Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Arizona
Timeframe: 1992
Length: 1 hour 40 minutes
Six Arizona Shortlines are featured. Alco, Baldwin, and Electromotive power the trains. Sonoran Desert scenery, which is interesting by itself. A Cab Ride.
A single DVD. Detailed Chapter Menu. Maps are included. On-screen graphics. Preview section. Narrated by David Drui.
Videography is excellent. Robust live audio. They even filmed some local wildlife and plants.
Copper Basin Railway
Former Southern Pacific branch. Hayden to Magma for interchange with SP. Currently, it is Union Pacific.
The location is South of Kearny. Ray Mine is served. Train runs to the Smelter at Hayden. Three Electromotive units. Ore drags are the jargon. Unit 302 GP38 leads a 203 from Rock Island. Trailing are GP39 units.
SD39s are ex: SP. 302,303,304. Rare builds by Electromotive Division. The OreDrag proceeds to Kearny crusher with a heavy load. ORE dumper meets and swaps train at Ray. Jct.
The railroad has an Interchange with Southern Pacific at Magma.
San Manuel Arizona RR
This connects from the Copper Basin Railroad.
Hayden Turn interchanges with Copper Basin at Hayden. Magma owned. Two GP38-2 are their roster. Caboose is steel plated to protect crew from potshots. Smarrco lettered on some equipment.
Four RS-3 locos are generally used for yard service. Tank cars haul acid from the Smelter.
Magma Copper Mine is substantial in size. Open pit and underground mines.
Magma Arizona RR
The railroad operates from Superior, AZ.
Magma Arizona Railroad uses Baldwin diesel power. It ran steam until 1968. Located in Superior. S8, S12 and larger 10 is DRS66-1500.
S12 #9 is a Baldwin, with the custom exhaust stacks which are simply from a different hood. The little train is chased on a roundtrip from Superior.
Arizona Eastern RR
Three GP20 exit San Carlos Reservation. The high hoods are former Great Northern. Miami with a hilltop Smelter. SP connection at Bowie.
At Miami, 25 leads a trio of end cab switchers . 2 are SW1200 (25 +24) still in old Missouri Pacific blue. Third is SW900. Arizona Eastern units.
Hilltop Smelter at Miami.
Street running in Globe.The end of the 120 mile trip ends at Claypool yard.
Arizona & California RR
Actually, this is a Regional Railroad. Serves Phoenix to Cadiz, California. Former Santa Fe Rails.
They handle bridge traffic with Santa Fe. Colorful EMD power. Six unit lash-up hustles a mixed freight. Headquarters at a train station in Parker.
This A&C train winds it way to California.
The Apache Railway
Alco power. Their mainline is from Holbrook to a large paper mill. Roster is both RS36 and C420. New paint is green as seen on the 81 locomotive.
A Cab Ride interpolates amid lineside shots.
San Pedro and Arizona Central are mentioned, not included.
Arizona’s Shortline Railroads
An intriguing look at these railroads. Excellent coverage. Great to see these desert trains. Good variety.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 