8 minute read
Train Ride Through Time
By Angie Johnson-Schmit
Taking a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad is a bit like time travel.
As the train winds its way through a large, unspoiled swath of the Verde Canyon, there is a sense of stepping back into history. Following a section of the original rail line built in 1911, the updated and upscaled train allows guests to experience unparalleled views of some of the most beautiful scenery Arizona has to offer.
The journey begins at the Verde Canyon Railroad depot at 300 N. Broadway in Clarkdale, AZ. Designed to delight travelers, the station has several features that make it worth an early arrival to allow time to explore. The patio area and sidewalks are lined with storyboards that have information about the train and region as well as photographs of local wildlife, topography, locomotives, and the people who settled the canyon.
Photos courtesy of Verde Canyon Railroad
For serious history buffs, a stop at the on-site John Bell Museum is a must. Visitors will discover artifacts and learn more about the history of both the Verde Canyon Railroad and the surrounding communities. The historical relationship between the railroad and the nearby towns is deeply intertwined.
When the railroad tracks were originally built, the mines in Jerome, AZ were producing over a million dollars a month in copper. The railroads were the main way to move that copper. “They had five railroad lines that came down that mountain into our little town of Clarkdale,” said Teresa Propeck, Vice President of Marketing and Passenger Services at Verde Canyon Railroad. “They smelted the copper into its purest form, and they put it on our rail line to take it out into the world.” Several hundred men spent an entire year living in the Verde Canyon during construction.
While the line was being built, several small towns popped up along the rail line, populated mainly by the families of the railroad construction workers. These little communities moved along as the project progressed from Clarkdale to the I-40 rail line.
The artifacts left behind by that original train construction crew give a snapshot of what life was like for them. “When you’re out there building the rail line and the harness broke on your horses, you didn’t haul it back to find a garbage can,” said Propeck. “All these things that were found along the tracks give us the history.” Items in the museum’s collection include medicine bottles, coins, and belt buckles.
After the demand for copper drastically dropped in the early 1950s, the railway was used to move freight instead of copper. However, it wasn’t profitable and was put up for sale. Current Verde Canyon Railroad owner Dave Durbano stepped in and purchased it. While he initially thought he could also use it for freight, a visit to the canyon changed his mind. His wife Linda had the idea to use the train for luxury trips to share the beauty and history of Verde Canyon. Their first passenger train rolled out in November of 1990 and has been running ever since.
The quarter mile long restored vintage train aims to ensure passenger comfort without scrimping on style. Guests have assigned seating in comfortable upholstered chairs or plush sofas and are presented with an appetizer tray and a beverage to enjoy. For an even better view, every passenger also has a second assigned seat in an open-air viewing car.
The open-air cars allow passengers to enjoy a 360° panoramic view. The train moves through rock formations, crosses five different bridges and trestles, and goes through a 734-foot tunnel blasted out of solid limestone. While the route curves away from Sedona, there are still plenty of red rock views. “What's cool is that if people get a chance to go up in this area, they realize that those red rocks and basalt canyons and all that limestone is everywhere in our area.”
Because no hunting is allowed in the canyon, there are excellent wildlife sighting opportunities. Elk are often seen along the route. “That’s their favorite place to spend their vacation during hunting season,” said Propeck with a laugh. In addition to the inevitable cattle and horses, passengers may see eagles, blue herons, deer, javelina and wild burros. “We truly believe the eagles enjoy coming out because they fly right alongside the train,” she said.
Verde Canyon Railroad has a special love for eagles and has a relationship with Liberty Wildlife, a raptor rescue and rehabilitation organization based in Phoenix. The group brings raptors twice a month and talks with passengers about the birds and their rescue, rehabilitation, and release program.
Even more exciting is that they bring a rescued bald eagle to ride on the train. “We’re the only train in the world that has an eagle that rides – and has been riding – for 10 years,” said Propeck. “Sonora (the eagle) has grown up on our train.” The eagle was badly injured at a young age and is unable to survive in the wilderness. She is a permanent resident of the rescue organization and seems to truly enjoy her visits to the Verde Canyon Railroad, where she can stretch her wings while taking a tethered ride in the open-air cars.
Almost 3 million passengers have traveled on the Verde Canyon Railroad, but none of them have set foot on the ground inside the canyon. “The only people that do that of course are our track crew for service and repairs,” said Propeck. “But that's how we protect the canyon, the wildlife. And we preserve this trip for generations to come.”
Next stop is the turnaround at Perkinsville. While there are still a few people who live in the town, Verde Canyon Railroad owns the depot and the train master’s property. Passengers stay on board during this time as the train prepares for the return trip to the depot in Clarkdale.
In addition to regularly scheduled rides, the Verde Canyon Railroad also has several special event rides available throughout the year, including their Magical Christmas Journey™ rides, the family-friendly New Year’s Eve ride, and a Chocolate Lovers weekend Valentine’s Day event. These specialty event rides are where Verde Canyon Railroad really pulls out all the stops.
For the Christmas train rides, the entire Verde Canyon Railroad staff put their elf hats on and kick their holiday spirit into high gear. Their trademarked children’s Christmas story, Magical Christmas Journey™ serves as the theme for the ride. The story is of a young girl from Clarkdale who discovers an injured eagle and is so sad she can’t help the bird that she cries. Santa Claus steps in to save the day and sends the girl on a magical journey.
The adventure for the children on a Magical Christmas Journey™ train ride begins when they arrive at the Clarkdale depot. Children are loaned a pair of eagle wings so they can “fly” through a detailed miniature model of the town of Clarkdale. They’re encouraged to look through the town for elves and to make lots of noise to wake them up and tell them to get to work.
The staff dress up and join in the fun, too. Staff may dress up as animal characters from the story or animals from the Verde Canyon. “We’re goofy, okay?” said Propeck. “We’re not normal Christmas. Like, I wear a Christmas tree. I have a Christmas tree on my head, and I’m all lit up.”
The adventure continues on the decorated train. During the ride on Santa’s secret railroad tracks, “elves” tell stories and Christmas music plays. After going through a short tunnel near the depot, the train emerges from the darkness to a brightly lit, elaborate tableaux of Santa’s Village. “We have a sleigh carwash,” said Propeck. “We have the reindeer flight school with a landing strip out front and we have the ugly sweater factory.”
No matter the occasion, the train is a great option for a relaxed, comfortable winter day trip. Whether you want to take in the wide open spaces, delve deeper into Arizona’s locomotive history, or celebrate Christmas, New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, the Verde Canyon Railroad is just the ticket for cozy winter fun.
