Private company

Arizona Central Railroad

Short-line railroad

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1989Founded¹

HeadquartersClarkdale¹
Websitewww.thewesterngroup.net

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The Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad (reporting mark AZCR) is an Arizona short-line railroad that operates from a connection with the BNSF Railway's Phoenix Subdivision at Drake, Arizona. The Drake Switching Company also operates a connection between the BNSF and the AZCR in Drake. The AZCR runs 37.8 miles (60.8 km) from Drake to Clarkdale, Arizona. An excursion train also runs on the line through Verde Canyon and is operated by the same owners under the Verde Canyon Railroad. The AZCR is owned by David L. Durbano but as of spring 2025, it was under contract to be sold, pending approval from the FRA and Surface Transportation Board.²

The story

Verde Valley Railway

From 1913 to 1989 the line was operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe Railway). On November 17, 1911, the Verde Valley Railway was chartered as a non-operating subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway. Construction from Cedar Glade (west of Drake) to Clarkdale, a distance of 38 miles (61 km), was immediately commenced on February 13, 1912, and was completed on February 1, 1913, at a total cost of $1,286,061. It was built to support the United Verde Mine at Jerome, Arizona. On December 31, 1942, the Verde Valley was conveyed to the Santa Fe Railway by deed.

On April 14, 1989, the Santa Fe Railway sold the Clarkdale branch to David L. Durbano. The new railroads were named the Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad for freight and the Verde Canyon Railroad for passenger service. Passenger service resumed in November 1990.

From Wikipedia’s article on Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.³