Guide to Arizona's Miniature Railroads
Featuring
The Schnepf Farms Railroad
The Schnepf Farms Railroad in Queen Creek, Arizona
Located in Queen Creek, Arizona, Schnepf Farms is a "Family Entertainment Farm".
It offers a 300 acre u-pick organic garden, educational tours, company and birthday
parties, a campsite, and a festival site which draws more than 150,000 visitors for
the Country Thunder USA music festival each year. It hosts many festivities including the
Peach Festival in May, and Pumpkin & Chili parties in October, but most importantly
it is the home of the Schnepf Farms Railroad.
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The 16" gauge railroad runs for more than a mile through the bucolic farm setting.
Departing from the loading platform the train provides a view of the petting zoo
before it reaches the outskirts of the u-pick gardens. A trip through the tunnel
which also doubles as a carbarn takes the train to a faux-rock gate which guards
the entrance to the peach orchard.
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After passing through the heart of the peach orchard the tracks circle past the
1912 Parker carousel, Honey Bee Adventure ride, and Lil Farmer's play yard, before
returning to the loading platform. The loading platform is just a short walk from
the quaint Schnepf Farm country store which offers fresh vegetables, preserves and
tickets for the leisurely 10 minute train ride.
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The Schnepf Farms Railroad (established in 1997) has 2 engines and 9 dual-side-load
cars which were purchased from the J&R Railroad Company. For ticket prices, days
and hours of operation visit the
Schnepf Farms website.
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