Synopses & Reviews
One of the most challenging engineering feats in railroad construction, Mexico's Chihuahua al Pacífico railroad was conceived in the mid-19th century and opened in 1961. Photo-journalist Glenn Burgess covered the final construction for newspapers in Texas, exploring the engineering challenges and the possibilities for commerce. His black and white photographs taken with a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera provide an important record of this engineering wonder. Don Burgess adds historical and personal context for the articles through notes and interviews. Over 100 photographs and several maps.
About the Author
Don Burgess is the author of numerous books about and for the Tarahumara of northern Mexico. Don was raised in Alpine, Texas, first worked in Mexico's Sierra Madre when still in college, and has since spent a lifetime among the Raramuri or Tarahumara people. He is a graduate of Alpine High and of Texas Western College (UTEP; BA 1961, MA 1963). In 2008, he completed the first translation of the New Testament into Baja Tarahumara. His latest is a bi-lingual Tarahumara-Spanish book on Tarahumara uses of corn.
Glenn Burgess (1905-1995) worked as a photo-journalist for the El Paso Times and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He also taught journalism and photography at Sul Ross College. His collection of photographs of the Big Bend National Park is housed at the Archives of the Big Bend in Alpine, TX.