Guide to Arizona's Miniature Railroads
Featuring
In 2006 the Mount Graham International Education and Culture Foundation, doing business as Discovery Park in Safford Arizona changed hands. The property is now a campus of Eastern Arizona College. Unfortunately the high cost of operations (insurance was $3,000 a month) forced them to suspend operation of the train. It is now a static display beside the parking lot of the Eastern Arizona College Discovery Park Campus. Their new web address is: Discovery Park
Located on 200 acres in Safford Arizona, Discovery Park allows patrons an opportunity
to explore the Heavens and the Earth. The Heavens can be explored at the Gov Aker Observatory
which features a 20-inch reflecting telescope as well as a 0.5-meter radio telescope.
Interactive exhibits include demonstrations of the principles of physics and astronomy
with the highlight being a custom designed, full-motion shuttle flight simulator.
Back on Earth patrons explore Nature's Hideaway which presents a riparian setting featuring native wildlife,
flora and fauna of the Gila River Basin. Nature's Hideaway can be accessed
via hiking trails from the visitor's center or from the nearby Circle D Ranch which is best reached
by train ride on the Discovery Park Express.
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The Discovery Park Express is a 24" gauge, steam outline, propane-hydraulic powered engine.
It pulls two covered coaches which each comfortably seat 12 adults, and a caboose which
provides additional seating and is wheel chair accessible. The train was built by J&E in
1997 and went into service at Discovery Park in 1998.
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The nearly 2 mile right-of-way of the Discovery Park Railroad is comprised of an upper loop
around the observatory and lower "half-dogbone" which passes through the Circle D Ranch.
The Circle D Ranch contains a loading platform for the train, an authentically furnished 1870's era
ranch house and a barn building used for weddings, parties and other special occasions. The trackwork
performed by the Roseberry Construction Co. includes 4 trestles (one of which is quite spectacular),
6 spring switches and a wye.
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The nearly 2 mile trip lasts ~30 minutes. Days and hours of operation can be
found on their website. Note: This railroad is no longer in operation...
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