The Prescott and Arizona Central Railroad

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I may have discovered what might be some parts of the old ROW in Chino Valley, but there is no way to be sure...and even David Myrick's book "Santa Fe to Phoenix" notes that no accurate map of the P&AC has ever surfaced to date. The book does feature a "best guess" map assembled form various sources. Photographs show that near Prescott, the two competing lines ran very close to each other.

Strange that this significant line seems largely forgotten.

I used to fly helicopters in the area and the old track bed can be seen in 5 or 6 places up to Seligman. You can see them on Google Earth, but I don't know how to trace a route then post it or I would. The timbers where laid directly on the ground to meet a deadline and washouts plagued the line continuously, eventually resulting in bankruptcy. The track and equipment was removed and used on the owners other railroad, the Sierra Railway Company. The PACR locomotive #3 (a 4-6-0 made by Rogers Locomotive Works specifically for PACR on March 26, 1893) was renamed the the Sierra #3, and is still in use today. Supposedly, it has been in more films and had its picture taken more times than any other locomotive in history.

I found a section of the old grade about a quarter mile long, just northwest of Willow Creek Reservoir. It runs up from the north through the saddle at Willow Lake Park. If you turn off Willow Creek Road opposite Embry Riddle (thus into the Park), you will see a road cut to the right that it went through, and if you look to the left, you can see the old grade running north.

There are several broken rail bolts and a spike, but it is definitely not the SFP&P which was two miles east of this location. There is a fence to stop cars, but you can walk around that and down the grade to where some houses are located. The grade is now covered with wood chips, like an exercise path.

My grandfather was the prime promoter of the Prescott & Arizona Central RW. There is a very interesting story here. I have copies of the 1886 Federal R/W grant maps; they fit well with USGS mapping. There are info files at the Charlotte Hall Museum in Prescott. I have built a file and will be giving a talk about my grandfathers life 9/11/14 at the main Library in Sonora, CA, 7PM

Sorry i missed this Thomas. Is this map file available anywhere?

IF you know what your looking for and how to look for it, you can see the railway on Satellite Images. I've Added the Rail line to the Open Street Maps Database. I'd estimate that I added 20-30 miles worth of line, and added the tag to sections where roads have taken over the roadbed.

I saw the section Ben, but even using the historical images on GE, it seems there are too many routes to the north. One seems to go over and follow 89 near the airport intersection...which makes me wonder. North of rd3 heading out of Chino, there is a raised area right beside 89 to the west, which has always looked like a ROW to me. Could this be the old ROW? Inquiring minds want to know. I sure do wish they would find a map...

Ben's route was for the Limestone Canyon section of the SFP&P; he's fixed the name. I have several maps, 1892, 1897, and Myrick's, all of which are about 6mi=1", and they disagree in detail. But taking what I can, I think the P&AC was on the west side of US89 between Road 1.5 S and Road 3.5 N in Chino. Thus, James, if you mean west of 89 north of Road 3 N, that seems possible (note there are four Road 3s).

But I also found something that looks like grade (with no metal found on it) two miles north of Road 5 N (in the southwest corner of Sec 22) on the west of Hwy 89, which is inconsistent with the above.

Sorry Andy, i should have been more specific. Rd 3 N, just after you head through the light at McDonalds, if you look west there is a raised ROW looking area. Could it be?

The route i saw from Ben was next to willow creek road...if i was looking right.

Off topic,the limestone canyon section SFP&P is something im am quite familiar with. I off road up there often, and have hiked some of the old sections.I wish there was a message board to discuss these things.

When my grandfather built the P&AC he followed his business model and the values of the time: use other peoples money and get yours up front. Fun stories here. My mapping of the P&AC came from the really helpful folks at the Pheonix office of the USGS. It must be kept in mind that nobody in Washington really knew what was there in Arizona; they took granddads word and gave very general R/W south from Seligman, down Chino Wash and through the Granit Dells to Prescott. There is good co-ordination with the USGS maps, but there is too much randomness to pin-point the on-site R/W with any real certanty. I have driven along most of where it was and have flown the line from Prescott airport; bits and pieces can be seen from the air but hard to see on site. I am glad you guys are still interested. Tom Bullock

I went out yesterday to get a bite to eat, and i drove north of the Rd3N intersection on hwy 89. Just after going through the light and heading north, the section I described will be on the left right after passing the Catholic church. It is literally just off the road in the other side of of some telephone poles. This seems to be in better shape than i would expect the P&AC ROW to be in, honestly. I know that 89 has been re-done at least once further north, so maybe that's the answer.

