One of the most challenging engineering feats in railroad construction, the Chihuahua al Pacífico railroad of Mexico was conceived in the mid-19th century and opened in 1961. Photo-journalist Glenn Burgess covered the final construction for newspapers in Texas, exploring the ​engineering challenges and the possibilities for commerce.

Glenn Burgess worked as a photo-journalist for the El Paso Times and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. At the time, he also taught journalism and photography at Sul Ross College. His collection of photographs of the Big Bend National Park is housed at the Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX.