Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway
logo_filename=
logo_size=
old_gauge=
marks=
locale=Central Arizona
start_year=1891|end_year=1911|hq_city=Prescott, Arizona

The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway (SFP&P) was an Arizona common carrier railroad that later became an operating subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reporting mark|ATSF. At Ash Fork, Arizona the SFP&P connected with Santa Fe's operating subsidiary, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad mainline, that ran from California - Chicago. The SFP&P's 195-mile line extended the Santa Fe Railway south into the Phoenix. The SFP&P extended another 100-miles to the east from Phoenix to Florence and Winkelman via the Phoenix and Eastern Railroad (which would become a Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary in 1907). The SFP&P also served several mines in the Prescott area through its various subsidiary railroads.

On December 28 1911 was merged into Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's reporting mark|ATSF non-operating subsidiary (paper railroad) of the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway. Today the line from Ash Fork to Phoenix is operated by the BNSF Railway.

History

The SFP&P was chartered on May 27 1891. Construction commenced on August 17 1892 from the Atlantic & Pacific connection at Ash Fork. By April 1893 trains were operating between Ash Fork and Prescott. On March 13 1895 the line ran all the way to Phoenix.

On June 30 1899 the SFP&P began operating the Prescott and Eastern Railroad that ran between Entro (near Prescott) to Mayer. In 1901/1902 the SFP&P also operated its subsidiary the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad.

On November 27 1904 the SFP&P started operating Santa Fe Railway's subsidiary, the Phoenix and Eastern Railroad between Phoenix - Florence - Winkelman. The SFP&P stopped operating the Phoenix & Eastern when Southern Pacific Railroad acquired the Phoenix-Winkelman line on March 13 1907.

On November 1 1905 the SFP&P began operating the Arizona & California Railway that ran from a connection with the Santa Fe Railway in the Mojave Desert at Cadiz, California to a connection with SFP&P at Matthie, Arizona (located between Prescott and Wickenburg). By the end of 1909 the Arizona & California was an operating subsidiary of the SFP&P, using 3 4-6-0 locomotives made by Brooks Locomotive Works.

On December 29 1911, the SFP&P was merged into the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway, a non-operating subsidiary (paper railroad) of the Santa Fe Railway.

Motive Power

The SFP&P operated a fleet of about 27 steam locomotives.21 of the locomotives were Brooks Locomotive Works 4-6-0 (also known as a "Chesapeake" or "Ten-wheeler", UIC classification 2'C) steam locomotives built between 1893-1903. Most of these locomotives would be renumbered ATSF #2421-2435.

The SFP&P also had six Brooks Locomotive Works 2-8-0 (also known as a "Consolidation") steam locomotives built between 1904-1906. These locomotives would be renumbered ATSF #2439-2444.

Operating railroads

*1897-1911 by the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway
*1912- by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway

Route

Mainline

*Ash Fork
*Prescott
*Kirkland
*Congress
*Wickenburg
*Phoenix

Prescott & Eastern Railroad

*Entro - Dewey - Poland Junction - Mayer

Bradshaw Mountain Railroad

*Poland Junction - Poland
*Mayer - Turkey Creek - Saddle - Crown King

Phoenix & Eastern Railroad (1904-1907)

*Phoenix - Mesa - Florence - Kelvin - Winkelman

Arizona & California Railway

The Arizona & California gave ATSF a more direct route from Los Angeles to Phoenix.
*Cadiz - Parker, Arizona - Bouse - Salome - Matthie

References

*cite book | author=Myrick, David F.| title=Santa Fe to Phoenix (Railroads of Arizona, Volume 5)| publisher=Signature Press| location=Wilmot, California|year=2001|edition=1st Edition| editor=|pages=| id=ISBN 1-930013-05-1
*cite book | author=Robertson, Donald B.| title=Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: The Desert States: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah|Edition=| publisher=The Caxton Printers| location=Caldwell, Idaho|year=1986| editor=|pages=102|id=ISBN 0-87004-305-6
*cite book | author=Walker, Mike| title=Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - Arizona & New Mexico|Edition=| publisher=Steam Powered Publishing| location=Kent, United Kingdom|year=1995| editor=|pages=| id=ISBN 1-874745-04-8