Radio Chatter

Listening to a good scanner provides essential clues on train location, type of train, etc. Tune in to these frequencies:

AAR 36 (160.650) between Mobest and Restricted Limits (MP 181.2)
AAR 84 (161.370) between Restricted Limits and Williams Junction
AAR 30 (160.560) for the Ennis Subdivision

DS-13 in Fort Worth, Texas is responsible for issuing track warrants. Repeaters heard around the greater Phoenix area are Glendale and Yarnell. When DC-13 is answering a call tone-up from a train, usually you'll here "BNSF DS-13 answering Yarnell Radio"...likewise for the Glendale Repeater. It seems like the Yarnell radio is used for trains around the Beardsley area and further away from Phoenix, while Glendale is used for closer in trains.

On Nov 16, 2006 BNSF Railway instituted a new track warrant system, presumably system-wide. On the Peavine (Phoenix Sub) the old block of numbers used for track warrants (3000-3499) was replaced with 895-nnn. 895-1 is the first warrant issued, increasing sequentially until a new day when the cycle starts over, and this often happens before midnight. I should note however that the cycle does not always "reset" each night, for whatever reason.

Also noteworthy is that track warrant numbers 896-nn are used on the northern part of the Peavine. I've made a number of trips up to the mainline during 2007 and heard 896-nn used to/from CTC West Williams Junction and points like Ash Fork, Abra, Tucker and Skull Valley. Because I can receive the Yarnell repeater quite good at home, I often hear DS-13 releasing one of these 896-nn warrants when a westbound gets by Skull Valley.

I should also point out that the dispatcher for the Phoenix Sub also regularly works the El Paso Sub so there are occasional delays between hearing someone "tone up" the dispatcher and the dispatcher's response.

Also, a newer, simplified track warrant form is used as well. While this may simplify things for train crews, the scanner-equipped railfan doesn't hear as much specific information about train location. For instance, no longer is the verbiage "...at Glendale...", or "...at MP 165..." used in the track warrant. A typical track warrant might read as:

"Track Warrant 895-30 to the BNSF 7695 East. Check box two, proceed from Restricted Limits Glendale to Double Track West Beardsley on main track. Proceed from Double Track West Beardsley to Double Track East Beardsley on main two track. Track arrant 895-30 has one box checked, box two, over." In this case the train is at or near Restricted Limits (MP 181.2) but the old track warrant verbiage that included "...at Glendale..." is no longer used. Guess it's just a way of shortening the communications.

When a new warrant is issued to a train on the fly, a portion of the old warrant may be voided and the new authority beginning at the current location. At least this provides a clue to current location within a few miles.

Also helpful is that DS-13 also gives authority for eastbound trains / power to enter Restricted Limits at Mobest. This also applies to the road switcher jobs departing Mobest (O31, O37 etc)

Dispatchers regularly ask for (and repeat back) an 'OS' (on station) to assist in setting up meets and to keep the traffic flowing along the line. From home, I regularly hear DS-13 talking to trains as far north as Skull Valley (95 RR miles) and I've heard track warrants issued to eastbound trains between some of the more northern stations and CTC West Williams Junction. Typically I'll first hear about a westbound from DS-13 at Skull Valley... for me at MP 175 this is about a 3-hour heads up, depending on traffic flow and train speed. A hot Z train will definitely show up sooner than a manifest with a 40mph car in tow.

Occasionally, DS or the train crew will refer to a train by its type (Z, pigs, vehicle, cement, manifest) or, very rarely, by the actual symbol. Otherwise, the lead unit number is usually all that is mentioned over the air. Sometimes, when issuing the initial track warrant, DS will ask for and verify train length and tonnage, number of units, the EOT number and the road numbers of the trailing units.

---

Photography on the Peavine

Because of the diagonal, mostly tangent, orientation of the line from Mobest to Castle Hot Springs, finding an acceptable sun angle is often a challenge, depending on season, time of day, and train direction. If you're an experienced photographer and know how to work (or curse!) the sun you know what I mean. Fortunately there are acceptable locations in the greater Phoenix area. Despite the road traffic on Grand Ave, photos can be made. Once you're out of town, you can try for interesting locations while taking advantage of some beautiful Arizona desert and high-country scenery.

-Mobest Yard: As of Jan 2006, the east side of Mobest Yard all the way to the curb at 19th Avenue is now off limits to viewing the yard action. What used to be an empty dirt lot (see aerial photo) was graded and prepared for new tracks and fuel off-loading facilities. As of Aug 2006, the construction was pretty much complete, the facility is in operation, and unfortunately a retaining wall was built, thus blocking much of the view of the yard.

As viewed from 19th Ave near the yard office, if the foreground tracks are clear of cars, you can view some of the motive power from outside the fence, but the old pastime of popping into the dirt lot and snapping some photos over the fence is now history.

-Between Mobest and Peoria Curve: Various spots along Grand Ave offer acceptable to outstanding results, depending on your flavor. Early morning / late afternoon in summer offers better sun angle depending on train direction.

-Between Peoria and El Mirage curves: Same as above for summer; winter offers similar opportunities with lower (better) sun angle relative to horizon.

-El Mirage Curve to Castle Hot Springs: This 25 miles of nearly tangent track offer acceptable to outstanding results, again depending on your flavor.

Some of my favorites in the Phoenix metro area:

-El Mirage Curve: Summer late afternoons (despite the heat) offer a nice view of the eastbound manifest approaching and rounding the curve. Sun angle is very good. However, unlike 2005, the manifest now usually departs after dark though there are exceptions.

-Agua Fria River Bridge: Early morning west bounds coming across/through the bridge are nice. Eastbound afternoon empty TOFC / COFC crossing the deck-girder portion of the bridge with "Santa Fe" lettering is a nice photo. Take caution when parking off to the side of the very busy Grand Ave...there's room, but be careful!

-Lizard Acres station sign: How can you not like that name? Sign is on the west side of tracks, so a late morning westbound works most times of year; summer late afternoon eastbound works well too...if you can catch a late Repo or early Manifest heading out of town.

Eastbound Repo Train passes the station sign at Lizard Acres. 20 Jun 07, 1839hrs. Photo illustrates that during the longer summer days, the sun is far enough north of due west to provide some nose illumination on early evening eastbounds.

North of Phoenix:
-Castle Hot Springs: A morning westbound approaching the grade crossing at the east end of CHS is a nice grab.

-Wickenburg Canyon: If the eastbound pig train departs early enough on a summer morning, a photo of it crossing the Hassayampa River bridge is possible with decent side lighting. Park off eastbound US 60 and get your photo!

-Wickenburg: Morning westbound passing the station sign is nice.

-Vulture Mine Road: Between Wickenburg and Matthie this road is a public grade crossing. Makes a nice afternoon eastbound. Conversely, a morning westbound is nice too.

-Matthie: What can I say, I love the place. Matthie Wye offers some interesting opportunities depending on train direction, time, and season. In this image, I'm perched on top of the small hills east of the Peavine...visible is the Arizona & California heading west, and the lesser-used (east) leg of the wye. I also like the station sign. The Arizona & California connection offers some interesting, albeit sparse, alternatives to the Peavine. Thankfully, after a 2 1/2 year absence, the westbound Cement Train again treks across the A&C to Matthie then Phoenix. Occasionally, the ARZC depart Matthie after sun up for the trek to Castle Hot Springs.

Early in the morning of 7 July 2008 the scanner reported the ARZC would be sitting at Matthie for "2 1/2 to 3 hours" waiting on two westbounds and a hi-railer. I decided to load the bicycle on the truck and head up to Matthie to try and catch the second westbound passing the ARZC...hopefully after sun up. The two-plus mile bicycle ride in from Matthie Ranch Road wasn't too difficult. I parked the bike and hiked to the top of one of the small hills overlooking the wye. The sun popped up over the horizon and before long the waiting ARZC units were starting to bask in the sunlight. I was hoping for full sunlight on both trains but the westbound BNSF auto train showed up about a half hour or so before that was possible. Still, I got a nice photo of the two trains and I considered the trek a success. Below is a photo of that meet:



-US 93 overpass: Good for a westbound. Definitely best to park at the north end of the overpass and walk back to the overpass when you know a train is coming...they're just visible to the north while a mile or two out.

Congress and beyond:

-I've mentioned some more photo spots in the following paragraphs. I hope to do more exploring as time permits.

The Peavine...By The Numbers:

MP 191.6 [ 208 ]


Looking north from the Mobest turntable, this is one of my earliest Mobest photos. I'd visited PHX several times before moving here in 2004 and this photo was taken on 24 Jan 2000.


I snapped the above aerial photos 22 Oct 2007 from a Southwest 737-700 while on final to Sky Harbor Airport. The new tank car facility is visible to the east of the yard tracks. Also evident is the new pavement across 19th Avenue where the tracks to Smith Pipe & Steel were removed in September 2007.

The third photo is the 101 Job switching the yard lead as seen from 19th Avenue. Even on Christmas Day 2007 crews were busy keeping up with the demands of a bustling railroad yard.

The fourth photo is a view of the engine tracks as seen from the I-10 overpass over Mobest Yard. View is to the south.

---

BNSF's Phoenix Mobest Yard is a fairly compact yard and engine terminal with an operating turntable, useful for turning road power since the yard is basically a dead-end. Flat-switching rules as no hump exists. Operations can be viewed from the east side of the yard along 19th Avenue, however the dirt lot that exists between 19th Ave and the yard is now fenced all the way to the curb on 19th Ave. The aforementioned facility built in this dirt lot is now in service and one of the prime morning viewing spots at Mobest is now history.

Geographically, Mobest is located west of 19th Ave and south of McDowell Rd. An elevated portion of Interstate 10 crosses over the center of the yard while Interstate 17 is to the west of the yard. The southern boundary is Fillmore St, a few hundred yards north of Van Buren St. Even though Mobest can be considered a dead-end yard, a southbound track departs the yard and runs along 19th Ave and turns to the east while crossing 19th Ave just south of Jackson St. Just to the east this track eventually becomes Union Pacific, but a turnout before the UP sends the BNSF again to the south toward more industries. A local BNSF job nicknamed "The Sidewinder" departs Mobest to the south and meanders along the BNSF trackage serving industries in this part of town.

