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Western Railroad Discussion > A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1


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Date: 10/27/24 12:37
A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

On Sunday morning October 13, good friend Mike and I took off to spend a few days on the Arizona and California Railroad. Arriving at Parker, AZ around 11AM, we found the train parked east of town where we met up with another good friend, SPgoletablock who had spent the morning out east scouting for locations. Thanks go to Jeff for discovering and researching the new Monday to Friday schedule where the trains now go on duty at Parker between 7 -10AM, guaranteeing a daylight run to Castle Hot Springs where they exchange trains with the BNSF. In the past, the train would go east at night and return west to Parker mid-morning, I will get more into that later. The Sunday schedule to Cadiz is still the same and the train departed Parked around 2:30 PM. This leg of the journey has been posted here by me many times over the years, so I will keep the photos to a minimum.

Unfortunately I have to start on a bad note, the old Santa Fe Parker depot is in the process of being demolished. We talked with an employee who told us that the depot was being removed due to some yard tracks being installed in its place. The crews are now using the old Chamber of Commerce building across the parking lot as their new location, the old A&C painted crane was still there for now.

1) This is how the depot looked from the track side when we arrived. It’s probably completely leveled by now.

2) The southwest side of the depot, hopefully the roof mounted Parker station signs were saved.

3) The ex-CSX B40-8 4014 used for switching, was parked in the yard as usual.  
 








Date: 10/27/24 12:39
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

As mentioned, the train started to pull at 2:30 PM so we picked up Jeff and began the chase. Since it’s been done many times previously, we all agreed to bypass the Colorado River bridge shot. Instead, opting to explore the hills west of Parker for something different but due to the time of day, didn’t find anything we liked.

4) At 3:20 PM our first actual shot of the train was at Grommet, where the tracks and Highway 62 intersect. Today’s train consisted of ARZC Dash-9’s 4402, 4400, 4403 and 53 cars.

5) One of the few curves along Highway 62, just east of Rice.

6) By 3:51 PM, the train was passing Freda. This is where the tracks leave Highway 62 and head southwest approximately 45 miles to Cadiz, following its primitive namesake road where they will interchange with the BNSF.
 








Date: 10/27/24 12:41
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

7) We set up at the old wooden trestle west of Milligan. This shot was on Mike’s bucket list.

8) The road was pretty bad but we still managed to beat the train and afternoon hill shadows to Chubbuck for one final shot. To the far right is Cadiz Road.

It was now 5 PM and time to start heading back to Parker, we had just enough time to get back to pavement (Highway 620 before dark. Cadiz Road is not one you want to drive after dark. Other than the temperature reaching 100 degrees, today was a pretty darn good day. The next two days were good as well and I will post more as soon as time permits. Thank you for looking.

OYW
 






Date: 10/27/24 12:53
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: webmaster

Is that a speeder in picture 2 behind the station?  Wow, that would be pretty amazing this day in age to see one in use as they were intended for.

 

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com



Date: 10/27/24 13:02
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: coach

That is painful to see that beautiful old depot being outright destroyed.  Really hard to see.



Date: 10/27/24 13:09
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

webmaster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is that a speeder in picture 2 behind the
> station?  Wow, that would be pretty amazing this
> day in age to see one in use as they were intended
> for.
>
Yes, at least the remains of one. I looks like the seat is missing.
 



Date: 10/27/24 13:11
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: TheButcherofBena

Nice photography; it's a shame about the depot...



Date: 10/27/24 13:55
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: 3rdswitch

Great bunch as usual. I MIGHT be out there this coming THURS. So, SUNDAY westbound departure from Parker is around 2 p.m.  + or - ? And, MON-FRI eastbound is 0800 + or - ? with eastbound train spending SUN night in Parker? Thanks.
JB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/24 17:41 by 3rdswitch.



Date: 10/27/24 14:17
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: Railfan4Christ

Great photos, glad they are coming east in the daylight now.

Tom



Date: 10/27/24 14:50
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: TheNavigator

Nice images! Wish I could have made it out there this time. Sad to see that the Parker depot will be no more.
GK



Date: 10/27/24 14:53
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

TheNavigator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice images! Wish I could have made it out there
> this time. Sad to see that the Parker depot will
> be no more.
> GK
Wish you could have too Gary.



Date: 10/27/24 17:44
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: 3rdswitch

Is it still a thirty mph railroad west of Rice?
JB



Date: 10/27/24 19:54
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: SPgoletablock

Fun trip! Yes Gary wish you could have joined us also. I will probably compliment some of Bobs great shots from a few different angles along the way. Good stuff and a great time!



Date: 10/27/24 20:37
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: oyw

3rdswitch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is it still a thirty mph railroad west of Rice?
> JB
I don't have a timetable so I'll let you do the math on Sunday's chase. The train passed Rice MP140.4 at 3:43, passed Chubbuck MP173.6 at 5:07. I can tell you there were lots of slow orders on the east end of the railroad between Parker and Mathie.

Edit: 23.71 MPH



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/24 20:58 by oyw.



Date: 10/27/24 21:07
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: callum_out

I've shot the breeze with their personnel a couple times and back when there was a serious prospect of increased
BNSF traffic the line was to become 49 mph, end to end. They did quite a bit of work on the West end but that was
just to get it up over 25 mph. At the time much of the East was already 49 mph. With the increase in the BNSF traffic
not happening the MOW money went back to maintenance only. So, you get what you see today, a patchwork of 
slow orders and 25 on the West end.

Out 



Date: 10/27/24 21:28
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: Evan_Werkema

Hard to fathom a 117 year old depot being torn down in this day and age. 



Date: 10/27/24 22:10
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: cchan006

Great chase, and great stuff! Love the Chubbuck shot, and all your photos showcase the clean power and clean desert air very well.

Bummer about the depot, although I did get a photo or two when I visited Parker earlier this year.



Date: 10/27/24 22:39
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: SPgoletablock

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hard to fathom a 117 year old depot being torn
> down in this day and age. 
Yes I hear you on that!! My grandpa (passed away now)was in the house moving industry in Fresno . He would move massive buildings to different sites for preservation which they could’ve done for the Parker depot also.



Date: 10/28/24 06:48
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: SP8595

Great series, that last shot is Killer!
I'll have to join you guys one of these days



Date: 10/28/24 07:05
Re: A&C Fall 2024 trip report-Day 1
Author: CedarRapids

While it is a pity, to see any station being demolished, thank you for including that notation (and the photos)..  I will update the Arizona page of the Railroad Station Historical Society database of extant structures accordingly.

Elizabeth



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