Jerome and the Northern Roads

Railroads of Arizona, Volume 6

by David F. Myrick

This addition to Myrick's renowned series on Arizona railroads covers the great copper operation at Jerome, and a number of roads in the northern part of the state, including the still-operating Grand Canyon Railway. The Grand Canyon trackage was for many years a Santa Fe branch, and serves a tourist railroad today. Both the construction history, as well as the story of the line's revival in the 1990s, are thoroughly covered here.

Jerome was served by four railroads at various times, most notably the Verde Tunnel & Smelter Railroad, a property of United Verde Copper Company, the primary mining producer at Jerome. Also noteworthy was the United Verde & Pacific narrow gauge, which has its own chapter here, as does the United Verde Extension Railroad. Both are part of the complex railroad history of the Jerome area.

Another road serving the Jerome area was the Verde Valley Railway, long a Santa Fe branch, and active today as both the Arizona Central (for freight) and Verde Canyon (tourist trips).

Thoroughly documented here are several shorter-lived railroads which served mining camps, including the Arizona & Swansea, Arizona & Utah, the Mohave & Milltown, and the narrow gauge line serving Ryan. Notable occurences in the mining camps are described too. Also presented are the modern coal-hauling roads, the Coronado and the Black Mesa & Lake Powell railroads.

Even some of the famous unbuilt railroad proposals, like the Arizona Northern and the Intermountain, St. George & Grand Canyon, have their place in the story, and their history is here.

As is typical of Myrick's work, these railroad histories encompass the histories of the towns and regions they served, providing a lively and detailed view of the history of pioneer Arizona.

More than 235 photographs, most previously unpublished, enrich this book, in addition to 28 of the author's maps. Material from period newspapers and other publications enlivens the text, with much mining as well as railroad history. It is a superb package of Arizona and railroad history.

The distinguished Western historian David F. Myrick, as in his previous books, brings meticulous research, numerous fine maps, and a superb collection of rare and historic photographs to this new volume of the Arizona series. As always, his writing is authoritative, clear and readable, and makes up an outstanding work, encompassing a great breadth of information. The book will appeal to those interested in Arizona's early days as well as to enthusiasts of railroad history. This book is a fitting companion to Volume 4, The Santa Fe Route,and Volume 5, Santa Fe to Phoenix, and is sure to take its place in libraries of railroad and Western history.

Price: $ 60.00 Quantity:

Also available: the Table of Contents of the book.

Particulars: Jerome and the Northern Roads, Railroads of Arizona,Vol. 6, by David F. Myrick
Price: $60 Size: 248 pages, 8.5" x 11", hard covers; 235 photos, 28 maps, bibliography, index
ISBN: 978-1-930013-27-8 Publication date: September 1, 2010
Distribution: direct from publisher.

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