Guide to Arizona's Miniature Railroads
Featuring
Encanto Park's Enchanted Island Express
The Encanto Park Enchanted Island Express in Phoenix, Arizona
The Enchanted Island Express is a 24 inch gauge railroad located on the
Enchanted Island in Encanto Park at 1202 W. Encanto Boulevard in Phoenix,
Arizona. Encanto Park was originally developed in the late 1930's and
is home to hundreds of towering palm trees, a picturesque series of ponds,
lagoons and canals, mature foliage and expansive grassy lawns on its 222 acres
in central Phoenix. Picnic ramadas, two golf courses, softball fields, basketball
courts, hiking trails and "The Enchanted Island" kiddieland are among the attractions
that draw people to the park.
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The Enchanted Island kiddieland was created in 1991 when the southern portion of
the park was redesigned and relandscaped. The original kiddieland at Encanto Park
was established in 1946 and like the local Wallace and Ladmo show, was an institution
with the children who grew up in Phoenix in the fifties, sixties and seventies.
The original kiddieland at the park featured a Miniature Train Company G-16 (No. 516)
and several Allan Herschell Company rides including the "Little Dipper", "Sky Fighter"
and carousel. The Miniature train layout was enlarged by the addition of 1/2 mile of
track and a signal system in 1951. The kiddieland eventually fell into disrepair and
was removed in 1986 during the redesign of the park.
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Right to Left: Jack Kamrar, Unknown, John Hoover Photo courtesy of the Kamrar family |
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The C.P. Huntington, No. 245 has a silver, black and chrome paint scheme and reportedly
was the first one to utilize that color pattern at the time of delivery in 1991.
Followed by its three green coaches, the engine winds its way along one of the waterways,
past several picnic areas, across a grassy open area and by several palm trees as it
curls its way through a double loop track configuration and slows to a stop back at
the first-rate loading platform. The leisurely 5/8 mile ride takes about seven
minutes to complete. Several crossing signals manufactured by Chance Industries,
a short tunnel and the loading platform are the primary railroad amenities.
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For ticket prices, days and hours of operation visit the:
Enchanted Island website
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