Off-topic but semi related: The limestone canyon SFP&P route eventually ends up at the current line near Ash Fork, and joins hwy 89. It has been a road since well before my time...probably right after the abandonment.

The name of this road on the north end? Bullock road!

I have wondered if it was just a coincidence, or if someone mistakenly thought this the old P&AC (which its not) and gave it a historical name.

I agree with James: Bullock Road is not the r/w of the P&AC.

I have driven it and think it may include stretches of the

SFP&P.

Tom:Bullock road ABSOLUTELY follows some sections of the ROW for SFP&P. This is especially apparent as you get near the south end where it becomes FS573.

I have submitted the Limestone Canyon route to the site, but it looks like the admin has taken a break for a while, so it may be some time before it gets put up (if ever). I also noticed that one of the tanks nearby is also called Bullock tank. Maybe there were just some Bullocks that lived nearby.

Yes, you are correct about ATSFRR, and there's a separate page on this site dedicated to that route thru Prescott. http://a-r.us/ei1 is the page. If we can try and keep this on topic of P&ACRR.

Yes Ben, I realized we were getting off topic. That's why I submitted the Limestone canyon area so we could continue the discussion in its proper place, but the LC route should be separate from the Prescott district. The 2 abandonment's were separated by over 80 years, and LC is north of Abra, the start of the Prescott district cited here. In fact, very little of this line (to Phoenix) is in its original location.

Hey guys, no need to worry about this; the P&AC was started from Seligman in 1887, going south to the OO ranch divide to Chino Wash and then south via the wash grade to the valley floor and then up to Prescott. The SFP&P went from Feonix to Ash Fork, with a branch to Prescott. The two rights of way were feet apart before the accent via the granite dells to Prescott

Guess I'm not the only one with double-post issues..LOL!

Tom, I've always assumed that the small spur heading south off of the BNSF main in Seligman (used by BNSF to store cars) is the old P&AC line start. Do you know if that's true?

Oh...and one other thing for the record Tom, the SFP&P originally ran through Prescott to Phoenix. Prescott didn't become a "branch" until the Abra-Skull valley line change was built in 1962.

James ; I have driven the spur east of Seligman: I think this this not a "spur", but is the original connection from the P&AC to the Central Pacific. It is a turning wye, not a spur. When the original bonds were issued by the Territorial Legislature, they offered $3k per mile for a narrow gauge line and $4k per mile for standard gauge. Grandad took the 4k option and a transfer point was set at the point where the narrow gauge line delivered ore from Jerome. The only development that made sense was a turning wye at Seligman so the any cars from Prescott could go either east or west and also use the P&AC line as an end line for a turning wye

Since my last comment I got out the Govt r/w map and discovered the r/w only went east at Seligman. The existing turning wye west leg was not included. A turning wye uses a bit a acrage; I can only assume one two things: 1) granddad simply put in both legs or 2) the A5P added the west element later. All just desert there; nobody would have noticed or cared. I lean toward choice #1; he just built what he needed. Information needed from you local: is the rail heavier on the west part of the wye? If so, it may mean the west part was added later. If the original light rail goes both east west it would mean granddad just built a turning wye as part of completing the line going in both directions. Need one of you local guys to walk the area and tell us what js there. Also note that Railroad Canyon trends from NE to WS a few miles south of Seligman: the r/w leaves Railroad Canyon directly south of Seligman and goes up a side wash due north to the A&P connection point. This lines up well with the existing turning wye.

Actually, there was no need for a turning wye at Seligman (Prescott Junction), since there was no way to turn the engine at Prescott (according to John Sayre). They just backed up going north; this was not a very stable thing - the 4-4-0 wheel configuration used the front four wheels to hold the engine on-track around curves, but this would not be available backing up.

But I seriously doubt the rail currently in the wye is original; rail was typically replaced every decade, though less often on sidings. I do agree that the wye is the location of the P&AC. The original rail would have been 52 (or possibly 56) pounds per yard, fyi.

This weekend, we found about three miles of the P&AC RR grade in Railroad Canyon south of Seligman AZ. The segment starts about 1000 ft north of Morman Peak Tank dam, where the grade is quite obvious in places, including a cut several feet deep. It runs perpendicular under that dam and out the south side. There are many spikes and other RR materials on the grade.

It runs south of the dam another 2000 ft and then southwest along Railroad Canyon for 6000 ft. It then turns south again, and goes through another un-named dam. The last evidence we found was a spike, a railbolt, and much broken railroad metal, including a coupler pin; evidently there was a wreck at this point.

Good info Andy. Did you take any pics?

Andy - Thanks for the good field work. Your info agrees completely with my map info for the line. BLM land, private property or ? I have driven the area, but not gotten off the road. I would love see the site, but this is not likely at age (83) Any pics?

