1 result matching: Verde Canyon Railroad
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Verde Canyon Railroad
Over 100 years of history culminates on the Verde Canyon Railroad, a line once built to connect mining towns and now a hallmark of Arizona's canyon country. This railway was conceived during the height of mining by a man named William Andrews Clark, the owner of a local copper mine and the builder of the nearby United Verde & Pacific Railway that served the cliffside metropolis of Jerome. As the mining industry's needs shifted, Clark created his own town, Clarkdale, and needed a railroad to service both it and its mine. He founded the Verde Valley Railroad, a standard-gauge line that ran from Clarkdale to Drake, from which goods were shipped.
The Verde Valley Railroad continued to prosper, hauling freight and passengers through its glorious and remote surroundings until 1988 when it was sold to Dave Durbano and the Verde Canyon Railroad that is so beloved today came to be. Freight services were discontinued, and the line was redefined as the scenic heritage railway that visitors know and love today.
In the years since its purchase, the Verde Canyon Railroad's rolling stock has been upgraded and restored to include ultra-comfortable, climate-controlled passenger cars that are each themed after a beloved Arizona location. First Class accommodations are standard. Each car is outfitted with living room-style accommodations, including couches arranged for conversation and window-side tables for two. Each couch grouping accommodates parties of four and includes a cocktail table in the middle. Large picture windows offer unrestricted views over the incredible landscape. Across the aisle, plush armchairs flank a small central table and provide a romantic and relaxing setting for couples.