Additionally, one industry, Smith Pipe & Steel, is located to the east of Mobest (across 19th Ave) and is connected by a spur that crosses 19th Ave. This spur is particularly interesting in that it does some "sidewalk running" on the east side of 19th Ave before entering Smith Pipe & Steel. I was lucky one Sunday afternoon to observe GP30 #2430 do some work then depart Smith and reenter Mobest.


View of the switch leading into Smith Pipe & Steel. Straight track ends a short distance away to the north. The trackage across 19th Avenue is behind me some distance.


**NEWS FLASH** As of Mid-September 2007 the trackage across 19th Avenue connecting to Smith Pipe & Steel has been removed and paved over! I snapped the above photo on the afternoon of 30 Sep 2007.

Grand Ave (US Route 60) is a major arterial road that runs diagonally from southeast to northwest, creating many 6-way intersections with the normal grid of streets. Between Phoenix and Peoria, flyovers at many of the intersections have been built in recent years, helping ease vehicle congestion on this fairly heavily traveled route. The ~18-month construction project at 59th Ave and Glendale Ave is complete and now Grand Ave dips under both, at the north end of North Glendale yard. Beyond Peoria and through Sun City, El Mirage, Surprise, and Sun City West, stop lights at every grade-crossing intersection usually results in an outbound chase becoming a frustrating "follow." Patience is a virtue and with luck you might be able to catch up and even pass an outbound by the time you reach the east end of Beardsley at MP 168.8.


After exiting Mobest to the north while crossing McDowell Rd, the Peavine curves about 45 degrees to the northwest and runs parallel to Grand Ave/US 60 until it reaches Castle Hot Springs at approximately MP 150 - approximately 39 miles. In the industrialized area along Grand Ave, numerous spurs sprout from the mainline to the south/west. In fact, between Mobest and the autorack facility at El Mirage (MP 173.6), only 3 spurs diverge to the north/east, not counting the various double-ended sidings along the way.

---

-- MP 188.3 -- Near Indian School Rd. [ 205 ]

Traveling northwest along Grand Ave you'll see many industrial spurs diverging to the south. Various switching jobs including the O(oh)31, O32, O33, O34, O36, and O37 switch these customers. Just north of Indian School Road at Milepost 188 is Alhambra Yard. Alhambra is basically several parallel tracks where manifest freight is setout and picked up. You can observe an inbound manifest breaking up the train here at times, and sometimes the outbound manifest will stage here while waiting for the main adjacent to "the ramp" (TOFC/COFC yard) to clear up. The station sign cannot be seen from Grand Ave very easily. It is located railroad west of the Indian School Road overpass and behind (geo west) the large lumber yard as viewed from Grand Ave. It is easily reached on foot if you park west of the tracks.

---

Desert Lift -- "The Dock" (a.k.a. "The Ramp") -- MP 186 -- Bethany Home Rd. [ 203 ]


Left - The eastbound Saturday pig train is tucked into the loading area waiting for departure in July 2006.
Right - Aerial view looking southeast. I snapped this photo on 22 Oct 2007 from a Southwest 737-700 inbound to Sky Harbor.
Right - GP39M 2829 in H1 colors working the North Glendale Yard on 10 Nov 2009. The overpass is West Maryland Avenue.

Further northwest along Grand Ave, just past Thomas Road at Milepost 186 is the TOFC / COFC yard (trailer / container on flat car) known as "The Dock." This is the main loading/offloading facility for intermodal trailers and containers. Just north of the ramp is Bethany Home Road and beyond that intersection are additional Glendale yard tracks dedicated to storing inbound loads and outbound empty intermodal platforms and empty TOFC/COFC. You'll find a nappy ex-ATSF caboose parked fairly close to Bethany Home as well. The daytime job assigned switching duties at the ramp is the O36...the nighttime job is the O33. The trackage north of Bethany Home Rd is known as North Glendale Yard and is several tracks deep. Primarily used to store TOFC/COFC loads and empties. Occasionally manifest freight will be set out here too.

---

-- MP 183.7 -- 60th Ave / Palmaire Ave. [ 200 ]

The old ATSF depot at Glendale is located just north of MP 184, between Glenn Dr and Palmaire Ave. The Glendale station sign is just north of Palmaire Ave. When traveling away from Phoenix, 'Restricted Limits' ends and Track Warrant Control begins at MP 181.2, approximately where 75th Ave crosses the Peavine at grade. This is also where Olive Avenue is located on a flyover.

---

Restricted Limits Glendale -- MP 181.2 -- 75th Ave and Olive Ave. [ 198 ]

---

-- MP 179.9 -- Between 81st and 83rd Aves. [ 197 ]

This 2000+ foot long team track often hosts lumber cars and box car loads of flagstone for unloading by local dealers. Since 2006, flatcars of various sizes of black underground pipe is a popular here. On Oct 15, 2005 the annual "Children's Special" passenger special used Peoria instead of Glendale due to major construction on Grand Ave near the Glendale depot. Peoria has a station sign at MP 179.9, and just east of MP 179 is Peoria curve, a railroad landmark most westbound train crews call on the radio to inform BNSF employees in Glendale and beyond that they're approaching Restricted Limits.

During the summer 2008 I was informed some new tracks have been laid out for a possible new spur siding. These pieces of sectional track are located near the new Peoria Super Wal Mart near the now closed 81st Ave grade crossing. In late August I finally ventured to the site to check it out. Since the tracks are not visible from Grand Avenue unless you're in a very high vehicle you should go to the Wal Mart side to view this. Below are a few photos I snapped. The first two are to the north and the third to the south.

---

Arizona Public Service -- MP ~178.5 -- Near 91st Ave [ 195 ]

The APS spur leads to a small fenced facility bounded by 91st Ave on the west and Cactus Ave on the north. The BNSF use this facility to store a lot of right-of-way related materials including pre-fab track. There is also an old brown bay window caboose within the yard and a former N&W box trailer.

---

Arizona Sand and Rock (Vulcan Materials Group) -- MP ~175.3 -- Between Agua Fria River Bridge and El Mirage Curve [ 192 ]



Having lived here for over four years now, I only found out about this former spur track in mid-2007 when I got Bob Wirth's Phoenix Sub route for Microsoft Train Simulator. The quarry is currently operated by Vulcan Materials Group and plenty of trucks haul materials out of the pit. Sure enough, track still exists leading into the current quarry operation but apparently the switch was removed sometime within the past two decades. Unless you're driving a big rig, the remaining trackage is not visible from Grand Avenue but is easily visible in Windows Live satellite and aerial photos of the area. Recently, I took the liberty of parking alongside Grand Avenue and checking out the old spur for myself. Above are a couple photos...one looking towards the Peavine and a 180-degree opposite view. In the first view, the Agua Fria River bridge is visible a tenth of a mile or so railroad west. The aerial photo of the quarry is a view to the south I took from a Cessna back in mid-2005 before I even knew the spur once existed. The old trackage is barely visible in this photo near top center just to west (right) of the paved access road that curves underneath the Agua Fria bridge. Pretty cool to see for yourself up close.

---

Ennis / El Mirage -- MP 173.6 -- Between Thompson Ranch Rd. / Thunderbird Rd. and Greenway Blvd. [ 191 ]


As seen from Thompson Ranch Road, it's 0620am on 19 Jun 2005 and the M-BELPHX leans into "El Mirage Curve" at MP 175. Interesting lashups such as this are becoming increasingly rare on the BNSF Phoenix Sub these days but surprises still pop in on occasion.


Left - The entrance to the BNSF Autorack facility on Thompson Ranch Road.
Right - Aerial view of the autorack facility and El Mirage I snapped from a Cessna in May 2005.

Ennis / El Mirage has several interesting features. First, the bridge across the Agua Fria River at MP 175.4 can easily be photographed. Second, MP 175.0 is where the track gently curves back to a more northerly track that is close to the original alignment between Mobest and Peoria curve. Third, the autorack facility is a major customer for the BNSF, and I'll include the three yard tracks adjacent to the mainline here. Fourth, the Ennis Subdivision begins at about MP 174.1 on the Peavine, about halfway along the mainline/yard tracks.

Much activity can be observed in El Mirage:

--Two (formerly five) non-BNSF switchers are captive within the BNSF autorack facility for switching, well, autoracks. With almost daily deliveries of loaded racks and empties to be positioned for pick up, these guys stay busy, though typically only one is working at a time.

*NEWS FLASH*February 3, 2007 pre-dawn saw the arrival of a GP-7u #1312 lettered for Gavin Rail-Services. This unit was set out by an inbound vehicle train at El Mirage, and based on scanner chatter, this is the JTPX 1312 destined to work in the autorack facility, though it doesn't display JTPX marks externally. I only heard it referred to as JTPX on the scanner when it was originally being set out. Click here to see a photo of this new arrival. Photo taken shortly after sunrise on Feb 3, 2007.

RLCX 519 nee NIS 202 21 Sep 2007

RLCX 922 nee NIS 1992 21 Sep 2007

RLCX 1241 nee JTPX 1215 21 Sep 2007

AZER 24 21 Sep 2007

ex-AZER 24, now TANX 1211 5 Aug 2008

Gavin Rail-Services 1312 3 Feb 2007

Inter-Rail Transport of El Mirage 1312 5 Apr 2008

Inter-Rail Transport of El Mirage 1312 30 Jan 2009

LSLX 1712 25 Jul 2008

TANX 1811 30 Jan 2009 Former LSLX 1712

TANX 1811 25 Jun 2009 Former LSLX 1712

As of early 2008, the "Gavin Rail-Services" lettering on the long hood has been removed. On April 5, 2008 I noticed the unit had received "Inter-Rail Transport of El Mirage" lettering behind the cab near the walkway.

The three long-term residents have since been joined by the Arizona Eastern #24 (first noted in mid May 2007.) On July 22, 2007 I first noticed the three had new road numbers and reporting marks applied over their patched out previous identities. Thankfully they're all unique units so they were easily cross referenced to their previous identity. In early September 2007 all four were moved from the eastern autorack track to the western-most autorack track and I've been able to get my first grab shots of them. They're rarely used any more since the arrival of the GP-7u in Feb 2007.

