Copper Basin Railway

Copper Basin Railway

This road operates on an ex-Southern Pacific branch, running from Magma Jct. to Hayden, with an ex-Kennicott Copper branch from Ray Jct. to the mine a few miles north. They are running GP9's, GP18's, and GP39-2's acquired from various other railroads. They also had 3 ex SP SD39's, but they proved too hard on the track, so they were traded for some more GP39's. Here are some photos, from shortly after startup to the present day.

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A Yellow cell background indicates the newest photos.

	Here is Copper Basin GP9 #206 at Hayden on Dec. 29, 1986 in the original color scheme, a somewhat hard to photograph light gray with light green lettering, and a dark green cactus.
	One of four ex SP SD39's is shown at Hayden on Dec. 29, 1986 undergoing some repairs. At first, the Copper Basin did not have an indoor facility, which was usually not too much of a problem. The SD39's were traded for more GP39's a few years ago, and last I knew they were on the Indiana Harbor Belt.
	Here are 3 GP's at Magma Junction on Jan. 11, 1987 with the Sunday afternoon local, which does not run on Sundays anymore! The local now runs between the SP (now UP) interchange and Heyden 3 times per week, usually during the early evening on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
	This is one of 2 ex Kennicott Copper GP39's acquired by the Copper Basin. Shown here at Hayden on Dec. 28, 1987.
	This is the other ex Kennicott Copper GP39, also at Hayden on Dec. 28, 1987.
	Here is GP18 #203 at Magma Jct. on Dec 9, 1988 fresh out of the paint shop in the new copper/gray color scheme.
	Here is another freshly painted unit, shown here at the SMARRCo interchange in Winkleman on Dec. 26, 1988.
	This is the roustabout leaving the SMARRCo interchange at Winkleman and headed to the yard at Hayden, and another freshly painted unit is on the point. Dec. 26, 1988.
	Late afternoon on Jan. 22, 1989 finds the ore dumper train near Kearny headed east with 3 units still in the old paint schemes.
	The 3 operating SD39's are just arriving at Ray Jct. on May 14, 1990. The 4th unit, the 301, was used for parts to keep these 3 running.
	The ore empties are just east of Ray Jct. at Tunnel #2 on Sept. 30, 1991.
	The eastbound ore loads have just left Ray Jct. in the early evening of Sept. 30, 1991.
	Here is the northbound "unit train" headed north from Ray Jct. to the copper mine late in the afternoon of Sept. 5, 1994.
	This ex Amtrak GP40 worked for a while on the Copper Basin after the SD39-2's left and before more GP39-2's could be found. Shown here at Hayden, AZ. on Feb. 6, 1995.
	The old Sunday afternoon local has just left Magma Jct. and is headed back to Hayden. This small wooden trestle has since been replaced with a culvert and fill. This photo was taken with a 24mm wide angle lens on Feb. 19, 1995.
	Here is a loaded ore train just leaving Ray Junction headed towards the dumper. Ray Junction, Arizona - February 17, 1996.
	An empty train is rounding the curve at Ray Junction headed towards the mine. February 17, 1996.
	The Sunday afternoon train is westbound near Florence on December 29, 1996.
	On the CTC Board Magazine's DINA day I got this shot of an eastbound ore train near Ray Junction on January 4, 1997.
	This is the "Unit Train" rounding the curve headed towards the mine at Ray Junction, AZ in June of 2004. These units have all been recently repainted, and they look real nice.
	On a nice pleasant and warm May afternoon I got the westbound empty train near Kearny. May 8, 2005.
	A few minutes later I got the same train headed north on the Ray branch, and the late afternoon sun lights up the freshly painted engines, especially the copper colored handrails and nose stripes. May 8, 2005.

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