The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, as we know it today, was first the dream of Albert Kinsey Owen, a member of the Utopia Socialist Colony of New Harmony, Indiana.

In 1871, Owen arrived in Mexico and started down the Pacific Coast in search of an ideal location for a new colony. He selected a site at the Bay of Oguira. Owen organized a Mexican - American company that, among other projects, desired to build a railroad that would connect his new colony with the mid-eastern section of the United States.

In 1880, General Manuel Gonzales, President of Mexico, granted Owen a concession to build a railroad between Piedras Negras and Topolobampo, with side trunks to Mazatlan, Alamos and Ojinaga. The contract specified that the project be to be completed within ten years.

In 1886, Owen established a new colony at Topolobampo with some 600 people from New Harmony, but sickness, poverty, lack of organization and communication soon reduced this number to 150. In 1890, dissension divided this group into three colonies. That year, Owen secured a more favorable contract from the government and organized a new company, but this venture was also doomed to failure. In 1894, the colonists returned to Indiana, and Owen accepted defeat. His contract was cancelled in 1899. At that time, no track had yet been laid.

Other efforts to connect Chihuahua with the Pacific were begun as early as 1887, but after some construction and a series of mergers, these attempts also proved to be unsuccessful.   In 1899, realizing the railroads to be of first importance to the Nation, the government enacted the Railroad Law of April 29, 1899.

An earlier contract to a group headed by Enrique Creel and Alfredo Breedlove now came under this authority and were subsidized under a contract to complete a section of 124 miles from Chihuahua City to Minaca within two years. These rights were later sold to a new company founded by Arthur E. Stillwell, who, along with his partners, operated the Chihuahua-Minaca line until 1906.

In 1900, Stillwell and associates also acquired a concession to build a line between Ojinaga and Chihuahua. By the end of 1910 there were three lines in operation; Chihuahua to Marquez, 87.5 miles; Minaca to Sanches, 83.7 miles; and Topolobampo to Hornillos, 85.5 miles. Even with the government subsidy, these isolated operations brought Stillwell to bankruptcy.  However, under a new administration, Stillwell's company, the Kansas City, Mexico y Oriente, completed the line between Ojinaga and Chihuahua during the revolution between 1910 and 1914. Due to the high cost of construction and the technical difficulties encountered, construction in the mountainous areas was never undertaken.

In 1940, the Federal Government bought the Kansas City-Mexico y Oriente. A route through the difficult portion of the mountains from Creel to Hornillos was designated and construction was started in 1943. In 1952, the Federal Government acquired the Mexican Northwestern Railway Company, Ltd. and this, along with the Kansas City, Mexico y Oriente and the Ferrocarril del Rio Mayo, were merged to form the Ferrocarril de Chihuahua al Pacifico.

The various links were finally completed and joined in 1961 and Albert Owen's dream was finally a reality.

The completion of the Chihuahua al Pacifico brought about significant changes in the northern section of Mexico, opening up new transportation channels to the northeast, north central and northwest sections of Mexico, as well as sections of the United States. Tremendous changes were brought about in the socio-economic fields in the areas. Population quickly increased far above the national level. New market outlets stimulated great increases in agriculture and ranching and the movement of goods increased manufacturing. The resultant effect on the economy increased educational levels and brought about greater prosperity to the people. Accessibility into the previously unreachable portions of the Sierra Madre Mountains expanded the mining activities in an area rich in minerals of all descriptions, and added stimulus to the tourist industry, which is one of the largest factors in the Mexican economy.