Ferrocarril Coahuila Y Zecatecas

Company History: The CyZ was a 78 mile 3’ gauge railroad running from the Mazapil copper mines near Saltillo in the state of Coahuila, Mexico to the copper smelter at Concepcion del Oro in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. They also had a 17 mile branch from San Pedro to Avalos. In addition to the copper, general freight and passengers were also carried. The Mazapil Copper Company, which owned the CyZ, was formed by English interests in the 1890s. Operations were suspended between 1913 and 1917 due to the Mexican Revolution. Over the years, CyZ owned thirteen steam locomotives including Mexico’s first (and the only narrow gauge) 4-6-2. Mazapil Copper was sold in 1959 to a Mexican company and the operation of the railroad was taken over by a department of the government, although they continued to use the Coahuila Y Zecatecas name. The line was finally dieselized in 1962 with three EMD GA8’s. In 1972, CyZ was merged into NdeM and shortly thereafter, the 3’ gauge route was abandoned, replaced by a new standard gauge route from the NdeM mainline at Gomez.

Successor/Parent History: Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, (better known as N de M) was Mexico's state owned railroad company from 1938 to 1998, and prior to 1938 (dating from the regime of Porfirio Diaz) a major railroad controlled by the government that linked Mexico City to the major cities of Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juarez on the U.S. border. The first trains to Nuevo Laredo from Mexico City began operating in 1903.

N de M absorbed the Mexican Central Railroad (Ferrocarril Central Mexicano, first section from Mexico City to Leon, Guanajuato, opened in 1882) in 1909, thus acquiring a second border gateway at Ciudad Juarez (adjacent to El Paso, Texas). The N de M was nationalized by President Lazaro Cardenas del Rio in 1938, and privatized 60 years later by President Ernesto Zedillo. N de M operated most railway trackage through the central and northeastern regions of the republic.

In 1995, the Mexican government announced that the FNM would be privatized and divided into four main systems. As part of the restructuring for privatization, FNM suspended passenger rail service in 1997, and the new arrangements applied from 1998. The companies were Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Ferromex, Ferrosur, and (owned jointly by the three companies) Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de Mexico or Ferrovalle which operates railroads and terminals in and around Mexico City.

As of 2006, the remaining parts of NdeM are in the process of liquidation.

Brief History: Mexico is a country between the U.S. and Central America that's known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient ruins such as Teotihuacán and the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá are scattered throughout the country, as are Spanish colonial-era towns. In capital Mexico City, upscale shops, renowned museums and gourmet restaurants cater to modern life.