Barelas is a small community located south of downtown Albuquerque The Railyards is a 27-acre railyard repair facility located in the heart of the Barelas Neighborhood The community was deeply affected by the employment of the railyards. Loss of jobs and transportation accessibility due to globalization lead to the sharp economic decline and cultural erasure in the community Revitalization projects within Barelas are becoming more common within the past 10 years, but still face many challenges. Barelas began as a small Spanish farm community in 1662, a stop on the Camino Real. ATSF Railroad arrives in Albuquerque in 1880, begins building shops in Barelas The Railyards quickly become one of the largest employers in Abq, with a peak of 1,500 workers during WWII. Most of them being Chicano or immigrant workers. Barelas becomes a popular travel destination after Rt 66 alignment in 1926 and the Barelas Bridge.

1. Barelas Welcome Sign - Non Profit Quarterly
Interior of Rail Yard Shop - Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal
By Matt Kletecka

2. Map of Barelas - Google Maps
Aerial Photo of the Rail Yards - Google Maps

3. A crowd of people gathering around
the rail yards in Barelas
ZIM CSWR Margaret Herter
Collection of Karl Moon and Alabama
Milner Photographs, Series 3
Railyard Steel Worker
Jack Delano / Library of Congress

4. Lower Barelas (Tortilla Flats) after demolition - Albuquerque Journal, February 7, 1982.
Three Boys – Albert Vogel

5. National Hispanic Cultural Center – NM Tourism Department
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce – Google Maps

6. Modern day interior of rail yard shop – Matt Kletecka Tingley Field in West Barelas (Demolished in 1969) – Albuquerque Historical Society

7. Redevelopment plan from former developer – Architect Magazine

8. Empty business along 4th in Barelas – Google Maps
Empty neighborhood lots in Barelas with the railyards in background – Google Maps

9. Barelas is only served by two bus routes, both stretch deep into the south valley – Where’s My Bus
Bridge Blvd bridge in 1910 – Abq Library Postcard Collection

10. B. Ruppe’s Drugstore in Barelas, now a community space – New Mexico Main Street
Logo – Barelas Community Coalition

11. Giraffes at the ABQ Biopark – Tourism Media
Alvarado Transportation center, located just north of Barelas –
Dekker/Perich/Sabatini

12. Rail Yards Market – ABQ True
Green tint added to the Rail Yard windows for filming – Matt Kletecka

13. Former Arrow Super Market, currently operates as a home goods store will original market signing –
Google Maps

14. Open air vending space from former design proposal – Samitaur Constructs

15. Rail yard workers – Wheels Museum
Women watching young boys – Center For Southwest Research