferrocarril Noroeste de México (Mexico Northwestern Railway Company), a British-owned corporation, operated in the early 20th century between El Paso, Texas, and the lumbering, mining and agricultural areas of the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. In 1909 the company was incorporated in Canada under the direction of Fred Stark Pearson. R. Home Smith of Toronto, Canada, was the company president; other company officials and managers included Luís Riba, Louis Roy Hoard, J.O. Crockett, and H.I. Miller. The company purchased four short railways and constructed one; it also acquired extensive timber lands and lumber businesses and formed the Madera Company (with mills at Madera and Pearson, Chihuahua) and the El Paso Milling Company in Texas. The Northwestern Railway suffered great damage during the Mexican revolution of 1910-1920. Communication and transportation of products and supplies became very difficult and, at times, impossible. Company officials negotiated with both government and revolutionary forces in an attempt to protect company property, employees, and their families, and successfully steered the company through the revolution. In 1945 the Mexico Northwestern Railway Company's properties in Mexico were sold to a Chihuahua banker.

From the guide to the Records of the Ferrocarril Noroeste de México 31769787., 1910-1919, (Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)

The Ferrocarril Noroeste de México (Mexico Northwestern Railway Company), a British-owned corporation, operated in the early 20th century between El Paso, Texas, and the lumbering, mining and agricultural areas of the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. In 1909 the company was incorporated in Canada under the direction of Fred Stark Pearson. R. Home Smith of Toronto, Canada, was the company president; other company officials and managers included Luís Riba, Louis Roy Hoard, J.O. Crockett, and H.I. Miller. The company purchased four short railways and constructed one; it also acquired extensive timber lands and lumber businesses and formed the Madera Company (with mills at Madera and Pearson, Chihuahua) and the El Paso Milling Company in Texas. The Northwestern Railway suffered great damage during the Mexican revolution of 1910-1920. Communication and transportation of products and supplies became very difficult and, at times, impossible. Company officials negotiated with both government and revolutionary forces in an attempt to protect company property, employees, and their families, and successfully steered the company through the revolution. In 1945 the Mexico Northwestern Railway Company's properties in Mexico were sold to a Chihuahua banker.

From the description of Ferrocarril Noroeste de México records, 1910-1919. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 31769787