The Pecos River flows from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico to the Rio Grande River near Del Rio, Texas.
Near Del Rio, the wide river gorge is crossed by a high railroad bridge.
This postcard photograph is of the first Pecos High Bridge, constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1892.
A second Bridge was completed in 1944, with concrete pillars bearing a steel truss bridge.
Due to war-time rationing, special approval was required for its construction.
The second bridge was designed by Modjeski and Masters of Harrisburg, PA; the steel trusses were fabricated by Bethlehem Steel.
Although still towering in height, the current bridge looks far more substantial than the bridge pictured on this postcard photograph circa 1920.
The Southern Pacific Railroad merged with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996, so freight trains of the Union Pacific now cross the gorge.
Amtrak’s “Sunset Limited” also crosses this bridge.
The postcard was not mailed. We may assume that it was collected by a passenger on the railroad or by a lover of trains.
