Abandoned rail line, and an unfinished subdivision!

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

cool - looks like that line runs roughly SE following the San Pedro river all the way to the Mexican boarder at Naco, AZ like Big Smoke said. Pretty amazing it is in relatively such good shape being abandoned since like 1959?

[@marionmitchell261]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Marion.

[@boonejalen6112]

Pro trick: you can watch series on Flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies recently.

[@emersonronald5328]

@Boone Jalen yea, I have been watching on Flixzone for months myself :)

[@kristopheralexis9911]

@Boone Jalen Yup, I have been using flixzone for months myself =)

[@devoncyrus7708]

@Boone Jalen Definitely, been watching on Flixzone for months myself :D

[@seanfrank4158]

It blows my mind at the sheer effort it took to create these railways and the minute they become unprofitable they're abandoned. Abandoned rail grades are all over North America and its kinda cool to trace their old routes on Google Earth. Thanks for the vid.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Sean, Thank you for watching and commenting. I agree with you about how fast these lines are torn up and forgotten about. Marion.

[@cavemanchuck8818]

You could delete the first 7:37 of the video (the driving part) without losing any of the substance.

[@brucec6442]

YOU BEAT ME TO IT CAVEMAN!!!

[@michaeltakacs5096]

YES

[@tjbailey29820]

You were correct with your comment about the UP being north of where you were shooting. They actually go right through Benson and the Amtrak Texas Eagle operates on those track 3 days a week stopping in Benson, EB @ 9:15a and WB @ 5:15p

[@HillBillyRailRoad]

thank you for sharing some of the most outstanding countryside

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello, Thank you for watching, and appreciate the comment!

[@bpomeroy3]

Fascinating scenery. Pleasant ambient music. Shouldn't be interested in abandoned or undeveloped places where nobody is living in but can't help it. Maybe it makes me think I'm in my own little world

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Bob, Thanks for watching!! Yes, there is something about being in these places that is irresistable.

[@fredcain7668]

I believe you found part of the old El Paso & Southwestern RR which later was bought, not by the Santa Fe, but by the SP. Not sure of the exact location. The line ran from Mescal to Fairbank then down to Douglas then east rejoining the mainline near El Paso at a location known on the railroad as Anapra. The SP used it as an alternate mainline that they called the "South Line". The SP also had a branch line that ran from Benson to St David then on to Fairbank where it joined the South Line. So, it could be that that's what you found. When I was a child the South Line was still very much in use before about 1962 and was equipped with automatic block signals in the form of SP's classic, lower quadrant semaphores. Too bad this is all gone. We could probably use it today. One additional piece of interest, Union Pacific applied to the STB and received permission to buy back the abandoned right of way. I have no idea why. I don't know if the bought it back all the way to Anapra or just from Benson to Douglas. I asked them but they won't tell me. Regards, Fred M. Cain

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Fred, That is a wealth of information!! Thank you. That area we were in is off state route 90 just before Benson. The coordinates are 31,55,31N 110,18,52W. Again thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@bradster59]

great video thanks for sharing ,taking the time to find this place for us all to see

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello bradster59, Thank you for watching and commenting. If I can get more than one day a week off from work, we have plans to film part three..........Hope you enjoy the other videos as well. Marion.

[@crkellner6844]

I did not see any railroad tracks or any indication that there was once a railroad operating in the area. Did I miss anything there.? I loved the aerial footage.

[@TaylorMMontgomery]

It's crazy that there's power, water and curb laid way out there, but nothing is built. Housing bubble!

[@Retro_Spectrum97]

Thats the old El Paso and Southwestern line... It was laid down in 1907.. It originally went just from El Paso Texas to Douglas Airzona.. It was extended down into mexico... A branch line was Then added later on to go to benson... In the mid 1940s Southern Pacífic had bought it and kept it going for a few years then in 1959 they decided to keep the older line going and to abandoned this one... But the tracks were not taken out until 1962 or 1963... I live 15 minutes from where the train would stop in Animas NM..

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Heber Richins, Thank you for the information and for watching and commenting!! Marion.

