The tracks of the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad closely paralleled the Route 66 alignment though northern Arizona. My wife Sarah and I recall many a train rumbling past our Route 66 motels each night. Originally chartered in 1859, it was not until the 1880s that the rails reached beyond Albuquerque and then quickly extended on to Los Angeles. The AT&SF served as a primary freight hauler for the region, and was also the choice for most early tourists to reach the Southwest. In coordination with the Fred Harvey Company, the Santa Fe catered to travelers with some of the first dining cars and scheduled stops at conveniently located Fred Harvey restaurants and hotels along the way. In September 1995 the AT&SF and Burlington Northern lines merged to form the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway (BNSF).