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Railfan Sites in Arizona

A self-guiding railfan tour

Railfan, railfan--where do you see trains in Arizona?

Mapwork: If you're going to be looking for railfan locations, you'll need an industrial strength map resource. I definitely recommend you get a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, study it before your trip, and copy pertinent pages for your field work. You can find information here about Railfan Maps that are available.

Cities And Sites

(1) Eve and Ron Paludan were kind enough to provide this information for us. Ron runs the very eclectic and interesting RailwayStation.com site, which is worth a visit and is here .

(2) Thanks to Gary Smith for this data.

(3) Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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CANYON DIABLE (December 4, 2010)

Driving east on I-40 towards Winslow, stay on I-40 until you come to a place on the right called Two Guns. This is a trading post on the south side of the interstate highway.Take this exit right, and then turn left, to go north across the interstate. Once across the overpass, the road will turn left again for about 100 yards, then turn north on a dirt road (which is unmarked). The tracks are at the end of this road, a couple of miles to the north. When you reach the tracks, you can turn off the road and park, then walk west towards Flagstaff for 3/8 of a mile.A scanner is helpful if you have one.

There is a huge, two track bridge over the canyon and from the south side one can stand at the edge and view the canyon, bridge, and see the pilars from the old trestle to the left of the bridge. There are some old building walls still standing where the road crosses the tracks where you park, this was the town built for those who built the first trestle, and has a very colorful history of outlaws who stayed there as well as RR employees.

Trains are usually quite regular, and one has not long to wait for them to cross the bridge. The canyon is several hundred feet deep, and quite wide, and it makes for a great photography site.

Submitted by Brian Heap.

CLARKDALE (November 13, 1999)

This is the home of the Arizona Central Railroad, a freight shortline operation. It's subsidiary, the Verde Canyon Railroad, operates a tourist train thru the spectacular Verde Canyon area. To get to Clarkdale, take US-89Alternate south from Flagstaff some 45 miles or so.

While the AZCR and Verde Canyon only have a total of 5 engines between them, this place is worth a visit. The scenery is grand, obviously, and Dead Horse Ranch State Park is right outside Clarkdale. There are motels in Prescott, Cottonwood and Sedona.

Eve and Ron Paludan were kind enough to provide this information for us. Ron runs the very eclectic and interesting RailwayStation.com site, which is worth a visit and is here .

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Davidson Canyon [was PANTANO WASH] (March 2, 2012)

This is an update from Peter Crook in Tucson, AZ, who reports he just visited here for the first time in years. The area is part of Pima County's Cienega Creek Preserve and requires a permit for parking. UP has gated and posted the road under the bridge and up to trackside. It is now probably only a good location for a morning shot.

It's not actually Pantano Wash, it's Davidson Canyon with Cienega Creek running through it.

This is out in the real desert about halfway between Tucson and Benson. Here, on the UP (ex-SP) mainline between El Paso and Tucson, the two tracks cross over one another. East bounds go through the wash, and west bounds go across a high bridge right over the lower tracks.

This is from the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation description of the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve
Cienega Creek Access

The Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead parking lot provides access to the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve and Davidson Canyon. This is a 10-car lot. The trailhead is located just off Marsh Station Road. Note: A permit is required to access the preserve. Open dawn to dusk. Details: 520-877-6000 (Pima County). Call (520) 877-6158 for permit information. These permits are free.

From Tucson on eastbound I-10, exit 281 (Sonoita/Patagonia), turn left to cross I-10 to Marsh Station Road. From westbound I-10, exit 281, loop exit to Marsh Station Road. Travel northeast on Marsh Station Road approximately 3 miles and watch for the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead sign on the right. After parking, walk through the gate and go left (northeast) on the trail. At "Y" go right and follow trial down to creek.

Three Bridges or the second parking lot is 0.3 miles farther up on Marsh Station Road, on the left side and just before railroad tracks. Parking is allowed on front portion of lot. Do not go under tressel (railroad property). Road to third lot is right across Marsh Station Road from second lot and holds approximately 5 cars. Note: these two lots are recommended for viewing and photographing trains only. NRPR cautions against crossing railroad tracks to enter preserve.

Google Map view

[Webmaster's NOTE: This is the real desert. Dress appropriately. Be prepared for severely dehydrating, sunny conditions. There is no shade here.]

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FLAGSTAFF -- AMTRAK STATION (November 12, 1999)

BNSF runs a zillion trains a day thru here (expect 2-3 per hour), and the station is the place to see the action. While it's on the north side of the tracks, and therefore somewhat limited for photos, it's still a great place to sit on a bench your grandfather might have sat upon, and watch the modern parade of big-time railroading pass by.

From the intersection of US-180 and AZ-66 downtown, go east on US-180. The station will be on your right.

Eve and Ron Paludanwere kind enough to provide this information for us. Ron runs the very eclectic and interesting RailwayStation.com site, which is worth a visit and is here .

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FLAGSTAFF -- MARS HILL OVERLOOKS (November 12, 1999)

OK, enough trackside railfanning for you -- how's about something really different? And also, I might add, something truly worthwhile. Northwest of Flagstaff is Mars Hill, not surprisingly the site of a world-renowned observatory -- Lowell Observatory. From Flagstaff, drive up to Lowell via West Mars Hill Road. At the observatory there is a nice visitors center. It's worth a stop. On the way back down Mars Hill, you will probably see what you missed going up -- some of the best railroad scenery in North America. You can watch the BNSF parade thru downtown Flagstaff from an elevation of about 200' above the tracks, and it's uncanny: Are you watching real trains, or a model railroad layout? It's worth a trip.