I submitted two pics, one of the cut and one of some of the material from the wreck site. I know the website owner is very busy, but hope they get posted soon. The land is checkerboard state and private, but there are no restrictions in this particular area.

I found the holy grail, by the way - a survey map from 1885 filed with the territorial secretary. There are two parts, one is the whole 73 miles at one inch per mile, the other is the first ten miles at one inch per 1000 feet (though it says on the map, per 100 feet). However, they are both wildly inaccurate, clearly wrong by four or five miles in places. The section where the route is shown crossing the Verde River now doesn't even have the Verde River in it. I'll try to make images of it available as I get some confidence in what can be trusted.

Tom, I have a couple 'souveniers' for you, will try to get in touch.

Andy, would it be possible to post your photos elsewhere online in the meantime?

This week my friend Jonna and I came down to Prescott and found another two miles of P&AC grade, just north of the Prescott airport. The first 0.6 mile is quite obvious with cuts and fills, but the rest is almost invisible; we used a metal detector and found 14 spikes and other rr metal. We started at N34d39'40.2" W112d25'25" (WGS84); you can get there by driving an un-named road about a block north of the airport entrance. To the north of the pavement is a dirt parking lot; you can park here and walk or drive a little further to a green gate which is easy to climb. This is obviously private property, but is not posted against trespass.

Climb the gate and bushwhack to those coordinates with a gps; the grade is obvious here, turn left and go up the hill. After six-tenths mile, at the top of the hill, there is a remnant of a stone building to the east. The grade disappears, but turns left and goes downhill to the north, NOT along the obvious road. After about a half mile, the grade becomes visible again, but is extremely faint.

At N34d40'50.5" W112d25'40.1" we found the largest item of metal, a 30-foot piece of rail. It is entirely buried, except the ~3 feet we left uncovered. It seems to be left exactly in place where it was laid in 1886. It's too deep to move or read anything on the side, but the railhead is 1.75" wide, which it smaller than 52 or 56 lb stock (which are about 2"), so is probably 40 pounds per yard. We also found a coupling link nearby. There is much more to explore further north, but a gps and metal detector are required.

We also found a map at Sharlot Hall Archives (Map 0406) which is an 1891 survey map at a scale of 1"=2000ft, running from Prescott north to Clearwater, just north of the Verde River. It is a recent photocopy of a much older map filed in the US Land Office on May 7, 1891. It exactly follows the route we hiked the day before, and can be used to trace the route even further north. This map shows the grade crossing Hwy 89 700 ft north of Road 3 North, at an azimuth of 343 degrees (17 degrees west of due north). This means, James, that what you saw in the vicinity is NOT the grade; it is in approximately the right place, but going the wrong direction. This map is available from Sharlot Hall Library as a scanned .tif file for $15.

There is another map in the State Library on the capital grounds in Phoenix, filed with the Territory in May 1885, Call number: G4331 .P3 1885 A5, but this was a year before construction began, and it is inaccurate by several miles in places. It is actually two sheets, one purportedly the first ten miles, at a scale of 1"=1000ft, and the other is the entire route at a scale of 1"=1mile. The first ten miles shows it arriving at Sullivan's Ranch, which is certainly the OO Ranch now, the actual distance of 16 miles (!). The full map shows the line adjacent to Granite Creek, even though the actual line never gets within two miles of it. You can view and photograph this map, but not copy it; I have photos of it I will try to post.

In fact, I am trying to make all the details of our work available, the tracks, waypoints, and photos, but various websites are not cooperating. As soon as I can get links to the information for the general public, I will post how to access them here.

Can't wait to see this Andy!

I have a property in ash fork area the rail bed run accross the property has a equipment pad. hill has a cut in the hill part of the hill was blasted cut is still visable. tressel footing is still intact. some places the cinder is still present on the bed. found blasting powder cans and a boring bar horse shoes and rail spikes.

Sorry, Steven, wrong railroad. What you found is the original line of the Santa Fe Presott and Phoenix RR. This one here ran from Seligman to Prescott, and was never near Ash Fork.

But, a couple updates - the road I mentioned north of the Prescott Airport is called Ruger Road.

Last week, we found spikes just off Chino Road 4-S; if you go east about two miles, you cross an arroyo with solar panels on the far side of it. The spikes (about 10 of them) were on the east side of the drainage just a few feet, down the embankment from the panels, to the north of the pavement; no obvious grade here. These spikes extend the known route about two more miles north.

