Chief Engineer and Engineering Files, 1903-1972

The Chief Engineer and Engineering Files series (1903-1972) contains materials relating to the Chief Engineers office in Los Angeles, California. The chief engineers office was responsible for all railroad construction, including track, sidings, stations, depots, and all railroad and railroad-owned buildings. The chief engineer laid out the company townsites in Las Vegas, Nevada and designed the depots. The Engineering Department was also responsible for the construction of all water facilities and pipelines in Las Vegas, as well as any other towns in which the railroad owned the water supply. The local engineer in Las Vegas reported to the Chief Engineer in Los Angeles. During World War II, the engineers office was responsible for protecting critical railroad installations for which there is a series of files titled “War Conditions."