Arizona Rail Passenger Association

Fellow ARPA Members,

Join us for an excursion on the Verde Canyon Railroad Saturday, June 16.

We will be travelling first class. For those who remember, the ambiance of our accommodations will resemble that of a lounge car on the Chief, with comfortable sofas, lounge chairs, and tables. Our air-conditioned car will be next to an open car (with sun shades) in order to fully enjoy the Sedona-like scenery through which the train passes on our four-hour round trip up the Verde River Canyon to Perkinsville and return.

The cost per person will be $72.00–a $7.95 savings over the regular first class fare. (Children aged two and under ride free) The price includes an ample supply of “heavy hors doeuvres” in our car. A small cash bar is located at the end of the car.

The train departs from the VCRR station in Clarkdale promptly at 1:00 pm. (See attached map for directions) We suggest that all tour members arrive at the depot no later than 12:00 Noon. There are a snack bar and cafe located at the depot.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to ride as space is limited. In any event, we need to have all reservations no later than Thursday, May 31.

Please make checks payable to “Arizona Rail Passenger Association” and mail to:

Arizona Rail Passenger Association
Jeff Cooley, Treasurer
P.O. Box 10534
Scottsdale, AZ 85271

The Distance Traveled is 20 Miles; the Time Traveled is 100 Years

Clarkdale, AZ – Verde Canyon Railroad’s  historic train takes passengers on a 20-mile journey through a remarkable wilderness area of Arizona but the time traveled is actually 100 years.

Join the Railroad in celebrating the birth of their line 100 years ago — and the Statehood of Arizona — on Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, 2012. The Centennial Celebration, 9am to 1pm, is free to the public. The Centennial train departs at a special time of 2pm on those days, and requires a ticket purchase.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is proud to have carried over one million passengers since their first departure in 1990. Call 1-800-293-7245 or book online at verdecanyonrr.com.

(source: press release)

Beginning the train's journey, the two FP7 locomotives appear at the crossing east of the Clarkdale depot.

The Verde Canyon Railroad, billed as Arizona’s Longest Running Nature Show, will celebrate its twentieth year of operation in 2010.

Of Arizona’s two excursion railroads, the VCR has by far the more stunning ride, taking you right along the top and through the heart of the Verde Canyon, with its flowing water and profuse plant and animal life. Every season is different, from fledgling eagles and spring flowers to cottonwood trees in bright autumn hues.

A variety of accommodations and numerous special theme trips will delight you; you will want your trip here to the first of many. En route to Clarkdale or on the way home, experience the history and variety of small town Arizona in nearby Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and Jerome.

Telephone 800-582-7245 for information or reservations.

Source: Arizona Eastern’s Copper Spike Excursion Calendar

Arizona Eastern Railway
AND THE

COPPER SPIKE TRAIN EXCURSION

announce the rare opportunity to “ride the rails” aboard the

Gila Tomahawk

Not once since 1954 has this named passenger train, the Gila Tomahawk, plied the rails on the tracks of the Arizona Eastern. Re-live the glory of passenger train travel on two special days of operation.

Operating out of the historic 1924 Southern Pacific Depot in downtown Safford, Arizona on:

Saturday May 8th and Sunday May 9th
Four departures from Safford at
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Safford, Arizona Depot

90 min round trip train ride pulled by our vintage 1953 Streamlined E-8 passenger locomotive; snacks and beverages available.
Don’t forget Sunday is Mothers Day…so…throw mama on the train and join the fun!

FARES: $12.00 ADULTS & $6.00 CHILDREN 12 and under.
1-866-979-RAIL (that’s 1-866-979-7245)

Reservations are recommended.

The Grand Canyon Railway will commemorate the 20^th anniversary of its rebirth Sept. 19, 2009 with a special roundtrip run to the Grand Canyon of its Steam Locomotive 4960 fueled by recycled vegetable oil.

The Sept. 19 excursion for the Railway’s regular 65-mile journey from Williams, Ariz. to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and back to the Williams Depot departs Williams at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at the Grand Canyon Depot at 11:45 a.m. For the return trip the train departs the Grand Canyon at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in Williams at 5:45 p.m. The Railway’s typical four classes of service will be used.

The Sept. 19 event will feature live music, photo opportunities with the steam engine, a ribbon cutting and remarks by local dignitaries.

The steam locomotive will also make several eight-mile trips throughout the days of Sept. 5 and 6, 2009 with a single class of service in the train’s historic 1923 Harriman cars. Tickets for the “Cataract Creek Rambler” will be sold on-site for unreserved seating and will cost $15 for adults and $10 for children 15 and under.

“In addition to commemorating the history of the Grand Canyon Railway – both its original run of almost 70 years beginning in 1901 and its modern run of the last 20 – we are looking to our future as an eco-friendly railway,” said Gordon Taylor, general manager of the Grand Canyon Railway. “When we moved to an all-diesel fleet last year we decided to keep the steam locomotives maintained so that we could use them for special occasions like this, our 20^th anniversary of the return of the Railway.”

For several years the Railway operated the steam engines from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but last year it discontinued their regular runs because of environmental considerations. Operating an all-diesel fleet of locomotives year-round saves a considerable amount of fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants associated with steam locomotives…

Rest of the story at the Grand Canyon Railway’s website