Google earth shows some linear earthwork about a half mile south of the pavement, coming up out of the arroyo; someone should check that out.

to add to your comment andy my property is 11 miles southwest of ash fork next the the prescott national forrest

Any luck posting the stuff you were talking about Andy?

Steven, I believe you are about three miles north of Limestone Canyon, off Bullock Road. The P&AC ran down the middle of Big Chino Valley, very near Big Chino Wash. The closest it ever got to Ash Fork is about 16 miles. However, the RR that ran down Bullock Road and into Limestone Canyon was the SFP&P. The P&AC was several miles south of Prescott NF.

James, no, no luck. I got pictures uploaded, but no way I can see to make them available. I'm just not very social-media savvy. I'm trying to arrange to give a talk at Sharlot Hall Museum next spring or summer - I'll post details when I know them. Did you ever get out in the field?

I do a lot of trail riding. Occasionally i will hike and explore something. I just did some exploring a few months back in some of the cuts in Limestone Canyon, for example. I don't really tend to do much near civilization though. You can always just post the pics on photobucket or the like.

I have NO IDEA if this will work, but I put nine photos on Flickr, link here:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk6F83i7

I think you can paste this into a browser and then view my P&AC album. I located each on their map, and made a short comment about each. I have no idea if you will be able to see all this, so let me know.

They are working Andy!

Tom, did this railroad ever have a telegraph line?

Michael - I do not have factual knowledge re: telegraph line along the P&AC line. Photos I have from Charlotte Hall Museum show "no". It is unlikely because Prescott, being the territorial Capitol, would already have had telegraph communication prior to the P&AC's construction, either via Pheonix area or, more likely, via Ash Fork from the A&P RR main line service. Remember, the P&AC RW was run on an absolutely shoestring budget. The PP&SF RR would likely have added this for dispatching use. Andy or James know the facts? Tom Bullock

Michael, yes, evidently the P&AC did have telegraph. On Page 36 of Myrick's Vol 5, he claims that the man at Banghart's in charge of the water pump watched for the smoke as the train left Seligman to start the steam pump fire - a type of telegraph. But Myrick also claims that later on, the telegraph operator Jack Aitken was required to also run the pump, but for no extra pay.

Myrick goes on to say that the telegraph from Ft Whipple to Ash Fork became surplus when Fort records were transferred to LA, so L. H. Wilson bought it for the P&AC.

I've never seen any evidence myself, on the ground or in pictures, but I doubt I would have.

Andy/Michael. Thinking about the geography here: Engine water at Seligman likely came from the small lake (tank) SE of the mainline point of connection to the A & P. No way operator at Banghart could see engine smoke as train left Seligman, hence there had to some way Banghart operator could be notified to start steam pump fire so engine could water before starting up-grade to Prescott. Probably means there was no water tank with windmill at Banghart, just a good well. Still on shoestring budget, water pump boiler would not have been kept fired when not needed. Telegraph line would have very useful for making these communications. Same communication would have been needed as train left Prescott. I now thik there was likely a telegraph line there. Tom Bullock

Tom, I agree it would be difficult/impossible to see smoke from the Junction, but I was quoting Myrick. I've been reading the AZ Weekly Journal-Miner (available from Library of Congress on the web) which says, Dec 22, 1886, "Ed Lowe ... is now the station agent and telegraph operator at Chino Valley." So there was telegraph from the origins of the RR; one picture of the depot shows two telegraph poles near it.

Also, Banghart's was very close to Del Rio Spring, now a major source of water for Prescott.

Hey guys - I turned 84 last month and am unlikely to get to Arizona again past this fall. Stress at home says " take a rest". I am doing this starting 10/15/15 and, after a short detour called Grand Canyon, will be in Prescott at Charlote Hall Museum at 10:00 AM,10/24/15 (assuming God says OK). I'll bring my mapping and anything else I have you guys might want to see. Let me know. I would really like to meet any of you guys who carry on this interest in grandpa's RW Tom Bullock

First, Tom, let me wish you happy birthday - I often FEEL 84, even if I am not. And thanks for meeting with us next Saturday in Prescott. I've been in touch with the Museum there, and I think the best place to meet is the Library and Archives, 115 S. McCormick St. They open at 10AM on Saturday, and they have at least one map you should look at. I've asked for a conference room, but if that isn't possible, we can retire to the Public Library a few blocks away, and leave a message for latecomers with the Librarian.

I gave a talk to the Westerners here last night, about your granddad and his railroad - it was a big hit!

I HAVE LITERALLY FOUND A BUNCH OF TRACES!!!

Alexi - Your posting of six identical messages on our subject is encouraging (someone new is interested) but not too helpful (no data). And why six times in a row? Can you share with us what you have found and where? Thanks. Tom

The comments here have a tendency to really lag when you hit the submit button. I suspect that's what happened here with Alexi. It's happened several times on this subject alone.

