Arizona Central Railroad

The Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad ( CACR ) is an American local railway company in Arizona. The company, based in Clarkdale (Arizona ) operates the 62 km long stretch of Drake (Arizona ) to Clarkdale ( Clarkdale branch ). Owner is the group of companies "The Western Group " by David L. Durbano.

The railway line was built on February 1, 1913 by the founded in 1911 Santa Fe subsidiary Verde Valley Railroad. First, the railway was used for removal of copper from the mines in Jerome. Already from the November 1, 1912 leased the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway track and finally acquired it in 1943 On 14 April 1989, the Arizona Central Railroad acquired. (AAR reporting mark: AZCR ) the route. As part of a restructuring within the Western Group, the route and the operation was transferred to the subsidiary Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad in 1997.

The company has three locomotives ( EMD GP7 and two EMD GP9 a ) and has 17 employees. The company transports freight cars annually in 1500. Transported are mainly coal and cement. Most important customer is the Phoenix Cement plant in Clarkdale.

Since 1990, in addition to the freight under the name Verde Canyon Railroad is a tourist excursion service performed. The attraction is the impressive Verde Canyon, through the valley leads the railway line. Approximately 95,000 people are transported every year. For this, the company uses two EMD FP7, several luxury cars as well as special open coaches.