[@DDM502001]

This is an old section long abandoned of the ATSF, became part of the SP(Southern Pacific) RR where the rail bed runs to the Mexican border at NACO eventually running East along the border and abandoned into the next mainline that runs into MX. Currently stops at Winkelman at the Copper Mine there and is used by the CBRW.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello DDM502001, Thank you for the information. Much more concise and in depth than what we have been able to uncover. Thank you for the info., and for watching. Cheers, Marion.

[@tjbailey29820]

I could be wrong, it has happened before but I don't think the Sante Fe ever operated south of Phoenix, that area belonged to the Southern Pacific and it was inherited by the UP when they bought the SP in the 90's. I will check it out and get back to you.

[@DDM502001]

Did a little more digging, was originally the El Paso and Southwestern which also bought out the El Paso and Northeastern to become a very large Class 1 in the late 1800's early 1900's, bought up or merger with the SP in the 1920'/30's

[@tjbailey29820]

I belong to a website called www.trainorders.com, it is the largest railroad related website on the net. Members can post questions, information, videos, photos, audio files and there are 10 different 'boards' where members can post. The members come from all sorts of backgrounds. One of the boards is entitled Nostalgia & History and I posted the question there asking if the ATSF ever operated south of the Phoenix are specifically around the Tucson area. I received an almost instant answer just as I expected, no, the ATSF nor the BNSF never operated in that area.

[@Greatdome99]

It was the El Paso & Northwestern, built to bring coal from near the Colorado border to a smelter east of Phoenix. The Southern Pacific bought the line using it as a second mainline between Tucson and El Paso and a primary line north of El Paso to Tucumcari where it met the Rock Island RR. The line west of El Paso was taken out of service years ago but the Tucumcari line is Union Pacific's main route to the Midwest today.

[@zr1rob]

That looks like the abandoned SP line going south from Benson to Douglas. There were two lines, one was a mainline going through Douglas all the way to El Paso. That one was built in the early 1900's for the El Paso and Southwestern and was owned by Phelps Dodge mining company who then sold it to the Southern Pacific in 1924. That was abandoned in 1960. The other one was a Southern Pacific branch line going from Benson to Douglas and Bisbee, and I think that's what you were looking at. The line you were showing with the concrete bridges was bought by the San Pedro and Southwestern from the Southern Pacific in the early 1990's, but it didnt have enough traffic and was abandoned in the late 1990's. Rails were taken up in 2007.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello zr1rob, Thank you for watching and appreciate the added information. Marion.

[@freewill1114]

If you are the kind of viewer who reads the comments first, let me be a spoiler and save you some time. There are NO railroad tracks in this video. There is a lot of nice drone video of the desert around Benson and Sierra Vista Arizona. But if you came for tracks, you will be disappointed.

[@allancron1936]

Just be grateful you are alive and able to come way out here , many a person would love to do but can not. Watch out the sky dose not fall in on you then you would really have something to complain about Mr Mamoth Moan.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Allan, I am grateful not only for you watching and commenting, but also to be able to do things like this. There was a time I was told I probably would not ever leave the hospital. So yes, I am grateful for every step I take and for the people around me. Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@SorryWereOpen247]

75 MPH speed limit sign at 0:45

[@NMjack2000]

Copper Basin Railway used to run to the copper mines down around that area. Also the old SP lines rain down there. SP and UP RR's merged a few years ago. Seen recently some videos of UP storing a bunch of locomotives in AZ due to lower traffic levels. Over all the years there have been many miles of track abandoned. Usually the smaller branch lines however a few major routes were also abandoned. And also some have been sold to smaller companies due to low traffic. A lot of history that is interesting about or railroads. A major line used to run down there and even into Mexico and I think SP RR invested millions of dollars into it all and it never did produce much traffic.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello, Thanks for watching and commenting. I was not aware of the Copper Basin Railway running that area. Marion.

[@gregrowe1168]

I’m guessing people have been using it as an atv/utv trail judging by the tracks worn into the dirt. Looks like a fun ride.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Greg, Yes ATVs and many other vehicles too. That area is great to go riding. Thanks for watching. Marion.

[@dragon-lf9ow]

You picked the right music for this video they go great together

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Dragon 71, Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@lynntaubeneck7383]

There is a good video of a couple of guys running this line on a home made speeder.

[@marionmitchell261]

Really?!?!?! Would like to meet them and maybe do a colab! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Marion.

