4 Historic Steam Locomotives in Arizona

Like many western states, Arizona has a long and storied history with railroads. The majority of the lines built in Arizona were privately run by mining and lumber companies. Many of the locomotives which ran these lines are now preserved in parks and museums around the state.

One website I found mentioned that there are 28 locomotives on display throughout Arizona. This is by no means a complete list, but here are four historic steam locomotives that I have run across in my travels around Arizona.

Southwest Lumber Mills Engine #12 - Flagstaff, AZ

 
At the Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff, Arizona, you can see this historic locomotive on display as you drive by on US 180 to or from the Grand Canyon. Engine #12 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Pennsylvania in 1929. This standard gauge locomotive has a 2-6-6-0 configuration and was run by the Hammond Lumber Company in Oregon and California.



After 22 years, it was sold to another lumber company in California and then sold again to the Southwest Lumber Mills in 1956. The locomotive was retired in 1960 and has been at the Pioneer Museum since 1994. This is one of two locomotives on display in Flagstaff - there is another one downtown near the Amtrak station.

Location: 3101 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Southern Pacific Engine #1774 - Globe, AZ

 
At Veteran's Memorial Park in Globe, you can see Southern Pacific #1774 on display. This standard gauge 2-6-0 locomotive is one of only seven left in the world! Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1901, it has logged more than 3,000,000 miles between Arizona and Southern California. It has hauled everything from mainline freight to passenger cars and even troop trains during World War II. It was retired in 1956.

Location: 150 N. Pine St. Globe, AZ 85501

Southern Pacific Engine #1673 - Tucson, AZ

 
Built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1900, this 2-6-0 engine is very similar to the one in Globe. It was originally a coal burner and was converted to oil in 1906. This engine pulled for Southern Pacific, logging over 1,000,000 as a freight hauler in the Southern Arizona region. It was modified for use in the 1954 film Oklahoma and was officially retired in 1955.

The locomotive has been on display at various places in Tucson for over fifty years and was given a full restoration in 1994. Today it is on display at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum in downtown Tucson.

Location: 414 N. Toole Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701

Magma Railroad Engine #6 - Scottsdale, AZ

 
At McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, you will find Engine #6 from the Magma Railroad. Built by Baldwin in October of 1907, it has the nickname "Little Mogul." This was one of several locomotives that ran the Magma Arizona Railroad, a 30 mile short line between Superior and Webster (Magma). These trains hauled copper and cattle to meet with a spur from Southern Pacific.

The initial line was a narrow-gauge railroad that was ran from 1915 to 1923. At that time, a standard gauge railroad was constructed alongside the existing tracks. The standard gauge tracks were run from 1923 through 1971. Engine #6 was retired in January 1961 and was replaced by a diesel locomotive. Today it can be seen at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, where is is very well preserved.

Location: 7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250