This abandoned railway line was originally constructed as part of the El Paso & South Western, in 1901-1902, as the route from Douglas, through New Mexico to El Paso, Texas. (Arizona and New Mexico were still territories when the line was first built.) The EP&SW built a smelter in Douglas since there was not enough room in the narrow canyon around Bisbee where the mines were located.
The EP&SW was leased by the Southern Pacific in the 1920s, and this route became a second main line ("South Line") for SP between Tucson and El Paso. (SP's line between Tucson and El Paso via Lordsburg and Deming, NM is known as the "North Line.") In its heyday, the South Line line hosted through freights and intercity passenger trains like the Golden State Limited.
This segment of track passed through sparsely populated ranch land and small towns, not far from the border with Mexico, but there were no major sources of freight traffic in the area. The SP abandoned this route around 1961 and removed the rails a year or so later.
Heading east from Douglas, the line passed through Lee, Tufa, Cazador, Bernardino, Chirichua, Apache, and Mora, AZ, and Rodeo, Pratt, Animas, Playas, Pot Hook, Vista, Minero, Hachita, Continental, Victorio, Hermanas, Mimbres, Columbus, Aropa, Malpais, Monument, Mt Riley, Potrillo, Noria, Mastodon, Pelea, and Anapra, NM. The short segment from Anapra, NM to El Paso, TX remains in service today. The western end of the line, between Douglas and the Arizona/New Mexico state line, was well ballasted and easy to observe parallel to AZ Route 80. In New Mexico, there are primitive roads along the right of way. As with most western abandoned lines, the pile trestles over creeks and washes were removed.