*NEWS FLASH* Monday 1 Oct 2007 the M-PHXBEL led by BNSF 7777 stopped at El Mirage and picked up the three RLCX-lettered switchers. Cut in behind the 3 lead units, the veteran El Mirage residents departed town about 2030hrs...who knows where they're headed. It was cool chasing the train up to Wittmann before I turned around and headed home. As a side note, there were definitely some flat spots on some of the wheels on the switchers...

*NEWS FLASH* Tuesday 5 Aug 2008 the M-PHXBEL led by BNSF 5356 stopped at El Mirage after dark and picked up the former Arizona Eastern SW1200 #24. Only after I got home and looked at the photo did I notice the unit had been re-numbered to the TANX 1211. With this departure, there are just two units at the auto facility: orange and black Geeps #1312 and the LSLX #1712.

*NEWS FLASH* Friday 30 Jan 2009 while waiting for a Z-WINPHX to roll through I noticed the Geep LSLX 1312 had been lettered to the TANX 1811. See the photo above.

--The nightly (except Saturday) eastbound BNSF Local often picks up cars to take to Castle Hot Springs for interchange with the Arizona & California. Likewise, the westbound Local often sets out cars picked up during the interchange.
--Inbound manifest M-BELPHX sometimes sets out cars as does outbound M-PHXBEL. (M-PHXBEL sometimes picks up cars, too)
--Inbound vehicle train sets out loaded autoracks.
--Outbound pig train sometimes picks up loaded autoracks. This happened several times in late summer 2006 to pick up "buy-backs", presumably for the manufacturer.
--Occasionally, a V-PHXPHX will operate to pick up empties for transfer to the UPRR in Phoenix. Usually idle GPs or the Local power will make this move.
--And of course, the O35 job can often be found working between MP 175 and MP 171.6 (Lizard Acres) when they're not working the Ennis Sub.

Finally, at MP 173.0 is the first talking defect detector when heading east on the Peavine.

---

-- MP 172.5 -- East of Dysart Rd. [ 190 ]

Surprise is a station sign and short 1233' long double-ended siding track. Cars are often set out here by the O35 and the siding is used periodically as a team track. I've seen large electrical components on depressed-well flat cars parked and unloaded at Surprise. The sign and track is located just railroad east of the Dysart Ave grade crossing.

---

-- MP 171.6 -- East of Bell Rd. [ 189 ]

Lizard Acres is located in Surprise just north of Bell Rd and is the site of a major lumber customer for the BNSF. During the day, it is served by the O35 job, which also serves the Ennis Sub. At night I've occasionally heard the job as the O39.

---

-- MP 169.2 -- Between Meeker and R.H. Johnson Blvds. [ 186 ]


Aerial photo of Beardsley taken June 4, 2005 shows an M-BELPHX in the hole waiting for the eastbound pig train. Of note near the upper right you can see the remnants of the possible wye that used to connect to the branch line to Fennemore and McMicken to the south.

Beardsley is located in Sun City West / Surprise between MP 170.1 and 168.8 and is the first major passing track out of Phoenix. The BNSF identify Beardsley as Double Track Main 1 and Main 2, the through route being Main 2. Until mid-2005, the station sign was located approximately half-way between the switches, and the dispatcher identified each end by it's milepost. Apparently a change in company policy created "West Beardsley" and "East Beardsley" and new location-specific station signs were placed at each end and the old sign in the middle removed. Dispatching took on a new flavor with "D.T.-Double Track East/West Beardsley" (as appropriate) lingo now used when issuing track warrants. The same lingo now also applies to Skull Valley (don't you love that name??) and there are new stations signs up there as well. Since right-hand running is the rule, east bounds take the straight route (Main 2) and west bounds take the diverging route (Main 1.) To facilitate this, spring switches are located at each end. The switch at the east end is always set for the diverging route (Main 1) so crewmen don't have to stop and re-line switches. When an eastbound gets to the switch, the spring mechanisms easily give way to the wheels as they pass through. The same occurs when a westbound on Main 1 re-enters the main at the west end.

Decades ago a wye and spur used to exist at Beardsley. The spur track was much like the current Ennis Sub in the way it diverged away from the Peavine. It headed in a southwesterly direction then turned south, eventually arriving at the current Ennis Sub location of Fennemore, continuing south for several more miles and ending at the location known as McMicken. For some reason, this wye and spur were not included in Bob Wirth's Phoenix Sub route for Train Simulator...he included a lot of track that no longer exists but not the old track at Beardsley. In September 2007 I learned some of the former wye roadbed is visible on the west side of Grand Avenue where the wye once existed. Below is a screen shot from Windows Live clearly showing the remnants of the former roadbed. Like all my thumbnails, click on it for a larger image.

---

-- MP 157.6 [ 175 ]


Aerial view of Wittmann.


Wittmann is a small town and hosts a short siding and station sign. Often you'll find a cut of cars set out here due to limitations in the various yards in greater Phoenix. A couple miles east of Wittmann is a defect detector at MP 155.4.

---

-- MP 150.3 [ 168 ]


Westbound train in the hole at Castle Hot Springs.
Eastbound "Repo" train pulls in the siding to meet an M-BELPHX

Castle Hot Springs is located in Morristown between MP 152-150.5, and is the second major passing track (7100 feet) out of Phoenix. Unlike the Double Track at Beardsley, dispatchers refer to it as a typical siding. Many meets occur here and, interestingly, this is where the Arizona & California (AZCR) interchange trains with the BNSF, currently nightly except Saturdays. Usually the interchange occurs in the middle of the night but on occasion one or both railroads will run late and a daylight interchange occurs. If you happen across this as I did you might be fortunate to be in Wickenburg when the AZCR runs through town enroute to Castle Hot Springs. I was elated even with an hour-plus wait (short by any railfan standard) that I was going to photograph them during daylight. The interchange is a simple process of swapping locomotives on the respective trains. Both trains usually operate with multiple locomotives connected back-to-back to simplify operation. There is also a short way track (stub) at the railroad east end of the siding. Additionally, here the Peavine temporarily diverges away from US 60 to the west but is visible intermittently before temporarily becoming visible again in Wickenburg Canyon.

---

"Wickenburg Canyon"


Wickenburg Canyon is just east of Castle Hot Springs.

The above thumbnail links to some aerial photos I took while flying above the canyon.

Wickenburg Canyon is a picturesque place with (unfortunately) limited road access. After departing Castle Hot Springs, the Peavine snakes north toward Wickenburg. The first bridge I have found from public access is a deck girder bridge over the dirt road named McCarroll Rd. The second is a truss bridge that crosses the Hassayampa River at MP 147.2, and is easily photographable from US 60. North of this bridge the line closely follows the (usually dry) river along the western bank. A highwater detector, at milepost 144.3 (and another at MP 146.6) protects trains from encountering water on the tracks during the wet season(s), though the detectors sound throughout the year when a train approaches. Eventually the lush trees that highlight this part of the drive to Wickenburg completely obscure the line for several miles until you get to Wickenburg.

-- MP 139.6 [ 157 ]


Left - Eastbound pig train passes MP 140 atop the route 60 bridge.
Right - Westbound M-BELPHX passes the ATSF 2-8-0 near the MP 140.

Wickenburg is a quaint Arizona town with a charm all it's own. In downtown, near the station sign, a former ATSF depot stands in company with an old ATSF steam locomotive and caboose. To locate these, follow signs to US 93. Incidentally, just beyond the US 60/US 93 split, US 60 goes under the Peavine and heads west. Drive far enough on US 60 and you'll encounter the AZCR at Aguila and eventually end up in Parker, home of the AZCR. After turning right on US 93, take any of the first few left hand turns to reach the tracks and you'll find the depot. A bit further to the north is the station sign and a BNSF company building. Decent photo ops exist for either east- or westbound trains depending on time of day/year. Here is an aerial photo of Wickenburg showing the Peavine crossing through center of photo. Also visible are the ATSF steam engine, caboose, and depot. A defect detector is located a couple miles east of Wickenburg, near Vulture Mine Road, at MP 137.9.

---

-- MP 135 [ 152 ]

*NOTE* During March 2007 I noticed there is now a metal gate blocking vehicle access on the rough dirt road about half way to the wye after getting on the dirt road. Additionally, During Dec 2007 I found a private property gate (not a railroad gate) further back that further restricts access. In the following paragraphs, any references to driving around while at Matthie Wye was when you could get there in a vehicle.


Left -The newly-installed gate as seen from the right-of-way. North is to the right.
Right - Additionally, on Dec 30, 2007 Brian and I found this new private property gate further blocking access to the dirt trail that leads to the gate near the tracks. Guess vehicle access to Matthie is now pretty much out of the question. The Peavine is visible in this view to the East. North is to the left, Matthie Wye is to the right.

Below are some photos taken during times when vehicle access to Matthie Wye was not a question...you could drive right to it by following Matthie Ranch Road and then a dirt path.


Left - Aerial view of E/B pig train at Matthie. The Arizona & California RR is the line to the right (west) of the Peavine.
Center- Elevated view of the east leg of the wye...rarely used except abnormal circumstances.
Right - View of a W/B Z train at approximately the MP 134. Just visible behind the rear stacks is the Highway 93 bridge over the Peavine.


Left - Looking RR west (towards Phoenix) from the west wye switch. The siding in the distance is rarely used.
Right - Elevated view of the east end of the siding as a w/b Z train passes by.


Left - Looking RR east from west switch. Peavine goes to right...Arizona & California diverges to the left.
Center - Peavine curving to the north between the wye switches. Nice house on the hill!
Right - East Wye Switch Matthie looking north (RR east) along the Peavine.


Another view of the shanty at Matthie Wye.




