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The Copper Cities Limited Clifton Branch 4/6/2009 Part 3

After passing through the last tunnel, the mine housing could be seen.

Our route continued to be interesting.

The US Highway 191 bridge.

The train took yet another of the line's curves.

The bridge over Wards Canyon Road at Milepost 1215.2.

Entering the town of Clifton.

Passing through Clifton.

At Milepost 1215.7 are flood gates since it has been flooded a number of times since its founding. In 1983, it was decided to protect the community with a series of flood walls and a flood warning system was finished in 1993, a levee and flood gate designed to protect the town was finished in 1996, and families living in the flood zone were relocated in 1999.

The 305 foot steel through truss bridge across the San Francisco River at Milepost 1215.9.

Miry Junction, the junction with the mine railroad. In 1910, the Shannon-Arizona Railway constructed a narrow gauge railroad from Clifton to Metcalf and the Shannon Mines. The line was abandoned in 1919. Later, a rail line known as the Morenci Industrial Railway was built westward to the new Morenci Open Pit Mine and related facilities, using the first mile of the old SARY grade. The Morenci Mine began operations in 1872 as an underground mine and moved to open-pit mining in 1937. As part of the conversion, the open-pit mine was made operational with rail haulage. Trucks have since replaced the trains for rock haulage.

Our train entered Clifton Yard and approached the station, where we all detrained.

The 1913 Arizona and New Mexico station in Clifton which is the Chamber of Commerce and Art Depot.

Our train at rest in front of the station.

Arizona Copper Company Limited 0-4-4T 8, built by H.K. Porter 1897 and named "Copperhead".

It was then time to run the engines around the train so I relocated to the other side of the station.

Our engines ran around the train and I was ready to board, taking my usual seat in the "Calumet Club" and we started moving, pulling past the switch with the mine railroad then reversed onto another track to clear out of the way. The mine train was waiting right outside my window so I retreated to the back door for some pictures.

Freeport-McMoRan Industrial Railroad took over Phelps Dodge operations in 2007 and on this day, was taking its train into Clifton Yard, then ran around the train to head light back to the mine. Once it had cleared, we pulled up past the switch then reversed into the station where we picked up the rest of our group then started back for Duncan.

The train after leaving Clifton. I used my 35 mm camera to cover the trip through the tunnels and bridges on the way back.

The old and new US 191 Highway bridges at Coronado. I relaxed the rest of the way, riding in the dome car and visiting with Bob Cox before returning to the "Calumet Club" and visiting with others. All too soon, we were back in Duncan and this great trip was over. Special thanks to Bart and Sarah Jennings for all of their hard work to make these trips happen.

The three of us bid goodbye to our friends and the Arizona Eastern before we drove south down US 70 to Lordsburg then east on Interstate 10 to Deming, with dinner picked up at Burger King. We took New Mexico Highway 26 to Hatch, then Interstate 25 north to Albuquerque, stopping for petrol at Truth or Consequences, which was called Hot Springs before changing its name after that popular television show of the 1960's. We reached Randy and Marie's home at 1:00 AM and they blew up an air mattress, made a bed and I called it a night.

I arose at 8:30 AM and had nice shower before checking e-mail then had a bowl of cornflakes and some tea. Randy drove me via Old Town to the station but we both wanted to stop on the way and Randy drove us right to it.

We walked in and met the crew who provided hard hats for our visit. They told us the goal of the project is to have the engine ready for New Mexico's 100th Birthday on January 6, 2012. It was taken out of Coronado Park in Albuquerque in 1999 and has been undergoing restoration ever since. The volunteers had completed the tender and recently finished a drop pit.

The brand new drop pit.

Santa Fe 2926 minus its cab.

The right side drivers.

The tender is ready to go.

The left side of the steam engine.

The cab.

Left side drivers.

Super heater tubes.

The cab end.

The cow catcher. Randy and I thanked them for showing us Santa Fe 2926 and we wished then luck with their project.

This unidentified coach has been sold to help raise funds for the engine. If you would like to donate to the project, go to their web site at Click Here to Donate.

After that last picture, Randy drove me to the Albuquerque Amtrak station where the Southwest Chief had arrived at 11:08 AM.

Randy helped me to Room 3 of 32028 with Pinkey as my Sleeping Car Attendant. The train had P42DCs 94 and 185, baggage 1160, transition 39011, sleepers 32028 and 32099 "New Mexico", diner 37001 (Diner Lite), lounge 33014 with coaches 34027, 34008 and 34084. I started working on the stories and we departed on time as I listened to Jethro Tull's "Catfish Rising". At 1:45 PM, I had an Angus beef burger and vanilla ice cream then resumed working while listening to Aerosmith's "Permanent Vacation" then Yes' "Open Your Eyes". I took fresh air at Raton then had dinner of the flat iron steak and vanilla ice cream as we made our way down Raton Pass. It was Alce Cooper "I'm the Spider" as the train made its way to La Junta with me still writing. I stepped out for some fresh air before Pinkey made up bed and I called it a night.

I woke up at the fuel racks at BNSF's Argentine Yard and had a breakfast of French Toast and sausage patties then took some fresh air at Kansas City before continuing to work. We departed on time and headed to La Plata, where I would detrain this beautiful morning. Arrival there was early and I was taken to the Depot Inn & Suites, but not to stay. At 10:10 AM, Enterprise from Kirksville picked me up and soon I had a Toyota Corolla which I drove back to La Plata and picked up my luggage from the Lobby of the Depot Inn & Suites. I then drove out to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point where I accessed the Internet and uploaded the stories from my last two trips.

One westbound BNSF freight passed while I was uploading pictures then I drove over to Casey's to fill the car before starting on the road.

I drove south on US 63 and stopped at Moberly.

Wabash caboose 2722 built by the railroad in 1942.

Wabash Railroad Moberly baggage building.

A Norfolk Southern freight waiting to leave. I then drove back out to US 63, taking that US 54 just across the Missouri River from Jefferson City, the Missouri State Capitol. US 54 took me through Lake of the Ozarks to Camdenton where I turned south on Missouri 5 to Lebanon, where I took Interstate 44 to Springfield. I checked into the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven where I was given directions to Grant Beach Park.

St. Louis-San Francisco 4-8-4 4524 built by Baldwin in 1943. It has the distinction of being the last steam locomotive purchased by the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad and was based on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's 4-8-4's. Several 4500's were rebuilt in 1952 and then stored behind the Lindenwood Roundhouse in St. Louis until they were either scrapped or donated for display. 4524 was donated to the City of Springfield in 1953.

Burlington Northern Railway baggage car 976100, nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 1031 built by the railroad in 1951.

Chicago and North Western bi-level coach 2, built by Pullman-Standard.

Burlington Northern caboose 10768 built by International Car in 1973. I went to KFC then returned to the Best Western for the night.

After a continental breakfast, I drove south on US Highway 65 to Branson for my ride on the Branson Scenic Railroad but alas, that will be another story.

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