History of the M&Sw:
The Arizona Mineral Belt Railroad
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The Mogollon (pronounce Muggy-own) and
Southwestern is based on the Arizona Mineral Belt Railroad. In 1881,
Colonel Eddy proposed to build the railroad from Flagstaff to Globe,
Arizona to service the copper mines. The first stage of construction was
to excavate a 3,100-foot tunnel through the Mogollon Rim, the greatest
obstacle of the railroad.
The Atlantic and Pacific RR was still at Winslow, attempting to cross
the Canyon Diablo. Through Colonel Eddy’s persistence, the A & P agreed
to buy $2400 of Arizona Mineral Belt stock and $30,000 in bonds. With
money in hand, Colonel Eddy began digging the tunnel before laying any
track from Flagstaff to that point. He paid the workers $4 a day (in
railroad stock).
Flagstaff had a booming lumber industry and the Ayer Lumber Co. was
looking to expand their operation beyond railroad ties. The hope was to
sign a contract for the ties to Globe and then contract for the timbers
for the mines, which would continue to be needed long after the railroad
was done.
After 70 feet of tunnel, Colonel Eddy ran out of money, and the Arizona
Mineral Belt Railroad was never finished.
The M&Sw of "Today" (mid-1950s)
The M&Sw begins in Globe, Arizona, where it interchanges with the
Southern Pacific branch north from Bowie. A northbound M&Sw train departs Globe
Yard (to the left) and travels past the old town site of Claypool into Miami,
AZ. Copper related industries, as well as other minor industries, have rail
service in these three cities. A small perlite facility is located on a long
spur out of Miami (to the right).
As a train departs Miami to the north (left), it passes the Arizona Southern
interchange and begins the climb to the town of Payson, AZ, location of a
passing siding, small passenger station, and team track. A rail spur serves a
working ranch.
Upon leaving Payson a train begins the grueling climb up to the top of the
Mogollon Rim. It enters the Colonel Eddy spiral tunnel and exits high above the
town of Payson. It works it’s way up a canyon, past the tank stop of Strawberry,
crosses two major bridges, and doubles back along the opposite canyon wall to
reach the summit.
Once upon the rim, a train arrives in Happy Jack – site of a large copper mining
complex. A turning "Y" makes a connection with Clarke Valley Lumber Co. rails.
Continuing north (right), a train passes by Mary Lake Lodge and into Ayers
Junction (south of Flagstaff), where it interchanges with the Santa Fe. This is
the northern terminus of the M&Sw. The Clarke Valley Lumber Company sawmill is
located just outside of town. CVLCo. lumber trains travel over their own tracks,
as well as those of the M&Sw, to bring cut logs to the mill from the woods.
The
STANDARD CODE
of
OPERATING RULES
for
MODEL RAILROADS
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