My train-chasing buddy Penny Lane, a Boston Terrier. At right, clearly she has had enough train chasing for the day.
A Link to a Boston Terrier Photo Blog - Some great photos and anecdotes about these playful pups

Matthie is located at MP 135, a few miles north of the town of Wickenburg. This is probably one of the more interesting, and least photographed, spots along this lower portion of the Peavine. Getting to the Wye is a challenge. You'll probably want to get there in a vehicle since it is located a few miles off US 93. I highly recommend 4WD, or at least a truck with high clearance. Hiking or biking in is possible I suppose if that's your bag. The dirt access road is very rutted, narrow, and has several rises that could cause a low-clearance vehicle to bottom out. Once you arrive, I hope you'll find it was worth the effort, especially if you happen to see a train or two while you're there. Unless you're the type (like me!) who just has to go somewhere to say you've been there, Matthie Wye is the kind of place you go when you know a train will be there, for there is not much else going on there (like many desolate railfan locations!)

Driving directions from Wickenburg:

US 93 leaves town in a north-westerly direction toward Las Vegas. About 5 miles out of town AZ Route 89 diverges off to the right, and is the route you take to follow the Peavine to the north. Don't take this route to find Matthie Wye, but do slow down as you approach the Route 89 exit. Just past the exit and to the left is the entrance to Matthie Ranch. Make the left turn across the southbound Route 93 lanes and after about a mile you'll come up to the Peavine. Cross the tracks and follow this road for a couple miles passing a few houses along the way, drive through a couple washes, and maybe even pass another vehicle. Make a left hand turn at the T-junction and this is where the pavement ends and the fun begins. Eventually, the dirt road will lead you to the wye...with a good vehicle the drive will probably take less than 5 minutes on the dirt road; probably less than 10 minutes total from US 93. After a mile or so on dirt road, you'll come to a left turn right near the Peavine. Go through the opening in the wooden fence...it's meant for vehicle traffic and no signs are present prohibiting you from proceeding. (This opening is where the previously mentioned metal gate has been installed.) Turn to the right and follow the roller-coaster dirt road for another half mile or so to the wye.

As described above , you're approaching the wye from the north on the dirt road with the Peavine to your left. The less-used leg of the wye will be right in front of you while the Arizona & California leg is beyond that to the south. The Arizona & California departs to the west and eventually arrives in Parker, Arizona. Driving around the grounds surrounding the wye you can find some photo spots. The small hills to the east of the mainline are easily climbed to give one an elevated view of the wye, though you must hike across the tracks to reach them. Matthie sports a station sign that you can try to include in a photo of a BNSF westbound on the main. The sun angle/position favors railroad west train movements...on the BNSF this means Phoenix-bound trains coming from the north.


Won't see this anymore. Westbound Cement Train (U-SBDPHX) holds short of the Peavine on the Arizona & California at Matthie Wye on Feb 9, 2005. The dedicated Cement Train was abolished in September 2006. *NEWS Flash* - Early in 2009 dedicated Cement Trains once again began operating between Southern California and Phoenix via Matthie. The most recent train came through on 16 May 2009 and they are once again operating approximately weekly.



Looking west from my perch atop the hills east of the Wye, I viewed a meet between pig trains. The trailing end of a westbound is in the foreground while the eastbound is shown tucked away on the A&C...the head end is barely visible in the distance.

Train meets at Matthie: While there is only a very short siding at Matthie on the Peavine railroad west of the wye, meets at Matthie are a common occurrence...I hear them on the scanner on a nearly daily basis. I've witnessed several as well, and for a train crew they must be a pain in the butt...at a minimum, an inconvenience. When an eastbound BNSF has to clear the main for a westbound, they stop short of the west wye switch, line it for the Arizona and California leg, and one crewman stays behind to line the switch back after his train has cleared the Peavine. After the westbound passes, the switch is re-lined for the Arizona & California, the eastbound reverses back onto the Peavine, the switch is then lined for the main and the BNSF eastbound proceeds past Matthie. If it's a good meet, this whole operation would probably take about 20-30 minutes. If you're listening on the scanner to an eastbound coming out of Phoenix and you hear "...to the West Wye Switch Matthie" chances are they're going in the hole for a meet. To reverse out of Matthie, they'll request MP 137, so the train they met will usually OS the 137 so DS can give permission for them to back out. Less frequently a westbound will shove back into the AZCR for a meet with an eastbound. On 26 Feb 2006 this did occur when a westbound manifest met the eastbound morning pig train. After I heard the scanner and realized what was going on I didn't have time to drive to Matthie to record it.

The Repo Train: The LA-bound "Repo" train (empty TOFC/COFC) used to swap crews with the ARZC at Matthie. If everyone was lucky, the new crew would be on hand and the swap would occur fairly painlessly. If the new crew was not on site yet, the BNSF crew would clear up and ties down on the ARZC just past the Matthie west wye switch. A crew van would pick up the BNSF crew. The ARZC crew would later take the train over to Parker and beyond for re-delivery to the BNSF at Cadiz, CA. During 2006, its become common for the BNSF to tie the train down at Castle Hot Springs for the ARZC crew. This could also happen if the Phoenix-bound cement train was already at Matthie on the ARZC...no longer an issue with the abolishment of the Cement Train.

Many times I've heard the Repo train bypass Matthie. They'll run it all the way up to the mainline and a mainline crew will take it west, often times from the siding at Canyon Diablo. Meets on the ARZC west of Matthie do happen. The first siding west of Matthie is in the town of Aguila - about 20 miles - on US 60. The siding is long enough to accomodate just about anything the BNSF would route via Matthie. On 4 July 2008 I headed to Parker in the middle of the night and saw the Repo train meet the incoming ARZC Local at Aguila. I headed west to Parker and made it with plenty of time to catch the Repo come into Parker after sunrise...it was worth the trip because the two locomotives on the Repo were both SD70MACs: the BNSF 9515 and the CSX 4544.

Turning a train at Matthie: An even rarer occurrence is when a train is turned around at Matthie. I can imagine this is only done on very special occasions, such as when the BNSF run their annual "Children's Special" train. When I found out the date of the 2005 train (15 October), I cleared my Saturday calendar so I could attempt to witness a train being turned around at Matthie. Because of construction traffic in the immediate vicinity of the Glendale depot, the 2005 Children's Special train boarded and departed from the Peoria team track. I followed the train up to Castle Hot Springs (MP 150) and then made tracks for the wye. I arrived with a few minutes to spare and with camera gear in hand, I climbed one of the small hills east of the wye for a grand view. Not knowing which leg of the wye would be used first, I was actually hoping for them to proceed up past the east wye switch and reverse onto the lesser-used leg. But as the train approached, out of sight (behind another small hill) and stopped, it became apparent the west leg was the first route. And that's how it happened: the train took the west wye switch and proceeded along the ARZC past their wye switch, reversed along the lesser-used (east) leg and through the east wye switch, then with both BNSF wye switches lined for the main they proceeded back to Peoria. I was able to get ahead of and photograph the train at Wickenburg, Castle Hot Springs, and finally the junction of the Ennis Subdivision at MP 174.

Another rare occurrence happened on 12 July 2006. In El Mirage, I watched an 11-unit set of lite power roll through. At Beardsley they got a warrant up to the west wye switch at Matthie, where they were instructed to clear the main for a westbound Z train. A while later, the crew asked to change their GTB (General Track Bulletin) to read the BNSF #7662 which happened to be the trailing locomotive of the 11 unit set. They got a new warrant issued further east and utilized the rarely-used east leg of the wye to rejoin the Peavine. Essentially, they turned the power around using the wye thus placing ES44DC #7662 on the point instead of the veteran, spartan cab Norfolk Southern Dash 9-40C #8800 that was on the point when they departed Phoenix. Definitely would've been cool to watch except that it was probably over 110 degrees up there and I just didn't have time to get up there.

Exploring the Arizona & California portion west of the wye: Last couple of trips to the wye, I discovered a dirt road you can drive west along this line. I've been only a mile or so past the small trestle bridge just west of the wye, so I don't know how far the dirt road goes...but I hope to find out some day. Following this road allows you to set up for a photo of a westbound train on the ARZC. The line has several respectable curves, so depending on time of day, you might find a spot with decent lighting. At any rate, most of the time you'll have to hike across the tracks to get to the south side for a sunny-side photograph. Later in the day, the sun may favor a spot from the north side of the tracks, depending on your location and curvature of the tracks.

As far as I know, or unless the dirt road mentioned in the paragraph above connects to a civilized road, the access to Matthie I described is likely the only easy way in (besides the tracks of course.) Numerous dirt trails exist in this area and some of them may lead to other civilized roads, but the route I take to get there is the only one I've found so far. If you know of or have found any other access roads to Matthie Wye, please share them with us.

---

-- MP 123.2 [ 140 ]


W/B tied down at Congress on the main.

Congress is a very small community approximately due north of Matthie Wye on Arizona Route 89. A short siding exists here (3598 ft) and occasionally cars are set out. Here is an aerial photo of an eastbound TOFC crossing AZ Route 71 at Congress.



I'd like to know exactly what those foundations are the E/B pig train is passing just north of Congress. One electronic topographic mapset I have indicates a water tower used to exist at that approximate location. It's a bit of a hike to get in there from Congress but I plan on doing it some day.

If you click on the 2nd thumbnail you'll see a large aerial photo I took of a pig train at this spot. Clearly visible are the two foundations as well as part of the original alignment.

*Note* -- North of Congress, AZ Route 89 can be used to get to Kirkland, via the Thompson Valley Road turnoff. At Kirkland, a right turn will take you to Skull Valley and eventually to Prescott and the more northern points on the Peavine. Turning left at Kirkland will lead you back to Hillside. An alternate route to Hillside for those with a tough truck is Date Creek Rd, the entrance to which is a couple miles north of Congress on Route 89. Click here for my aerial photo of the turnoff to Date Creek Rd.

This 20-mile dirt road is mile-posted and roughly follows the Peavine up to Hillside, with numerous photo opportunities along the way. North of Date, the Peavine gets out of sight for a few miles but then comes back into view approaching Hillside. Definitely worth the trip if you have a tough vehicle.

---

-- MP 116.4 [ 134 ]


Piedmont has a short 2200+ foot long siding. A mile or so east of Piedmont is this "skull rock" that someone has painted.

