 By 1916 potash was transported via the Trona Railway to farmers, who needed fertilizer, to feed the nation during World War I.The name "Three Elephant Route" was created, because many of the railroad's employees were British and did not understand, why the company should hang on to its heritage of 20 mule teams.As the story goes, they felt that three elephants could have done the job as well, if not better, than a herd of mules.