ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA RAILROAD

The 'Arizona & California Railroad' is a short line railroad that was a Subdivision of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF). The ARZC began operations on May 9 1991 when David Parkinson of the ParkSierra RailGroup purchased the line from the Santa Fe Railway. ParkSierra Railgroup was purchased in January 2002 by RailAmerica, the current owner of the ARZC.

Contents

Route

Traffic

History

Timeline

References

Route

At Cadiz, California the ARZC begins with an interchange with the BNSF and continues southeast across the Mojave Desert to Ripley, then east to cross the Colorado River Arizona/California stateline at Parker, Arizona. The railroad continues east to Matthie (near Wickenburg, Arizona). At Matthie the ARZC has trackage rights over the BNSF line to Phoenix, Arizona. The ARZC trackage rights are over the north-south BNSF line that connects Phoenix to BNSF's mainline at Williams. It also has a branch that runs from Rice south to Blythe and then terminates at Ripley.
The ARZC is 297 miles (478 km) long consisting of the following segments:

★ A) 190 mile (306 km) mainline from Cadiz, CA (BNSF Interchange) - Parker, AZ - Matthie, AZ (BNSF Interchange).

★ B) 57 miles (92 km) of trackage rights over the BNSF Railway from Matthie - Phoenix, AZ.

★ C) 50 mile (80 km) branch line from Rice - Blythe - Ripley, CA.

Traffic

The line provides direct access from BNSF's access to the Southern California ports to Phoenix, Arizona. Because this is one of the most direct routes to Phoenix from Los Angeles, much of the traffic over the ARZC is through traffic such as containers enroute to Phoenix. It should be noted however that rarely are any containers routed to Phoenix via the interchange with the BNSF at Matthie Wickenburg Wye.
Currently, traffic to/from Phoenix is routed via the BNSF connection at Matthie six days a week (Sunday through Friday.) At the Phoenix end, the closest convenient interchage on the BNSF is the passing siding at Castle Hot Springs (Morristown), 45-odd miles from Phoenix. On the evenings of the interchange, BNSF run a train from Phoenix to Castle Hot Springs and typically stops short of the east switch, either on the main or in the siding. The ARZC pull up to the east switch and disconnect from their train, then the locomotives pull forward to occupy the vacant track. The BNSF locomotives then pull forward and connect to the former ARZC train. After receiving track warrants, both trains head for home. Often the interchange takes place after sun-up, affording railfans the opportunity to photograph the ARZC in daylight.
★ A page with numerous photos of the Locals doing their thing
The ARZC handles about 20,000 cars per year (1996 estimate) with 75% being through freight for the BNSF. The remaining 25% is local traffic such as hay, LP gas, lumber and solid waste.

History

The ARZC was originally constructed between 1903-1907 by the Arizona and California Railway. The line between Matthie, AZ and Parker opened in June 1907. By 1910 the line reached Cadiz, California.

Timeline

★ September 10 1903 - Arizona and California Railway chartered.

★ 1903-1907 Line under construction.

★ November 1905 - Controlled by the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway (SFP&P Ry)

★ June 1907 - Line completed between Matthie, AZ - Parker, AZ.

★ 1910 - Line completed from Parker, AZ - Cadiz, CA.

★ 1911 - SFP&P Ry merged into the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway (a Santa Fe Railway affiliate).

★ 1916 Palo Verde Valley Branch built to Blythe by the California Southern Railroad.

★ November 1 1921 Palo Verde Valley Branch extended from Blythe - Ripley; California Southern Railroad leased to Santa Fe Railway as a non-operating subsidiary.

★ December 31, 1942 - California Southern Railroad is deeded to the Santa Fe Railway.

★ May 9 1991 'Arizona & California Railroad' (ARZC) created by ParkSierra RailGroup to take over line from the Santa Fe Railway.

★ January 2002 ParkSierra (owner of ARZC) is acquired by RailAmerica.

References

★ Official ARZC Map

★ Pictures of early ARZC trains

★ Movies filmed on ARZC

★ BNSF Railway Shortline Partner ARZC Profile