Eastbound pig train in the vicinity of Piedmont...photo taken from a sizeable rock outcropping.

---

-- MP 109.7 [ 127 ]

You know you're at Date when you see this dip in the road and lots of trees. Also, a couple views from trackside.


-View looking north at bottom of the low spot.
-View looking northeast at the bridge.
-Westbound M-BELPHX on the main moments before crossing the bridge.
-View looking south to the low spot...bridge on the left.
-View of the bridge from the west switch points.
-E/B Pig train on 19 Jan 2008.
-W/B Rail Train on 19 Jan 2008. Conductor is lining the switch for the main.

Date siding (6552 ft) is located just railroad east of Cottonwood Creek bridge. You know you're at the bridge when you enter a low spot in the road that is surrounded by deciduous trees that mostly obscure the bridge which is located to the right (east) of the road. You're actually driving through the creek bed at this point. You have to drive out of the dip and pull off the road to get a good look at, but it's there, and now a little bit behind you. Additionally, a defect detector is located a couple miles RR west of Date at MP 113.9.

---

-- MP 101.5 [ 119 ]


-Eastbound pig train rounds the curve at Hillside...RR east of the siding.
-View of an Eastbound approaching the west end of Hillside as seen from the cab of a Westbound.

Hillside is a small town located at the west end of Thompson Valley Road and the north end of Date Creek Rd, and the line is easily accessible for photographs. Hillside has a 5339 foot long passing siding regularly used for meets. Standard practice for meets is an eastbound train will go in the hole...something to do with minimizing potential damage to the siding rails from a westbound braking while descending down the curving grade at the east end of the siding. They'd rather have the eastbound in the hole while the westbound keeps to the main. The one meet I've witnessed at Hillside had the eastbound backing out the west switch before proceeding east versus pulling up to the east switch.

---

-- MP 95.4 [ 112 ]


Eastbound Q-PHXCHI passes a heard of cattle while descending the loops near Grand View. This is a view looking north from the east siding switch.

Grand View has a relatively short 3996 foot long siding and is in a very remote location...no public roads lead to it. Very cool reverse loops are visible on atlases and satellite imagery. On the satellite images you can easily see where the right-of-way has been re-aligned to lessen the severity of some of the sharp curves. Look closely at other satellite imagery north of Date and north of Congress and you'll find other examples of minor realignments...it's actually pretty cool but then again I'm very easily amused by all this new computer technology.

On 6 January 2006 I was lucky enough to fly over the area (and realize where I was) in a Southwest 737 enroute from Phoenix to Reno and snap a photo. Grand View is definitely worth checking out if you can manage to hike or bike in, but it's about 6 railroad miles from Hillside, and a rugged 8.5 miles when coming from Kirkland.

On 3 March 2007 a friend and I hiked to Grand View from Hillside ahead of the eastbound pig train. We kept up a steady pace and it took us just under 2 hours by following the dirt access road. We hiked past the station sign and decided to stop at the east switch to wait for the train. Grand View is aptly named as the view of the surrounding desert land is pretty spectacular. The east switch is near the top of the two reverse loops, and the loops help reduce the elevation by nearly 200 feet during the eastbound descent into the Kirkland Valley. The loops are actually a fair walking distance railroad east of the siding and station sign, but they are readily visible due to the local topography. Very cool to watch a train descend here.



During my second trip in to Grand View, I took the photos below in December 2007 when I caught three trains within a couple hours: a Westbound Z, an Eastbound Baretable (with presumably empty containers), and another Westbound Z.



Conversely, hiking in from Kirkland would be a longer trek and much more rugged. After a couple miles heading west from Kirkland, there is no dirt road alongside the tracks. Unless you're a well-equipped regular desert hiker I'd not recommend it. In January 2008 I made a short hike from the high water detector west of Kirkland up to MP 91 to check out the location of a minor track realignment. Two images from Microsoft Live Search Maps show the general area of the minor track realignment. Click on the thumbnails for larger images. The red lines on the bigger close up photo straddles the old alignment. Below the two aerials are some photos I took during the hike. The last image is by Bill Meeker and shows a westbound passing through the area.

Page 129 of David F. Myrick's book "Santa Fe to Phoenix" references a 1905 line change "four miles south of Kirkland" that eliminated curvature and two trestles. This is very likely that realignment.

---

-- MP 86.8 [ 104 ]

Kirkland is a very small town and is one of the few easily-accessible locations on the Peavine where the tracks are aligned east/west. Depending on time of day/season, photos are easily obtained from public property. Kirkland is located at the junction of Thompson Valley and Iron Springs Roads, and has a modest 4390 ft long siding. Meets are usually made just a short distance to the east at Skull Valley. Additionally, a high-water detector (at MP 88.9) and a defect detector (at MP 88.8) are located a couple miles west of Kirkland.



Eastbound repo train bypassed Matthie this morning and headed up to the mainline. At Canyon Diablo (most likely) the power was moved to the other end of the train and then ran westbound towards L.A. A couple days later the trailing 8610 was photographed on Cajon Pass pulling a 2-car track geometry train.

---

-- MP 80.6 -- [ 98 ]


Left - Seen from the west switch, a westbound baretable awaits a crew at Skull Valley.
Right - BNSF 621 West leads a Z-WINPHX along the creek between Skull Valley and Kirkland.


This is where the mileage equation takes effect just north of Skull Valley. Due to the 1961 Abra-Skull Valley line change, this portion of the Peavine became shorter so the difference in mileage is accounted for here. Next milepost RR west is MP 80. Additionally, the former right of way to Prescott is visible ahead as a dirt road. It dead ends less than a couple miles from here at private property as seen in the photo at the right. The mountains between Skull Valley and Prescott included 3 percent grades and a helper district. The line change solved those two issues. August 2007 photos.

The three images to the right show aerial views of the old alignment to Prescott, before the 1961 line change.

Skull Valley is the other location on the Peavine identified as Double Track...a glorified passing siding...and is a popular location for meets. Both switches are easily accessible for photographs and like Beardsley both have a single signal showing the indication of the spring switches. The double track is not tangent (straight); it has some curves to it. As described below, a line change occurred just east of Skull Valley. Where the tangent track ends a short distance railroad east of the east switch, the old main used to continue on to Prescott. Much of the old right-of-way is visible in satellite imagery (Google Earth or Windows Live for example) and you can easily trace the route right to Prescott on the computer screen. I explored the physical location in August 2007 and while you can follow the old line for a mile or so north of Skull Valley on a public road, the road soon dead ends at private property with a gate across the road.

The current alignment makes a left-hand turn and crosses over the highway then turns north again and meanders up the grade towards Tucker.

*Note* -- A major realignment of the right-of-way between Skull Valley and Abra to the west of the (then) existing line took place in 1961/1962. Effectively, the ruling grade on this portion of the line was reduced by over half (3.0% to 1.42%), Prescott was bypassed, and the result was a shorter Peavine. Just railroad east of Skull Valley, at MP 79.5, the next milepost is 65.3. As a result, overall distance between Ash Fork (MP 0.0) and Mobest (191.6) is approximately 177 miles, a reduction of about 14 miles. Incidentally, there are portions of the line that are still as steep as 1.82%

---

-- MP 46.2 [ 77 ]

Tucker's 6262 foot long siding is used regularly for meets. It is accessible via Williamson Valley Rd, near Prescott. Drive northwest about 14 miles or so and the road crosses the Peavine on a small bridge. The east end of Tucker siding is visible to the south. A defect detector is located near the west switch, at MP 46.9.

---

-- MP 34.4 [ 65 ]

Kayfour is a short siding (1880 ft) accessible from the north end of the Chino Valley. At Paulden, AZ, from northbound highway 89, just after you pass under the Peavine, turn left at the first road and follow the Peavine to the west about 4 miles. Kayfour is one of the more easily accessible locations (albeit a bit remote) on the Peavine with tracks running east / west.

---

-- MP 28.4 [ 59 ]


Abra siding is just east of the highway 89 underpass. Here we see a W/B Z train crossing over highway 89.

Abra's 6311 foot long siding is used regularly for meets. Here is an aerial photo of Abra I took in Jan 2006 from a Southwest 737 while descending toward Phoenix. In this view to the northeast, the Peavine snakes from lower left to upper right starting near the bottom of the photo. Easily visible are the town of Paulden, highway 89, and portions of the old right of way to Prescott. Abra siding is to the east of highway 89.

---

/ Hell Canyon Bridge -- MP 21.3 - 21.6 [ 52 ]

Drake is one of three junctions along the Peavine and is located a couple miles east of highway 89 and easily reached by the public paved/dirt road leading there. The Arizona Central diverges to the east and the connection forms a wye. BNSF regularly make pickups and setouts here for them. Just railroad west of Drake is Hell Canyon Bridge, one of the scenic engineering highlights of the Peavine. Photographic possibilities exist for the adventuresome but exploration and some luck is required to obtain the optimum shot with a train crossing the bridge during favorable lighting conditions. North/south alignment favors a westbound train, though a mid-summer afternoon eastbound might be nicely side lit when viewed to the east. Best eastbound train for this would be the pig train out of Phoenix. The weekday trains would probably be up there around lunch time or a little later. Due to the later departure, the Saturday train would cross the bridge later in the afternoon. A defect detector is located a couple miles west of Drake, at MP 23.5.


Viewed to the south just after 2pm local, the eastbound pig train crosses Hell Canyon in May 2005. Photo ops exist to the left / right of the bridge though some exploring is necessary to find the right spot to match the time of day and direction of train. Knowing what is coming and setting up early for the photo is a must. This was just a quick grab shot from the north side of the canyon...reachable with a 4WD or short hike in from the grade crossing. South side is also accessible by a fire road a couple miles south of the Drake entrance on highway 89.


