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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- By request, I am uploading expanded versions of some of my earlier videos with higher quality and enhanced color. This one covers a complete day of operations on the Magma Arizona railroad in May of 1989. By this time copper concentrate production at Superior had ceased, with perlite being the staple commodity and the occasional loads of scrap and aggregate filling out the mix. Motive power on this day was number 8, a Baldwin S-8 originally built for the Medford Corp of Oregon to work a steeply graded logging line. It was the only Baldwin switcher factory equipped with dynamic brakes for this reason. Sit back and enjoy the stack talk and Nathan M5 horns as we follow the crew through their day.
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![TC & GB - Abandoned Railroad - Arizona US. - Subtitled [ᶜᶜ]](/img/n.gif)
I worked at Magma Copper in Superior in 1969 - 1970 where my job was to walk and maintain the copper concentrate line from from the mill to the smelter which was still in operation at the time. At the end of the day I'd walk out to the track and catch a ride on one of these switchers on it's way to the mine yard and I'd jump off at the mill to get my car.
Magma had some steamers in storage at the yard by the smelter just in case they were needed in an emergency. One of these, plus the Magma line, was used to film the train robbery scenes in the movie How the West Was Won. One of these, a 2-6-0, is on permanent display at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale.
Every so often these steamers would be rolled out and fired up for a run to Magma Junction and back to keep them in operational shape. This was usually on a Sunday and those of us on the maintenance crew would occasionally shirk our jobs, with management's approval, and go ride them. Those were the days!
I'm glad there's people like you who take time out of their day to tell us young ones this kind of stuff from the past, I for one, really appreciate it. :) Continuing on about the steam engines, #5 and #7 are both in Texas, with #7 operating on the Texas State Railroad as their number 30, and #5 on display at the Gavelston Railroad Museum. #5 used to actually operate excursions at Gavelston sometime in the 80's/90's or so, but was eventually put out of service in need of repairs that never came. Here's footage of it running: th-cam.com/video/nHwUkTzZ8zc/w-d-xo.html
I love those individual stacks. You can see the smoke puffs as each cylinder fires. I've never heard an explanation of why they decided to shotgun those engines.
This practice was called "hot rodding" and was done to reduce cylinder back pressure and simplify the exhaust system for maintenance reasons. The only units I have seen that had this done were Pacific Lumber Co. VO1000's 104 and 105 (8 stacks), Magma Arizona 8 and 9 (S-8), and Weyerhaeuser 101, 102 (DS 4-4-750) and 103-105 (S-8) all with 6 stacks. This could only be done to normally aspirated units for obvious reasons.
Cool old Baldwin. With that exhaust it reminds me a lot of my Grandaddy's old tractor, lol.
Neat video, I used to see these tracks as a kid in the 1970's but never saw a train. Thanks for showing us.
Thanks for the upload and expanded version. So glad you preserved this day in history. Sad to see most of these structures now all gone and the smelter stack set for Demo Nov. 10, 2018.
Ahh.. that sweet Baldwin burble. Reminds me as a kid when the EL&S from Escanaba would go by my house daily. Sure miss listening to these old engines.
I watch videos of EL&S on U Tube all the time. I spent most of my life in Michigan. I even went to NMU in Marquette for a year. I live in Queen Creek AZ now.
Great video, love the six stacks for exhaust, gives off a great sound. The switcher seems to have plenty of power, sounds as if its idling most of the time. Thank you.
Superior video! Been there. All of the locations are familiar to me. I can only hope that the new mining operations can do some CPR on this little-known line. Darrell lives.
Very cool that you caught Amtrak at the junction too!
Yes, I heard the horns, turned the camera, and it flashed by. 2 minutes later and I could have caught it passing the Baldwin.
Thanks for posting. Excellent video. The last few seconds of it tells the story of the MARR all by themselves.
@fmnut - This is fabulous! I'm the guy that gave you audio of SWP Cement Co. 408 (former U.P. 1366) . I have dim memories of NYC Baldwin switchers in Fostoria, Ohio in 1955. I remember particularly that "chug" of the exhaust. Great video!!!
Thanks
@fmnut- Is that a Nathan M5R24 horn on the Baldwin or is it a "modified" version somehow? Sounds gloriously out of tune !
Very cool.
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing 🤠👍. One thing I noticed that highway "97" is supposed to be 79. Besides that great video
Roger that, must have had a senior moment. Thanks.
It's July 2022. I have lived in the QC area since 2006. I don't remember seeing these tracks. I'd like to know specifically where they are so I can visit them and see what's left.
Not sure where the QC area is, but if you go to Google maps here: 33.2900790, -111.1141264. That is the current end of track, the line used to go all the way into Superior but has been removed. The line heads southwest from there, follow it on the map.
Ive been up there a few times and explored what I could. Was so sad to see the smelter stack gone last time I was there. Ive heard rumors that the mine is reopening and that there was a contract for the Copper Basin RR was going to operate the RR and haul the ore. Has this happened?
I love the way Baldwin engines sound. Where is this one now?
White City, Oregon owned by a preservation group, repainted as Medford 8.
Wonder if they use these tracks again with the new Resolution Copper Mine put into operation.
It would be great if they did.
@@fmnut I'm torn between the mine opening back up but the caving of 2 square miles where native petroglyphs are not acceptable. They need to figure out another way to mine the copper without caving in the surface.
@@Mike-01234 I think with today's engineering prowess they could devise a robot to mine out the copper and inject a tailings slurry in the void left behind, thus preventing surface collapse. After all, they dug a tunnel under the English Channel years ago. The question would be whether using that method would be cost effective vis a vis the value of the ore to be obtained. I think the world would have to be pretty desperate for copper before that would pay off.
@@fmnut I agree but looks like they eventually will win and cave in the surface which is unfortunate. I rather leave the copper then see surface caved into a 1000 foot sinkhole. I'm all for mining but not at this kind of cost not to mention they are also talking about building a 1000 foot high slurry holding ponds which have been known to fail and flood towns below them.
Never seen locomotive with those mufflers on it like that wonder if that is what makes that buzzing sound.
No, the buzzing or humming sound is the traction motors and gearing turning the wheels. The "mufflers" as you say are actually spark arrestors to prevent starting wayside fires. There was no intent to reduce the exhaust sound.
Is that structure at 22:00 the old yard office/depot?
The building on the right at 22:00 is the depot, the one on the left is the scale house.
is the number eight up side down
Possibly they had the stencil backwards.
What’s happened to mining in this country? Seems all the mines in the southwest are either closing or are closed? This impacts the smelters and refineries as well.it’s a shame a lot of nice railroads have been affected.used to be a line from Douglas Az to El Paso Tx, that’s gone. Nice video great to see all the old SP equipment , prior to the merger with UP of course. Thank you.
The simple answer is that the economically recoverable deposits at these closed mines have largely been depleted. The reality is a bit more complex, as "economically recoverable" is a fluid situation based on various factors, including the actual purity of remaining deposits, add-on costs like pumping of ground water or environmental remediation, the age and overhead cost of facilities like smelters and crushing equipment, and the competitive costs of foreign sources. Rises in commodity prices or new methods of processing can sometimes bring closed mines back to life. You can't just work a mine forever.
22:18 If this were HO that'd be code 40 rail; maybe lower !