List of railroad crossings of the North American continental divide

A crossing of the North American continental divide is necessary for any transcontinental railroad in North America, and has always been one of the hardest obstacles. This article lists such crossings from north to south.

Canada LocationProvince(s)ElevationBuilt byCurrent/LastYears of operationNoteswest of O'DellBritish ColumbiaPacific Great Eastern RailwayCanadian National Railway1967–presentFirst of two crossings, about 4 miles apart, on CN Stuart Subsouth of Summit LakeBritish ColumbiaPacific Great Eastern RailwayCanadian National Railway1967–presentSecond of two crossings on CN Stuart Subeast of Summit LakeBritish ColumbiaPacific Great Eastern RailwayCanadian National Railway1958–presentYellowhead PassAlberta and British ColumbiaCanadian Northern Railway and Grand Trunk Pacific RailwayCanadian National Railway1914–presentOriginally two lines. GTP built 1914, CNoR built 1915. Consolidated into one line in 1917, with some adjustments in 1924Kicking Horse PassAlberta and British ColumbiaCanadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway1884–presentCrowsnest PassAlberta and British ColumbiaCanadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway1897–present

United States LocationState(s)ElevationBuilt byCurrentlyYears of operationNotesMarias PassMontanaGreat Northern RailwayBNSF Railway1893–presentHi-LineMullan PassMontanaNorthern Pacific RailroadBNSF Railway1883–presentPasses through the Mullan TunnelElk Park PassMontanaGreat Northern RailwayBurlington Northern Railroad1888–1972Homestake PassMontanaNorthern Pacific RailroadBNSF Railway1888–present (dormant since 1983)Pipestone PassMontanaChicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific RailroadChicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad1909–1980Passed through the Pipestone Pass TunnelDeer Lodge PassMontanaUtah and Northern RailwayUnion Pacific Railroad1881–presentNarrow gauge until 1887; railroad name FeelyBannock PassMontana and IdahoGilmore and Pittsburgh RailroadGilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad1910–1939Tunnel at summitMonida PassMontana and IdahoUtah and Northern RailwayUnion Pacific Railroad1880–presentNarrow gauge until 1886Reas PassMontana and IdahoUnion Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad1905–1981Branch to West YellowstoneSouth PassWyomingU.S. SteelU.S. Steel1962–1983Served U.S. Steel Atlantic City Ore MineRobinsonWyomingUnion Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad1868–presentTwo sides of the Great Divide Basin; Robinson is the true Divide (per USGS)HadsellWyomingRollins PassColorado (1904), (1928)Denver, Northwestern and Pacific RailwayUnion Pacific Railroad1904–presentOriginal alignment replaced in 1928 by the Moffat Tunnel )Jones PassColoradoHenderson Mine1976–1999Narrow gauge, passed through the Henderson Tunnel; replaced by a conveyor belt; elevation is for west (and only) portalBoreas PassColoradoDenver, South Park and Pacific RailroadColorado and Southern Railway1882–1937Narrow gaugeFremont PassColoradoDenver, South Park and Pacific RailroadColorado and Southern Railway1884–1937Narrow gauge. Line south of Climax retained, converted to standard gauge 1943, now operated by Leadville, Colorado and Southern RailroadFremont PassColoradoDenver and Rio Grande RailroadDenver and Rio Grande Western Railroad1881–1923Narrow gaugeTennessee PassColorado Denver and Rio Grande RailroadDenver and Rio Grande Railroad1887–1890Narrow gauge, replaced by standard gauge Tennessee Pass TunnelTennessee PassColorado (1890), (1945) Denver and Rio Grande RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad (dormant)1890–present (dormant since 1997)Passed through the Tennessee Pass Tunnel (original tunnel built 1890, replaced in 1945)Hagerman PassColorado (1887), (1893)Colorado Midland RailwayColorado Midland Railway1887–1918Passed through the Hagerman Tunnel, replaced in 1893 by the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel. Reverted to original route between 1897 and 1899Alpine TunnelColoradoDenver, South Park and Pacific RailroadColorado and Southern Railway1881–1910Narrow gaugeMarshall PassColorado Denver and Rio Grande RailroadDenver and Rio Grande Western Railroad1881–1953Narrow gauge. Original D&RG mainline before Tennessee Pass line openedAzoteaNew Mexico Denver and Rio Grande RailroadDenver and Rio Grande Western Railroad1880–1968Narrow gaugeHillcrestNew MexicoRio Grande and Southwestern RailroadRio Grande and Southwestern Railroad1903–1924Narrow gaugeCampbell PassNew MexicoAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayBNSF Railway1882–presentTyroneNew MexicoBurro Mountain RailroadSouthwestern RailroadServes Phelps Dodge copper pit; short tunnel under DivideWilnaNew MexicoSouthern Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad1883–presentLordsburg SubdivisionHachitaNew MexicoArizona and New Mexico RailroadSouthern Pacific Railroad1902–1934VistaNew Mexico (east), (west)El Paso and Southwestern RailroadSouthern Pacific Railroad1902–1961Two crossings 2 miles apart(name unknown)New MexicoPhelps DodgePhelps Dodge1970s–1999Line served Hidalgo SmelterAntelopeNew MexicoEl Paso and Southwestern RailroadSouthern Pacific Railroad1902–1961

Mexico

LocationState(s)ElevationBuilt byCurrentlyYears of operationNotesDivisaderoChihuahuaFerrocarriles Nacionales de MéxicoFerromex1961–presentFrancisco I. MaderoDurangoFerrocarril Coahuila Durango1892–presentNiza ConejoChivela PassOaxacaFerrocarril Nacional de TehuantepecFerrocarril del Istmo de Tehuantepec1894–present

Central America

LocationElevationBuilt byCurrent or last operatorYears of operationNotesChato GuatemalaInternational Railways of Central America (div. of United Fruit)FEGUA1908–1996Ochomogo Pass Costa RicaIncofer1870s–1991Culebra Cut PanamaPanama Railroad CompanyPanama Canal Railway Company (div. of Kansas City Southern Railway)1855–present

The Ecocanal is a proposal to build a rail line across Nicaragua from Monkey Point on the Caribbean to Corinto on the Pacific. If built, the rail line will cross the continental divide in Nicaragua, likely at a point north of Lake Nicaragua.

See also List of Rocky Mountain passes on the continental divide Trans-Andean railways crossings of South America

References