In the left shot, an eastbound repo train crosses Hell Canyon Bridge enroute to the mainline on July 14, 2007. This Eastbound is a morning shot obtainable only if a train leaves Phoenix around 0200 or 0300 in the morning...in my experience not a very common occurrence...but then I'm not omnipresent so I don't know everything that happens. Often, the empty vehicle train departs El Mirage around midnight, and depending on any opposing traffic that train would probably be to Hell Canyon before sunrise, the exception being the longer summer days when the sun is up during the 5 o'clock hour. You're more likely to see a westbound here in the morning. The shot on the right is an eastbound vehicle train that departed El Mirage around 0100. They had to meet the M-BELPHX at Hillside and with that delay they got to the bridge just as the sun was creeping into usefulness...in this case about 0605 on August 19, 2007. Another 10 minutes or so and the light would have been a bit stronger.

---

"Little Hell Canyon Bridge" -- MP 13.3 [ 44 ]


-Same repo train seen above at Hell Canyon Bridge is seen from Highway 89 crossing the Little Hell Canyon Bridge.

-Westbound Children's Special train crosses the bridge enroute to Phoenix on 6 October 2006. Click HERE to view a nice webpage chock full of photographs from onboard this trip. Someone uploaded a LOT of photos from Flagstaff to what appears to be Congress...some very cool views from onboard the rear observation car.

Little Hell Canyon bridge is visible to the west from Highway 89 and easily accessible. Photographs are possible depending on time of day/season. North/south alignment of track favors a westbound train. Here is a south-looking photo of the east side of the bridge just after a westbound Z train crossed it .

---

Meath -- MP 9.2 [ 40 ]


View of the Meath spur as seen from a westbound train on the Peavine.

Not much more than a reporting point and 500+ foot stub spur. There IS a station sign here, but a hike is necessary to see it and it's some distance from the highway. I've never made the hike in.

---

Cruice -- MP ~4 [ 34 ]


Cruice (pronounced croos) is a former station on the ATSF. Accessible by taking Bullock Rd west from highway 89 for about a mile, the track skirts a sizeable open pit quarry before reaching Ash Fork. Some interesting photo ops exist.

---

Ash Fork -- MP 0.0 / 401.2 [ 30 ]


Seen from the east switch, a westbound Z approaches Ash Fork. This portion of the line use to be on the mainline and this was double tracked. The double track used to be to the north (left in this photo) as evidenced by the remains of a small bridge located here. The view of the bridge is from the same spot as the other photo but on the north side of the tracks versus the south side. In the third photo, a Westbound Z train is viewed from the cab.

Until the Crookton Cutoff was built, the ATSF transcontinental mainline use to pass through Ash Fork. Today, Milepost Zero on the Peavine is Ash Fork, and the former north track (eastbound - lesser grades) of the mainline between Ash Fork and West Williams Junction completes the Peavine's journey between Phoenix and the mainline.

Ash Fork has a small yard and 5650 ft long passing siding. Track orientation here is east/west and the east end is easily accessible for photographs. It is interesting watching a westbound train descend from a couple miles out and approach from the east as it disappears behind a small hill and reappears moments later. I guess I'm just easily amused. A defect detector is located at MP 0.4. Interestingly, the foundation for the old Harvey House is still evident in the vicinity of the old depot.

---

Daze -- MP 393.3X [ 22 ]

Pronounced "Dah-zee", Daze is not much more than a reporting point and 611 ft long stub spur. Never been there.

---

**Note: A realignment of sorts exists between Daze and Supai (MP 381.6.) West of Daze. Some knowledge of the pre-Crookton Cutoff history is required but I'll try to explain the best I can from what I know. Just railroad west of Daze (at Welch) the double track main split apart for a few miles, returning to parallel running at Supai. The northern (old eastbound) track had been built on lesser grades and once the Crookton Cutoff became active, the ATSF took the southern track (through Johnson Canyon) out of service. The northern track (becoming the southern track again at Welch) then became the Phoenix line. The remaining double track west of Ash Fork (to Crookton) was also taken out of service when the Crookton Cutoff opened.

Because the northern track was longer than the southern track, the Phoenix line became 4 miles longer. What would be known as MP 391 is known as MP 395X. The X is used between MP395X and MP383X, and indicates that double mainlines are physically separated from each other by a considerable distance. Of course, the double track no longer exists up here but the X on the physical milesposts remain. Standard milepost notation resumes at MP 382 to MP 375.1 (West Williams Jct.)

Between Crookton and Supai you can "virtually" follow the old railroad on satellite imagery websites like Windows Live and Google Earth. And in many places, the roadbed for the former right-of-way is easily recognizeable from the ground. If you go out railfanning the old line, be aware of your surroundings at all times and by all means, be prepared for the extremes encountered in the desert scrub and high country this part of the railroad is well known for. A great place to start is the Railroad Crossings page by Brett Wirick hosted by Trainweb.org

You think my webpage is wordy, you'll be reading for days on Brett's numerous pages, and there is a TON of great information to be found.

---

Corva -- MP 390.2X [ 15 ]

Very cool horseshoe curve at this location. Aerial imagery shows how the alignment was significantly widened to reduce curvature. On the Windows Live aerial image, the old alignment is shown as a forest service road.

---

Sereno -- MP 384.2X [ 9 ]

This is a view from the cab of a Westbound passing the Sereno siding and station sign.

Sereno has a 5833 foot long passing siding. Never been there.

---

Supai -- MP 381.6 [ 6.5 ]

According to published data, this is the highest point on the Peavine at approximately 6,990 feet above sea level. Additionally, a defect detector is located here.

---

Williams -- MP 378.1 [ 3 ]


Photo 1 - Finally, a view looking both east AND railroad east. This is MP 378 in downtown Williams at the site of a former yard. Minimal tracks exist now; GCRR to the left and a storage track to the right. West Williams Jct is just 3 miles further on. The Williams siding (used for meets) is behind me in this view.
Photo 2 - An Eastbound Vehicle train tied down on the siding in the town of Williams. This is between I-40 and downtown Williams.
Photo 3 - This Chris Urban photo shows an eastbound Lite Power move through Williams on August 22nd, 2011.

The town of Williams is chock full of history, and is possibly best known as the home of the Grand Canyon Railway.

Williams also has a passing siding; the west switch is located west of where the Peavine crosses under I-40. The east switch is pretty close to downtown.

---

West Williams Jct-- MP 375.1 [ 0 ]


In this view from the cab of a Westbound, we see the diverging clear signal on the left lined for the Peavine while an Eastbound waits to proceed in the distance.

West Williams Jct is where the Peavine links to the BNSF transcontinental mainline via a turnout on the South Track of the mainline. People have made photos here but this exact photo spot isn't readily accessible via public roads. I made the trek into the junction proper in March 2007 and came back with some late afternoon photos. I caught 2 Phoenix trains: one in each direction. First, the V-CLOPHX then the Q-PHXCHI a short while later after they made a quick meet at the Williams siding. I've since made a couple more trips and managed to catch a few more trains coming off the Peavine.

W/B V-CLOPHX enters the Sub

Mainline Meet

E/B Q-PHXCHI departs the Sub

E/B M-PHXBEL

E/B Q-PHXCHI

E/B B-PHXLAC

Peavine Photo Index

Below is a list of some of the photos associated with the text of these pages. With few exceptions, they were all taken by me. Photos progress railroad east from Phoenix toward the BNSF Railway transcontinental mainline. Photos marked with an asterisk '*' are NOT uploaded to RailPictures.net and are unique to this page. Most will load up smaller than the actual photo; an icon will eventually appear in the lower right hand corner to click on and make the image larger.

*Mobest Yard aerial Aerial view of Mobest taken from an airliner.
*Sidewalk Running View of a GP30 departing Smith Pipe & Steel.
Smith Pipe & Steel GP30 working Smith Pipe & Steel across from Mobest Yard.
*Glendale Depot 2004 Children's Special arrives at Glendale Depot.
Glendale Station Sign Westbound passes the Glendale station sign.
*Grand Ave / 59th Ave construction Nov 2005 view of Grand Ave underpass at 59th Ave.
*Glendale Depot Oct 2006 view of the north side of Glendale Depot.
Restricted Limits Westbound about to pass under E/B Grand Ave. Restricted limits is under the distant bridge.
*2005 Children's Special at Peoria 2005 Children's Special on the Peoria team track.
Peoria Station Sign Westbound passes the Peoria station sign.
Peoria Curve Westbound local (A&C Turn) at Peoria Curve.
Peoria Curve Another Peoria Curve photo.
*Agua Fria River bridge Aerial view of Agua Fria River bridge / Grand Ave.
El Mirage Curve Eastbound manifest at MP 175 / El Mirage Curve.
El Mirage autorack yard Aerial view of the autorack facility.
*Ennis / El Mirage Yard Westbound passes the west end of 3-track yard used primarily for cuts of autoracks.
Surprise Westbound passes the Surprise team track at Dysart Rd.
Lizard Acres Westbound passes the Lizard Acres station sign.
*Lizard Acres aerial Aerial view of Lizard Acres / lumber facility looking west.
*Original Beardsley station sign Eastbound passes Beardsley station sign in mid-2005.
West Beardsley Westbound enters the main at West Beardsley (MP 170.1.)
East Beardsley Eastbound on Main 2 passes East Beardsley (MP 168.8.)
Wittman station sign. Westbound rail train enters the main at Wittmann.
Castle Hot Springs
Castle Hot Springs II Rare daylight interchange with Arizona & California.
Bridge MP 147.8 Eastbound led by unique BNSF 7695 crosses bridge in Wickenburg Canyon at MP 147.8.
Hassayampa River bridge Viewed from US 60, an eastbound crosses the Hassayampa River.
*High water detector This detector detects water near or on the tracks near milepost 146.6.
*Wickenburg aerial Aerial view of Wickenburg looking west.
*Wickenburg Depot This depot stands west of the station sign in downtown Wickenburg. (Photo provided by a friend)
Wickenburg Rare (at the time) daylight Arizona & California movement passes the Wickenburg station sign.
*Aerial view of Matthie Wye showing an eastbound BNSF pig train holding the mainline.
Matthie Meet Eastbound empty autoracks clears for a westbound pig train.
*Turning a train at Matthie Five photos of the 2005 Children's Special being turned at Matthie.
*Arizona & California at Matthie Daylight interchange...A&C on home rails departs Matthie for Parker.
*Congress aerial Eastbound pigs cross AZ route 71 at Congress.
This aerial photo shows Date Creek Rd intersection with Route 89.
*Date aerial view looking northeast shows Cottonwood Creek, Date siding and the dirt Date Creek Road.
2005 AAPRCO Special Westbound 2005 AAPRCO special has just passed Date siding near MP 110.
Hillside station sign Eastbound pigs pass the station sign at Hillside.
*Kirkland View of the Kirkland station sign looking due east.
*Drake Westbound pigs passing the Drake station sign, less than a mile from Hell Canyon Bridge.
*Hell Canyon Bridge General view of Hell Canyon Bridge looking south. No justice is served by this photo.
*West Williams Jct #1 South-westerly view of the Peavine track diverging away from the mainline at West Williams Jct.
*West Williams Jct #2 South-easterly view of West Williams Jct signals and trackage.

