This model railroad depicts two imaginary narrow-gauge railroads: the Estrella & Sonora Grande and the Arroyo Verde & Western.  The E&SG serves mines near the famous Metcalf / Morenci mining district in southeastern Arizona.  The AV&W connects the Estrella Mining District with Clifton to the southeast, and Arroyo Verde to the north.  Arroyo Verde is a fictitious town located in the rugged pinion forest along the Coronado Trail, providing vital commodities including timber for the mines and livestock for the hungry miners.

This is the story of how these modest railroads, owned and operated by the Estrella Mining Co., serve the transportation needs of the communities linked by their narrow rails.  Below is a map depicting the right-of-ways, based on actual topographic charts of the region:

To summarize, this railroad is designed to represent a miniature transportation system, moving people, ore and supplies through one of the most rugged and scenic regions in the world.  This is what I have attempted to represent in this model railroad venture.

For notes on operations, see the Virtual Tour section.

CONCEPT

The E&SG is rooted in the history of southern Arizona, and in the rich lore of mining railroads in the southwestern United States.

Scroll down to see how this railroad typifies the small mining operations that were once common in the west.

The AV&S (in green) runs northwest from Clifton, following the Eagle Creek.  This scenic area provides the railroad access to the Ponderosa Pine forests of northern Arizona.  Mining consumes great quantities of timber used for lining and supporting tunnels, etc.  Several logging camps provide rough cut timbers for the mines, which are hauled south on flatcars to Sonora Grande, then transferred to the small cars required to operate on the E&SG's limited clearances.

The E&SG (in blue) connects the mines in the Estrellla Mining District with the smelter at Sonora Grande. From Apache Wells to Sonora Grande, it operates on the AV&W right of way.  At Apache Wells, there is a battery of coke ovens to produce coke from coal.  Coke is a specialized fuel used for smelting, iron and steel making, and other processes where an extremely hot fire is required.  The coal is hauled in by the AV&W, and the finished coke is hauled by the E&SG to the smelter, and up to the mines to fuel their boilers.

The smelter ships loads of copper ingots in boxcars, and hopper cars loaded with copper concentrate to be further refined in Clifton's larger facility.  It receives loads of machinery, coke, timber and limestone via the E&SG interchange in Sonora Grande.

This site is under construction, so watch your step!

 Questions?  Comments?  Complaints?  Get off your donkey and e-mail me at vgniner@cox.net

All contents Copyright 2007 Verne Niner.  Best viewed at 1280x1024 resolution.        

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