Eve and Ron Paludanwere kind enough to provide this information for us. Ron runs the very eclectic and interesting RailwayStation.com site, which is worth a visit and is here .

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PARKER -- COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE (April 19, 2001)

From the center of town, go west on AZ-72 towards California. After about one mile, you'll reach the Colorado River and the border. The impressive 5-span through truss bridge over the river is a good photo location. West of the bridge is a small MofW yard, and CA-62 follows the railroads Ripley Branch for a good part of it's length.

Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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PARKER -- SHOPS (April 19, 2001)

This town is south of Lake Havasu City, close to the California border. It hosts the headquarters and shop facilities of the shortline Arizona and California Railway. Coming into town on either CA-62/AZ-72 or AZ-95, go to the intersection of these two roads, then turn onto AZ-72 and go east about 1.5 blocks. On your left is the small restored depot, and behind it is the new locomotive shop/engine service facility and associated trackage. AZCR does quite a bit of work on their equipment, and even boasts a "big lift" derrick car usually found here.

Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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PEACH SPRINGS (April 19, 2001)

Located on BNSF's extremely busy Arizona Division, Seligman Subdivision, Peach Springs is one of many good locations to watch trains in this part of Arizona. Located on AZ-66 (historic Route 66 -- US-66) approximately 50 miles east of Kingman and 35 miles west of Seligman, turn south at the only major road crossing in town. After about 200 yards, you will arrive at a grade crossing with ample parking possibilities on the south side. Sight lines are good for both east- and westbounds, depending on the time of day.

To the west is a signal bridge offering a nice backdrop for photos, and alerting you to oncoming trains. Helper sets sometimes turn here, and there are between 6 and 10 thru freights per hour (no, that's not a typo -- it's per hour, not per day!). Track speed is 55 miles per hour, so you'd best plan ahead and prepare your shots in advance. Stay away from the tracks.

Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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PICACHO (December 6, 1999)

This is a tiny town of 600 souls in the desert west of Tucson. However, the railroad activity is big-time, make no mistake. For here, the UP (ex-SP) Sunset Route mainline meets the branch going up to the Phoenix metro area. There is a wye with several side tracks, and lots of activity.

To get trackside, take I-10 west from Tucson, and take the first exit (Exit 213?) into Picacho. The town runs somewhat northwest-southeast, so photos should be possible virtually all day. The wye itself is just east of AZ-87.

Thanks to Gary Smith for this data.

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WILLIAMS -- EAST WILLIAMS JUNCTION (April 19, 2001)

Go thru Williams eastbound on old US-66, or, if you are arriving via I-40, take exit 165 and turn onto AZ-64 westbound (towards Williams). Directly south of the I-40 underpass, turn south towards the Arizona DOT facility. Immediately turn left again onto the dirt road and follow it until its end (about 3/4 mile). Turn right onto another dirt road, FR-51a, and follow it for another mile. Turn right again onto FR-51 and follow it to the tracks. A signal bridge to your right (west) protects Williams Junction, just out of sight over the hill, where BNSF's Phoenix Sub joins the Seligman Sub.

Directly in front of you is a passing siding. Sight lines for afternoon westbounds nearing the junction are excellent here, and the junction itself is accessible by driving up and over the small hill. This place is also an Amtrak stop. Expect 6-10 trains per hour, and about 4-8 trains a day will run over the Phoenix Sub.

Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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WILLIAMS -- GARLAND PRAIRIE ROAD (April 19, 2001)

This location is 2 miles east of East Williams Junction. To get here, follow directions from that site to get onto FR-51a, and follow it all the way to it's intersection with Garland Prairie Road. Turn right onto the latter. If you're arriving via I-40, take exit 167, and go south on Garland Prairie Road for 1.5 miles to the grade crossing. Park on the south side. From here you have excellent viewing for morning eastbounds, which crest the hill at Williams Junction in plain view to the west. Westbounds are indicated by the Williams Junction signals, and there's good light for them in the afternoon. Expect about 6-10 trains per hour.

Frequent contributor Markolf Gudjons has been good enough to provide these goodies to us.

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WILLIAMS -- GRAND CANYON RAILROAD (November 12, 1999)

Quite frankly, the only thing more impressive in the world (and your friendly webauthor has seen a lot of this world) than the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River would be getting to the canyon by way of a steam engine or vintage diesel locomotive. Well, you can do that!

From Williams, which is about 32 miles west of Flagstaff on I-40, exit at Grand Canyon Boulevard. Head south about half a mile to the Williams railroad station. The engine house and shops are north of I-40. Presently, the GCR uses steam locomotives from Memorial Day weekend through September, and an Alco FPA-4 for the remainder of the year. The train departs Williams at 9:30AM, and returns from the south rim at 5:30 PM. This is a trip you should take before you die -- there just aren't any others out there like it, and there are no guarantees that train rides in Heaven are any better!

Also at the station, the tracks of BNSF (ex-ATSF)'s "Pea vine" branch are kept polished by perhaps 3-5 total freights a day to and from Phoenix and the BNSF mainline, which is north of Williams.

Eve and Ron Paludanwere kind enough to provide this information for us. Ron runs the very eclectic and interesting RailwayStation.com site, which is worth a visit and is here.

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