Board These 8 Beautiful Trains In Arizona For An Unforgettable Experience
When the locomotive first began its entrance into the West, it served as a sign of technological and settler progression into seemingly unknown territories but it also signaled a rapidly changing world for the Indigenous peoples. In fact, even the settlers who benefited from the train’s trail of progress seemed ambivalent to fully adapting to the technology and that attitude has continued into more modern times.
Arizona, despite the vast number of tracks spanning the state, actually has few operating passenger trains still in operation. A number of railroad museums exist, along with displays in parks and train enthusiast groups, to give a small glimpse of the impact the railroad had on Arizonans over the centuries. Here are eight examples of how the iron horse continues to have an impact on Arizona’s culture today.
This site hosts a museum and park to learn more about trains and their model counterparts. You can even ride a miniature train for free on Sundays! The museum is located at 23280 North 43rd Avenue in Glendale.
Another railroad museum that focuses on the history of the train, this museum has quite a few trains and cars in their display yard. The museum is open weekends from 12pm to 4pm and is located at 330 East Ryan Road in Chandler.
Ever wanted to dine in a train car without the ticket price? Make that dream come true with a visit to the Big Tex BBQ in Willcox, located at 130 East Maley Street.
One of the few operating passenger trains in the state, the Grand Canyon Railway captures the romantic experience of the old steam locomotive with more modern technologies and amenities. The railway company offers a number of different packages, which includes overnight stays, guided tours, and fun family adventures.
Located at the Kingman Railroad Depot, this museum specializes in railroad history and model trains. It's located at 402 East Andy Devine Avenue in Kingman and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
This moderately sized park features a museum, an old locomotive on display, model trains, and miniature train rides that start at $1. The park is located at 7301 East Indian Bend Road in Scottsdale and is open daily.
7. The Southern Pacific Engine at Pioneer Park, Mesa
I spent a part of my childhood growing up near downtown Mesa and playing in this park, so seeing this train brings back memories. Anyone who grew up in the suburb will remember the old Southern Pacific Engine #2355 that you could physically tour until it was eventually put behind a fence in the 1990s. A great group of community members have donated their time and efforts to restoring the train and will be moving it to a more prominent position in the front of the park later this year.
The passenger train for this railroad company rides along heritage tracks, so you can see similar views as its steam locomotive passengers from previous centuries. You can choose from a number of different ride options and the train depot also features a museum.
Have you visited any of these sites or ridden on a train before? We would love to hear your experiences in the comments!
Monica is a Diné freelance writer and photographer. Born in New Mexico and raised in Arizona, she is a Southwestern girl through and through. You can reach her at [email protected]
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