Peavine Foreign Power Photo Index

Truly "Foreign" Railroads

CN 2404 C40-8M El Mirage 25 Aug 08	CN 2466 D8-40CW Restricted Limits 30 May 05	CN/IC 2701 D9-44CW El Mirage 23 Nov 08	CN 5326 SD40-2 Lizard Acres 24 Aug 08	CN 8006 SD70M-2 Peoria 22 Aug 08	CP 5424 SD40-2 (ex-UP 4170) Beardsley 25 May 05
CP 5948 SD40-2 Beardsley 26 Jun 07	CP 8832 ES44AC Surprise 27 Aug 09	CP 9009 SD40-2F Skull Valley 27 Jan 06	Ferromex 3224 SD40-2 Beardsley 2 Jun 06	Ferromex 4644 ES44AC El Mirage 16 Jan 09	KCSM 4725 ES44AC El Mirage 20 Jan 08
TFM 1660/1633 SD70MACs El Mirage 20 Dec 07	TFM 1674 SD70MAC Beardsley 16 Apr 06

Class 1 / Regionals

CR/NS 2564 SD70 Beardsley 14 Jun 06	CR/NS 3048 GP38-2 Lizard Acres 28 Jun 06	CR/NS 8325 D8-40CW Castle Hot Springs 10 Dec 06	CSX 648 AC6000 Surprise 08 Feb 06	CSX 4563 SD70MAC El Mirage 26 Sep 07	CSX 4817 SD70MAC Agua Fria River bridge 05 Dec 05
CSX 4845 SD70ACe El Mirage 27 Aug 08	CSX 5266 ES44DC Beardsley 14 Apr 06	CSX 7754 D8-40CW El Mirage 27 Aug 08	CSX 8479 SD40-2 El Mirage 03 Dec 05	CSX 8556 SD50 Beardsley 23 Mar 06	CSX 8725 SD60I El Mirage 29 Oct 07
GTW 5933 SD40-2 El Mirage 03 Dec 05	IC 1021 SD70 Surprise 18 Oct 06	IC 6034 SD40-2 Surprise 15 Nov 06	ICE 6403 SD40-2 Castle Hot Springs 22 Dec 07	KCS 3944 SD70MAC E. Beardsley 16 Feb 11	KCS 4001 SD70ACe El Mirage 1 Nov 07
KCS 4037 SD70ACe El Mirage 10 Jan 08	KCS 4041 SD70ACe El Mirage 04 Feb 09	KCS 4600 re# AC4400 El Mirage 03 Feb 06	KCS 4620 AC4400 El Mirage 02 Sep 06	KCS 4682 ES44AC El Mirage 23 Aug 08	MRL 250 SD40-2 El Mirage 20 Jan 06
MRL 254 SD40-2 Surprise 31 Jul 05	MRL 256 SD40-2XR Beardlsey 01 Jul 05	MRL 263 SD40-2XR Glendale 24 Jan 06	MRL 264 SD40-2XR El Mirage 13 Jun 06	MRL 265 SD40-2XR Castle Hot Springs 05 Aug 06	MRL 302 SD45-2 Lizard Acres 31 May 06
MRL 310 SD45-2 Beardsley 02 Jun 06	MRL 322 SD45-2 (Rebuilt) El Mirage 26 Oct 05	MRL 324 SD45-2 Castle Hot Springs 27 Jan 06	MRL 354 SD45 Lizard Acres 11 Aug 06	MRL 356 SD45 Alhambra 30 Jan 06	MRL 8924 SD45 Kirkland 06 May 05
MRL 8925 SD45 Beardsley 13 Dec 05	NS 1050 SD70ACe El Mirage 04 Feb 13	NS 2568 SD70 Beardsley 07 Jun 06	NS 2639 SD70M West Beardsley 14 Feb 06	NS 2675 SD70M-2 R/L Glendale 29 Mar 06	NS 2682 SD70M-2 Castle Hot Springs 11 Nov 06
NS 6170 SD40-2 El Mirage 27 Nov 05	NS 6514 SD50 Matthie Ranch 28 May 05	NS 6656 SD60 Lizard Acres 11 Aug 06	NS 7545 ES40DC El Mirage 20 Nov 08	NS 7596 ES40DC El Mirage 02 Oct 06	NS 7646 ES40DC El Mirage 24 Sep 07
NS 7676 ES40DC Peoria 21 Dec 07	NS 8302 D8-40C El Mirage 09 Mar 11	NS 8409 D8-40CW Castle Hot Springs 14 Jul 10	NS 8564 D8-39C El Mirage 07 Mar 07	NS 8594 D8-39C El Mirage 08 Dec 05	NS 8612 D8-39C Beardsley 09 Apr 05
NS 8663 D8-39C El Mirage 31 Mar 06	NS 8684 D8-39C Castle Hot Springs 04 Jul 07	NS 8869 D9-40C El Mirage 24 Oct 07	NS 8872 D9-40C El Mirage 23 Mar 06	NS 9376 D9-40CW El Mirage 05 Jul 06	NS 9798 D9-40CW El Mirage 27 Nov 05
NS 9844 D9-40CW El Mirage 22 Nov 08	NS 9876 D9-40CW Date - MP 110 21 Jan 06	SP 334 AC4400 El Mirage 12 Aug 05	SP/UP 6204 AC4400 Beardsley 16 Apr 06	UP 3308 SD40-2 Peoria 08 Jun 06	UP 8225 SD9043AC Beardsley 16 Apr 06
WC 6001 SD40 E. Beardsley 18 Mar 06

Leasing Companies

CITX 142 SD70M-2 Youngtown 08 Oct 06	CRIX 5954 El Mirage 16 Jan 06	EMD 3 SD60 West Beardsley 14 Feb 06	FURX 1175 GP40M-3 East Beardsley 14 Jun 06	FURX 7244 SD40-2 West Beardsley 14 Jun 06	FURX 7281 SD40-2 West Beardsley 14 Jun 06
GSCX 7372 SD40-2 Wittmann 22 Jul 06	HLCX 9041 SD40M-2 El Mirage 16 Dec 05	NREX B4262 SD40-2 El Mirage 02 FEb 06	NREX 5398 SD40T-2 El Mirage 10 Apr 07	NREX 6416 SD45 El Mirage 05 Sep 05	NREX 6454 SD45-2 Glendale 05 Feb 06
NREX 6481 SD45-2 El Mirage 25 Feb 05	NREX 6811 SD45T-2 West Beardsley 06 Oct 05	NREX 7009 SD50 Near Piedmont 21 Jan 06	NREX 7353 SD40R Castle Hot Springs 22 Jul 06	NREX 7510 SD45-2B Date 10 Dec 05	NREX 8696 SD50 Alhambra 7 May 05
NREX 8822 SD40T-2 Alhambra 30 Jan 06	NREX 9328 SD45T-2 West Beardsley 26 Dec 05	NREX 9931 SD40-2 Sun City 08 May 05	Oakway 9002 SD60 Glendale 06 Jul 05	Oakway 9004 SD60 Surprise 04 Nov 05	Oakway 9022 SD60 Beardsley 21 Feb 06
Oakway 9040 SD60 Mobest 17 Sep 05	Oakway 9053 SD60 Lizard Acres 28 Jun 06	Oakway 9060 SD60 Date 19 Jan 08	Oakway 9073 SD60 El Mirage 31 Aug 08	Oakway 9082 SD60 Restricted Limits 16 Apr 05	RLCX 8538 D8-39B Lizard Acres 30 Apr 05
RLCX 8543 D8-39B Phoenix 26 Jun 05

BNSF Peavine Power Photo Index

Photos of many of the typical (and some not-so-typical) BNSF locos spotted on the Peavine...some as leaders and some as followers:

Odds 'n' Ends: 4-axle units

D8-40BW 516 Surprise 2 Aug 08	D8-40BW 563 El Mirage 23 Jun 08	GP38-2 2014 Surprise 11 Nov 06	GP40M 3019 El Mirage 27 Aug 08	GP50 3150 El Mirage 28 Sep 06
GP60B 331 El Mirage 25 May 05	GP60B 338 Peoria Curve 19 Nov 04	GP60B 340 El Mirage 25 Feb 05

Odds 'n' Ends: 6-axle units

D8-40CW 871 El Mirage 28 Aug 08	D8-40CW 882 El Mirage 20 Nov 05	SD40-2 6847 Peoria 9 Jan 07	SD40-2 7140 El Mirage 29 Oct 06	SD40-2 8049 Glendale 24 Jan 06	SD45-2B 7508 El Mirage 07 Nov 05
SD60M 8114 Beardsley 12 Jun 08	SD60M 8140 El Mirage 17 Mar 08	SD60M 8197 Alhambra 22 Jun 08	SD60M 8197 El Mirage 23 Jun 08	SD60M 9238 El Mirage 09 Mar 08	SD60M 9249 Peoria 12 Feb 06
SD60M 9258 El Mirage 29 Nov 07	SD60M 9260 Date 19 Jan 08	SD60M 9264 El Mirage 19 Nov 07	SD60M 9268 El Mirage 24 Nov 07	SD60M 9277 Beardsley 29 Jul 07	SD60M 9296 Beardsley 25 Sep 07

