CSX Transportation Historical Society

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AZER Miami AZ 2019-05-02

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. N Keystone Ave. in Miami AZ, with copper mine head frame in background. Thursday 05-02-2019.
N Keystone Ave. in Miami AZ, with copper mine head frame in background. Thursday 05-02-2019.

2. Sullivan St. in Miami AZ with head frame in background.
Sullivan St. in Miami AZ with head frame in background.

3. Sullivan St. looking southwest. Miami AZ.
Sullivan St. looking southwest. Miami AZ.

4. At the Miami Cultural Center & Museum this Cat 769 end-dump truck is displayed in the bed of a larger end-dump that is used in the copper mine pit. The museum is in the former high school, but it closed at 3:00 PM, just as we arrived. Miami AZ. Bullion Plaza.
At the Miami Cultural Center & Museum this Cat 769 end-dump truck is displayed in the bed of a larger end-dump that is used in the copper mine pit. The museum is in the former high school, but it closed at 3:00 PM, just as we arrived. Miami AZ. Bullion Plaza.

5. For those familiar with the “Midland Trail” passing through Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, this is US 60 at Miami AZ. Live Oak St. The copper operations are along the hills to the northeast.
For those familiar with the “Midland Trail” passing through Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, this is US 60 at Miami AZ. Live Oak St. The copper operations are along the hills to the northeast.

6. View from West of Live Oak St. Sue was in the antique store. Miami AZ.
View from West of Live Oak St. Sue was in the antique store. Miami AZ.

7. Freeport-MacMoRan Inc. (F-M) operates a smelter and rod mill at Miami AZ. The open pit mine has been closed. BHP Copper Inc. has something, but I don’t know what it is.
Freeport-MacMoRan Inc. operates a smelter and rod mill at Miami AZ. The open pit mine has been closed. BHP Copper Inc. has something, but I don’t know what it is.

8. Inked Hammond AZ map 2 modified.
Inked Hammond AZ map 2 modified.

9. Rand McNally railroad map. Click here for a larger image.
Rand McNally railroad map.

10. Arizona Eastern yard looking northeast. AZER B40-8 4010 in background. I don’t know what the loading trestle was used for. Miami AZ.
Arizona Eastern yard looking northeast. AZER B40-8 4010 in background. I don’t know what the loading trestle was used for. Miami AZ.

11. Note the boxcars on the hill. The industry railroad winds around all over the place up there. Look at Google Earth. I recently acquired Railroads of Arizona, Vol. II by David Myrick. He covers Globe-Miami, Superior and Hayden-Ray very well. I’m not going to touch the mineral and railroad history of this area as it is very complicated. I’ve just opened the book and am overwhelmed. Look at Google earth to see the extent of this operation. F-M smelter. Miami AZ.
Note the boxcars on the hill. The industry railroad winds around all over the place up there. Look at Google Earth. I recently acquired Railroads of Arizona, Vol. II by David Myrick. He covers Globe-Miami, Superior and Hayden-Ray very well. I’m not going to touch the mineral and railroad history of this area as it is very complicated. I’ve just opened the book and am overwhelmed. Look at Google earth to see the extent of this operation. F-M smelter. Miami AZ.

12. Southern Pacific was the last Class I to operate the Globe Branch. It was originally the Gila Valley, Globe & Northern Ry., later becoming the Arizona Eastern Railroad Co. Globe Division. This line is now the Arizona Eastern Railway, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming. AZER 4010. Miami AZ.
Southern Pacific was the last Class I to operate the Globe Branch. It was originally the Gila Valley, Globe & Northern Ry., later becoming the Arizona Eastern Railroad Co. Globe Division. This line is now the Arizona Eastern Railway, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming. AZER 4010. Miami AZ.

13. Looking southwest toward the end of the line. Diverging to the right is the yard lead and presumably the industry owned track up to their operations. AZER junction with F-M. Miami AZ.
Looking southwest toward the end of the line. Diverging to the right is the yard lead and presumably the industry owned track up to their operations. AZER junction with F-M. Miami AZ.

14. The rail up to the smelter looks fairly new! AZER junction with F-M. Miami AZ.
The rail up to the smelter looks fairly new! AZER junction with F-M. Miami AZ.

15. The reminder of the AZER going west looks little used. Miami AZ.
The reminder of the AZER going west looks little used. Miami AZ.

16. AZER yard from the northeast end. Those brown metal buildings on the right are the railroad’s. Miami AZ.
AZER yard from the northeast end. Those brown metal buildings on the right are the railroad’s. Miami AZ.

17. I think that would be US 60 on the lower right. This would be at the east end of Miami AZ. Most if not all of these structures are gone now. Copper mine.
I think that would be US 60 on the lower right. This would be at the east end of Miami AZ. Most if not all of these structures are gone now. Copper mine.

18. Inspiration mills and smelter. Miami AZ.
Inspiration mills and smelter. Miami AZ.

19. Old Dominion Copper converters. Globe AZ.
Old Dominion Copper converters. Globe AZ.

20. Old Dominion Copper smelter. Scene 2. Globe AZ.
Old Dominion Copper smelter. Scene 2. Globe AZ.

21. The Miami passenger depot – Espee by this time – is in the middle of the right side of this view. The freight depot would to be the right. Miami AZ. Scene 3.
The Miami passenger depot – Espee by this time – is in the middle of the right side of this view. The freight depot would to be the right. Miami AZ. Scene 3.

22. Miami AZ. Scenic postcard.
Miami AZ. Scenic postcard.

23. Looking southeast. Smoke stacks on far left. Railroad on right side of view in middle. Miami AZ. Scene 2.
Looking southeast. Smoke stacks on far left. Railroad on right side of view in middle. Miami AZ. Scene 2.

We crossed the mountain to Superior and then on into Phoenix, a distance of 80 miles. Sue’s GPS directed us flawlessly to our motel near the airport. We flew home the next day.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young