Last month, we went over to Seligman and found the first ten miles of the P&AC RR grade, into the OO Ranch area. I made a GoogleEarth .kmz folder that maps the first 3.5 miles, with Placemarks showing where we found artifacts. You can download it from Dropbox here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e0alkpaantxdku3/P%26AC-GE.kmz?dl=0

Save this file to disk and open GE; click File and Open, and direct it to this file. I will continue to add to the path as I have time, so try in a month or so, for a new version.

Also, I am scheduled to give a talk at Sharlot Hall Museum on August 13, 2016 starting at 2 pm, about the railroad:

https://www.sharlot.org/az-history-adventures/events-calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2016/08/13/137/-/the-first-train-to-prescott

The lecture is free, but you may have to pay to enter the museum; I'm not sure. Hope to see you there.

Andy - I am still pedalling along and am putting plan in place to hear your talk at Charlotte Hall 8/13/16. It will be a pleasure to hear from a guy who actually done his home-work relating to grandpa's RW. Also looking forward to meeting other interested folks. Tom Bullock

Howdy guys, long time no talk to. I do read this board though and keep up with yalls conversations. I am actually leaving tomorrow to move back to the area flying helicopters. I will trace this entire route on the hoof if I have to. I also have an original P&AC shareholder certificate, No 79, that I am going to donate to the museum. If anyone wants to get together and do some hiking, count me in. Contact me at txarmoredillo@gmail.com

Thanks for your interest in the P&AC. I am continuing my research interest in my Grandpa's RW. I gave a talk at California's Railtown 1897 State park 9/17/16 which had significant input about the P&AC It was well received.I have been continuing my research into Grandpa's life and will leave all my P&AC stuff to the Charlet Hall Museum as well.

Andy from Flagstaff who posted the P&AC files in the Dropbox, please contact me, jefrench@att.net. I own the flat pasture property that butts up to Mormon Peak that the P&AC went around though the little pass from the OO Ranch. You marked on google earth the spots in Railroad Canyon where you found artifacts. I'm interested in finding more artifacts and to pinpoint and mark the route through my property.

John

John - Start from the existing wye south-east of Seligman, go directly south and turn to the west into Railroad Canyon. Follow that to the west/south and you will cross your property just before getting to 00 Ranch. Pretty easy to figure out if you are standing there. The stone barn was not there in the P&AC days; maybe the actual r/w is under? Andy is the go-to guy for exact r/w location; he has walked your part of the line. Good luck! I'll be 88 next month and my walking days are over, otherwise I'd enjoy helping you with your quest. Where in California are you? Tom Bullock

Thanks Tom, I live in both San Diego and on our ranch 4 miles south of Seligman, right in Railroad Canyon. OO Ranch and state trust land butts up against us. My wife found a piece of tie and the previous owner found two pieces with spikes on the property that he will be giving me. Didn't realize I was buying part of Railroad Canyon until I made the offer, I'm glad I did. I'm a model railroader with an interest in old railroads. In San Diego I research the old San Diego & Arizona Eastern. I'd like to talk to Andy, When he found items did he remove them, mark them? On surface or buried? If buried how far down was he finding them? What kind of metal detector if he used one. Any other info he has that would help me locate more.

John

John - next time you are in Prescott, Visit the Charlotte Hall Museum. Their reference library is close by; the last time I was there, they had not yet re=filed their P&AC material nor their file on my Grandfather, but well worth visiting anyway. You can get good mapping from the USGS office in Pheonix too. You should discuss artifact ownership with Andy. Tom Bullock

I'm terribly sorry to write so belatedly that our friend and fellow P&AC researcher Andy Odell passed away on May 10, 2019, at Promontory UT, the exact date of the 150th anniversary of the joining of the rails that created the first Transcontinental Railroad. As we were entering the venue for the celebration, Andy suffered a sudden fatal heart attack. The last thing he saw and heard were the replica steam engines moving into place. We are missing him terribly, and will always treasure walking those miles along the P&AC documenting artifacts, and meeting Thomas Bullock. Here is his obituary from the Tucson paper, incorporating the shorter obit in the Flagstaff Daily Sun: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=andrew-paul-odell&pid=193209179

Of the 73 miles of the P&AC, only 18 remain undiscovered: 10 miles through Big Chino (very disrupted), and 8 miles through a narrow canyon on private property that we were denied access to. We were going to make another plea to the owners after the 8 miles were all that remained. Here's hoping that will eventually happen and all will be completed. Please carry on!