Dash 9s

D9-44CW 599 (ex-666) Beardsley 27 Sep 06	D9-44CW 674 El Mirage 18 Jul 06	D9-44CW 703 Alhambra 23 Feb 07	D9-44CW 707 El Mirage 30 Mar 07	D9-44CW 717 Sun City 23 Dec 05	D9-44CW 720 El Mirage 15 Oct 06
D9-44CW 727 E. Beardsley 19 Mar 08	D9-44CW 737 El Mirage 13 Jun 08	D9-44CW 747 E. Beardsley 28 Jan 08	D9-44CW 757 El Mirage 17 Nov 08	D9-44CW 767 W. Beardsley 10 Apr 08	D9-44CW 777 El Mirage 25 Aug 08
D9-44CW 787 El Mirage 02 Dec 05	D9-44CW 981 Beardsley 02 Jul 09	D9-44CW 990 El Mirage 05 Oct 12	D9-44CW 1050 El Mirage 23 Jan 08	D9-44CW 1101 El Mirage 19 Feb 06	D9-44CW 4173 El Mirage 3 Jul 07
D9-44CW 4392 Castle Hot Springs 29 Aug 08	D9-44CW 4484 El Mirage 23 Jan 10	D9-44CW 4519 Lizard Acres 30 Jul 12	D9-44CW 4715 E. Beardsley 16 Feb 11	D9-44CW 5457 El Mirage 7 Jan 09

ES44ACs

ES44AC 5754 El Mirage 6 Jan 09	ES44AC 5764 El Mirage 22 Oct 08	ES44AC 5828 Castle Hot Springs 12 Sep 07	ES44AC 5879 El Mirage 21 Jan 08	ES44AC 6102 El Mirage 6 Jan 09	ES44AC 6110 El Mirage 15 Nov 08
ES44AC 6166 El Mirage 6 Jan 09

BNSF is not afraid to bring hot, new power to Phoenix. Ever since the first ES44DCs arrived back in early 2005, they continue to ply the Peavine, and I've seen a lot of them to date. Below is a selection of photos of ES44DCs and the newer ES44C4s.

ES44C4s 6600 - 7100 Classes

ES44C4 6606 El Mirage 04 Aug 09	ES44C4 6608 Beardsley 29 May 09	ES44C4 6609 Beardsley 29 May 09	ES44C4 6616 El Mirage 04 Jun 10	ES44C4 6618 Glendale 25 May 09	ES44C4 6620 El Mirage 20 Jan 10
ES44C4 6621 Beardsley 24 Apr 09	ES44C4 6623 Peoria 04 Jun 10	ES44C4 6706 Glendale 29 Sep 12	ES44C4 6673 Surprise 06 May 11	ES44C4 6695 El Mirage 23 Aug 11	ES44C4 6714 Surprise 04 Aug 11
ES44C4 6841 El Mirage 02 Feb 12	ES44C4 6894 El Mirage 01 Sep 11	ES44C4 6898 El Mirage 01 Sep 11	ES44C4 6962 Wickenburg 25 Sep 13	ES44C4 7040 Mobest 05 Aug 12	ES44C4 7090 Glendale 29 Sep 12

ES44DCs - 7200 Class

ES44DC 7200 E. Beardsley 19 Mar 09	ES44DC 7209 Wittmann 02 May 09	ES44DC 7215 El Mirage 07 Feb 09	ES44DC 7223 El Mirage 24 Feb 09	ES44DC 7244 El Mirage 29 Aug 09	ES44DC 7259 Castle Hot Springs 03 Apr 09
ES44DC 7285 El Mirage 11 May 09	ES44DC 7298 El Mirage 17 May 09	ES44DC 7299 El Mirage 17 May 09

ES44DCs - 7300 Class

ES44DC 7300 El Mirage 18 May 09	ES44DC 7313 El Mirage 09 Jun 09	ES44DC 7316 El Mirage 20 Jan 10	ES44DC 7320 Lizard Acres 09 Jun 09	ES44DC 7335 El Mirage 26 Aug 09	ES44DC 7342 Castle Hot Springs 06 Jan 10
ES44DC 7389 El Mirage 11 Mar 10	ES44DC 7395 Beardlsey 25 Nov 08	ES44DC 7396 Peoria 03 Aug 08	ES44DC 7397 El Mirage 18 Sep 08	ES44DC 7398 El Mirage 20 Aug 08	ES44DC 7399 El Mirage 02 Aug 08

ES44DCs - 7400 Class

ES44DC 7400 El Mirage 13 Aug 08	ES44DC 7403 Sun City 14 Sep 08	ES44DC 7413 Mobest 14 Sep 08	ES44DC 7415 El Mirage 03 Sep 08	ES44DC 7418 El Mirage 16 Oct 08	ES44DC 7421 El Mirage 18 Nov 08
ES44DC 7425 Surprise 01 Oct 08	ES44DC 7430 Mobest 22 Sep 08	ES44DC 7431 Mobest 22 Sep 08	ES44DC 7443 Beardsley 24 Oct 08	ES44DC 7445 Mobest 28 Sep 08	ES44DC 7446 El Mirage 20 Nov 08
ES44DC 7451 El Mirage 10 Nov 08	ES44DC 7466 Wittmann 18 Nov 08	ES44DC 7469 El Mirage 21 Nov 08	ES44DC 7471 El Mirage 22 Nov 08	ES44DC 7477 El Mirage 17 Oct 08	ES44DC 7487 Beardsley 04 Sep 09
ES44DC 7499 El Mirage 14 Jan 09

ES44DCs - 7500 Class

ES44DC 7505 Beardsley 18 Jul 07	ES44DC 7510 El Mirage 26 Jun 07	ES44DC 7512 Circle City 14 Aug 08	ES44DC 7517 Castle Hot Springs 05 Jul 07	ES44DC 7519 El Mirage 11 Aug 07	ES44DC 7523 El Mirage 21 Sep 07
ES44DC 7530 El Mirage 22 May 07	ES44DC 7531 El Mirage 22 May 07	ES44DC 7534 El Mirage 16 Sep 07	ES44DC 7545 Peoria 21 Aug 07	ES44DC 7550 El Mirage 16 Aug 07	ES44DC 7551 El Mirage 13 Oct 07
ES44DC 7560 El Mirage 12 Aug 07	ES44DC 7561 Beardsley 26 Jul 07	ES44DC 7562 El Mirage 16 Oct 08	ES44DC 7566 El Mirage 13 Aug 07	ES44DC 7568 Surprise 1 Jan 09	ES44DC 7570 El Mirage 19 Sep 07
ES44DC 7585 El Mirage 16 Nov 07	ES44DC 7588 Beardsley 26 Sep 07	ES44DC 7592 Castle Hot Springs 20 Sep 07	ES44DC 7598 El Mirage 29 Aug 09

ES44DCs - 7600/7700 Class

ES44DC 7600 Peoria 04 Jun 10	ES44DC 7663 El Mirage 06 Jul 05	ES44DC 7666 El Mirage 15 Mar 05	ES44DC 7682 Mobest 06 Jul 05	ES44DC 7687 El Mirage 29 Jan 06	ES44DC 7695 El Mirage 06 Jul 05
ES44DC 7700 Glendale 25 Jun 05	ES44DC 7725 El Mirage 24 Sep 07	ES44DC 7751 Beardsley 15 Jun 05	ES44DC 7777 El Mirage 27 Aug 08

ES44DCs - 7800 Class

ES44DC 7820 El Mirage 05 Apr 10	ES44DC 7825 Surprise 28 May 10	ES44DC 7828 Castle Hot Springs 08 Jun 10	ES44DC 7838 Castle Hot Springs 01 Jun 10	ES44DC 7850 Castle Hot Springs 14 Jun 10	ES44DC 7877 Surprise 12 Jul 10
ES44DC 7889 El Mirage 25 Jul 10	ES44DC 7891 Surprise 23 Jul 10

ES44DCs - 7900 Class

ES44DC 7901 El Mirage 03 Dec 10

ES44DC 7902 Castle Hot Springs 04 Aug 10

SD70 series

SD70ACe 9227 El Mirage 09 Feb 10	SD70ACe 9237 Glendale 02 May 11	SD70ACe 9278 El Mirage 03 Oct 08	SD70ACe 9341 Mobest 22 Jun 08	SD70ACe 9364 El Mirage 15 Nov 08	SD70ACe 9391 Surprise 28 Aug 09
SD70MAC 8987 El Mirage 11 Jul 08	SD70MAC 9463 Surprise 14 May 11	SD70MAC 9515 Parker (ARZC RR) 4 Jul 08	SD70MAC 9541 Beardsley 16 Apr 06	SD70MAC 9544 Phoenix 05 Jul 07	SD70MAC 9697 El Mirage 29 Jun 08
SD70MAC 9734 West Williams Jct 24 Mar 07	SD70MAC 9740 Surprise 13 Jan 09	SD70MAC 9846 Mobest 06 Apr 05	SD75M 8205 El Mirage 06 Nov 07	SD75M 8206 El Mirage 04 Aug 09	SD75M 8210 El Mirage 10 Nov 08
SD75M 8213 Beardsley 09 Apr 05	SD75M 8250 El Mirage 16 May 05	SD75M 8254 El Mirage 06 Nov 06	SD75M 8255 El Mirage 18 Nov 08	SD75M 8261 Beardsley 05 Sep 06	SD75M 8270 Beardsley 20 Sep 05
SD75I 8280 El Mirage 01 Apr 06	SD75I 8288 El Mirage 09 Jan 08	SD75I 8289 El Mirage 04 Feb 09	SD75I 8290 Glendale 28 Apr 07	SD75I 8291 El Mirage 06 Dec 08	SD75I 8300 El Mirage 13 Aug 09

And just for fun, here are some select pics from the Mainline up north

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

GP38-2B 2249 Cosnino 14 Mar 06

SD40-2 6929 Maine 24 Mar 06

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

---

Links

Ennis Sub My BNSF Ennis Sub Page
Norfolk Southern My "Southern West District" Illinois Railfan Guide (St Louis to Princeton, IN)
Click here for an interesting read on riding the rails of the Peavine
Home Aeromoe's Flyin' and Rail Grindin' Website
Click here to send me some Railmail