| Arizona Central Railroad | |
|---|---|
| Reporting mark | AZCR |
| Locale | Central Arizona |
| Dates of operation | 1989– |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) |
| Headquarters | Clarkdale, Arizona |
The Arizona Central Railroad (reporting mark AZCR) is an Arizona shortline railroad that operates from a connection with the BNSF Railway at Drake, Arizona. The AZCR runs 37.8 miles (60.8 km) from Drake to Clarkdale, Arizona. An excursion train also runs on the line through Verde Canyon and is operated by the same owners under the Verde Canyon Railroad. The AZCR is owned by David L. Durbano (The Western Group).
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The AZCR handles 1,500 cars per year (1996 figure) of inbound coal to the Phoenix Cement Company and shipping outbound cement.[1]
The Verde Canyon Railroad carries 100,000 passengers per year (2005 figure).
From 1913-1989 the line was operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe Railway). On November 17, 1911, the Verde Valley Railway was chartered as a non-operating subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway. Construction from Cedar Glade (west of Drake) to Clarkdale was immediately commenced on February 13, 1912 and was completed on February 1, 1913, at a total cost of $1,286,061. It was built to support the copper mines at Jerome, Arizona. On December 31, 1942, the Verde Valley was conveyed to the Santa Fe Railway by deed.
On April 14, 1989, the Santa Fe Railway sold the Clarkdale branch to David L. Durbano's "The Western Group." The new railroads were named the Arizona Central Railroad for freight and the Verde Canyon Railroad for passenger service. Passenger service resumed in November 1990.
The AZCR has four locomotives that were all built in the 1950s. The railroad has one EMD GP7 (AZCR 2279), one EMD GP9 (AZCR 3413) and a pair of EMD FP7s (1510 and 1512, used to power the excursion)
The route is nestled between two national forests and adjacent to a designated wilderness area, follows the Verde River the entire way and features a 680-foot (210 m) long tunnel and many bridges.
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