CSX Transportation Historical Society

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UP in Arizona - April 2019

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. Just as we arrived in downtown Nogales AZ, a Union Pacific freight was leaving town northbound. Frantically following streets sticking close to the track, we managed to get ahead of the slow moving train. UP 2668 (ET44AH) and 6770 (AC4400CW) lead the freight on the 63 mile trip north to Tucson. Friday 04-26-2019.
Just as we arrived in downtown Nogales AZ, a Union Pacific freight was leaving town northbound. Frantically following streets sticking close to the track, we managed to get ahead of the slow moving train. UP 2668 (ET44AH) and 6770 (AC4400CW) lead the freight on the 63 mile trip north to Tucson. Friday 04-26-2019.

2. UP 2668-6770. UP 6770 is former Southern Pacific. There is a small yard just north of downtown where another freight was parked. Nogales AZ.
UP 2668-6770. UP 6770 is former Southern Pacific. There is a small yard just north of downtown where another freight was parked. Nogales AZ.

3. The UP border gate. Saturday 04-27-2019. Nogales AZ.
The UP border gate. Saturday 04-27-2019. Nogales AZ.

4. Equipment for inspecting trains. UP x-ray equipment. Nogales AZ.
Equipment for inspecting trains. UP x-ray equipment. Nogales AZ.

5. This X-Rays the train! UP x-ray equipment. View 2. Nogales AZ.
This X-Rays the train! UP x-ray equipment. View 2. Nogales AZ.

6. No Trespassing. UP track. Nogales AZ.
No Trespassing. UP track. Nogales AZ.

7. Yes, the line down from Tucson and on into Mexico was Santa Fe before it was Espee. The AT&SF later realized that it wanted to be an east-west rather than a north-south line in this part of the world south of Phoenix, and Southern Pacific took it over. Morley Ave. parallels the track and is essentially “Main Street.” Rails Make Nogales Plaque.
Yes, the line down from Tucson and on into Mexico was Santa Fe before it was Espee. The AT&SF later realized that it wanted to be an east-west rather than a north-south line in this part of the world south of Phoenix, and Southern Pacific took it over. Morley Ave. parallels the track and is essentially “Main Street.” Rails Make Nogales Plaque.

8. I talked with one of the numerous border patrol officers, and he revealed that a southbound freight would be arriving within the hour. The area to the left of the train was once the SP yard and roundhouse. At 9:55 AM a headlight appeared. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.
I talked with one of the numerous border patrol officers, and he revealed that a southbound freight would be arriving within the hour. The area to the left of the train was once the SP yard and roundhouse. At 9:55 AM a headlight appeared. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.

9. UP 5828-6396 are both GE AC4400CWs. Nogales AZ.
UP 5828-6396 are both GE AC4400CWs. Nogales AZ.

10. UP 5828-6396. UP 6396 is former SP. Officers are standing by the gate. Nogales AZ.
UP 5828-6396. UP 6396 is former SP. Officers are standing by the gate. Nogales AZ.

11. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.
UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.

12. Ready for a crew change. I don’t know how far the UP locos go into Mexico. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.
Ready for a crew change. I don’t know how far the UP locos go into Mexico. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.

13. Leaving town (and country) with a new crew. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.
Leaving town (and country) with a new crew. UP 5828-6396. Nogales AZ.

14. Closing the gate back. The brown steel gate is no longer used, because it was too difficult to move. In the early days the depot straddled the border here. Then it was decided to put an unoccupied strip between the two countries, so houses and businesses were demolished or moved and the depots separated. UP border gate Nogales AZ.
Closing the gate back. The brown steel gate is no longer used, because it was too difficult to move. In the early days the depot straddled the border here. Then it was decided to put an unoccupied strip between the two countries, so houses and businesses were demolished or moved and the depots separated. UP border gate Nogales AZ.

15. The former SP depot in Patagonia AZ is now a municipal building. This line ran from near Nogales to Fairbank which was on the El Paso & Southwestern main between Tucson and Douglas. The Nogales end was abandoned early on, but the Patagonia to Fairbank branch hung on until the early ‘60s.
The former SP depot in Patagonia AZ is now a municipal building. This line ran from near Nogales to Fairbank which was on the El Paso & Southwestern main between Tucson and Douglas. The Nogales end was abandoned early on, but the Patagonia to Fairbank branch hung on until the early ‘60s.

16. Patagonia Train Track plaque. ex-SP depot Patagonia NM. Click here for a larger image.
Patagonia Train Track plaque. ex-SP depot Patagonia NM.

17. The depot was moved a few feet when the main highway was widened. ex-SP depot Patagonia AZ.
The depot was moved a few feet when the main highway was widened. ex-SP depot Patagonia AZ.

18. SP caboose on display in Tombstone AZ, on Sunday, 04-28-2019. SP cab 1057.
SP caboose on display in Tombstone AZ, on Sunday, 04-28-2019. SP cab 1057.

19. Back of the former SP depot in Tombstone which is now the city public library. The Cochise County Court House Museum is in the background. It is now a state park and well worth the visit. The rest of Tombstone is geared toward tourists. ex-SP depot Tombstone AZ.
Back of the former SP depot in Tombstone which is now the city public library. The Cochise County Court House Museum is in the background. It is now a state park and well worth the visit. The rest of Tombstone is geared toward tourists. ex-SP depot Tombstone AZ.

20. ex-SP depot Tombstone AZ. Front view.
ex-SP depot Tombstone AZ. Front view.

21. I know the Frisco didn’t get close to Tombstone, but wooden cabooses were a staple on railroads years ago. SL-SF cab 129. Tombstone AZ.
I know the Frisco didn’t get close to Tombstone, but wooden cabooses were a staple on railroads years ago. SL-SF cab 129. Tombstone AZ.

David Myrick’s series of books entitled Railroads of Arizona are a must to (hope to) understand the states complex railroad history.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young