[@mattbrown5511]

Love the soothing music. You could do the run along the rail bed. make a long weekend of it.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Matt, We have tried, long before KZbin, and there are parts running through peoples property. Down towards Sierra Vista there are some trestles that look very interesting. I need to contact the owner of the property and ask permission to get to them. If successful, then we will have a new video. Thanks for watching, and commenting. Marion.

[@TheQwaz]

Wondering, have you tried to find maps that are old enough that show that right of way? And also have a newer one for reference handy to keep it straight what is/was where. To bad didn't have time to explore back north then further south to try and get a feel for what once was.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello and thank you for watching!! We should do that, I know not too far to the North there is a "house" or structure that is built under one of the trestles. It has not been inhabited for a long time. I keep saying when work slows down we'll head back out, but I am at work and away from doing fun things more and more. Again thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@davidballoid2118]

That place reminded me of Last House on the Left or Wrong Turn, No wonder that the builder went bankrupt! There was no stores around for miles and P.S. I hoped that the bird got it, those little dirty nasty bastards!

[@Plaguewielder88]

The actual subject matter of the video is a fairly interesting thing to watch, but you may want to consider trimming down the two to three minute drive to these locations (ive seen this in a few of your videos Ive watched) it doesnt add anything to the video and if anything will probably keep some people with shorter attention spans from watching what are otherwise interesting videos

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Rob, Thank you for watching, and appreciate the input. Cheers, Marion.

[@wolfstar_productions]

Especially for some who want a map to location..

[@davep6977]

I got a short nap in

[@geezer1089]

more than 20percent of the video showa getting there About as thrilling as a red ant in your rubber.

[@whoknows4279]

Frank Cates - You, sir, ain't got no class but I suppose you already know it and like yourself that way. Too bad.

[@davidhovey5152]

That subdivision spurred all kinds of (Alibi temporary) growth and peripheral investment that in the end all went bust along with it during the nationwide economic downturn.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello David, Thank you for watching!!

[@philk8188]

Would like to know where u got the music from. Loved it n the video..

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Everyone, We are thrilled this video has received the number of views it has, thank you for watching. We are curious though, what has made this so interesting to watch?? Please leave a comment.

[@dj33036]

For me it is the wide open expanses of the desert, both scary and awe inspiring.

[@douglasheimark7459]

Great vid. Now, can you supply directions to the abandoned rail line! Douglas

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Douglas, If You take State Route 90 south from I-10 and look for a road called Kartchner Trail, follow that back you will have to wind and weave through the first part of the housing development, but once the pavement ends keep going. When you reach the power poles they pretty much follow the rail bed. State 90 is BEFORE the Benson exit if you are hading East. Thank you for watching!!

[@freewill1114]

I agree that there is too much boring driving video, and the destination was sort of uninspiring. But, the camera work was done well, and the drone shots are nice. I watched hoping to see steel, that is, railroad tracks, but no such luck.

[@scvandy3129]

I was nostalgic for the old rail line and curious to know its route and history. I wish there was revenue potential on either end of the line so the rails would survive. Secondly, I was intrigued by Phase II and could NOT believe its remoteness; or, Phase I for that matter. Driving around, from ground level a prospective home / property buyer might think, "Oh, how nice this will be to live here, in this neighborhood." But then, seeing it from the drone's bird's eye view reality sets in as to the remoteness and if the subdivision that far out is practical. I think not. This wasn't my intention, but I realized / discovered Arizona's crystal-clear skies do provide 100-mile visibility, or close to it. In closing, I'll concur with other comments: the first 8 minutes or so are a yawn. And, "clean your vehicle's windshield!" The contrast of the ground footage and the aerial footage is enhanced by the deplorable condition of the windshield (i.e., dirty) and the unobstructed, sharp, clear drone views. Still, a nice way to spend a half hour. Thanks for posting.

[@rigidfinger]

Another big dream slowly being reclaimed by the desert. There all over Arizona.

[@ChrisMartinScruffy]

Noticed that there are people living in the few houses built. I wonder if those are the now bankrupt people who spent all that money. But seriously I'd love to find out the exact reason for all the emptiness in this strangely haunting vid.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Chris, This area dried up when the housing "bubble" popped. It doesn't seem to be gaining back many people. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Marion.

[@whoknows4279]

Boy, are there lots of complainers leaving messages. I guess that's their M.O. I found this video interesting. I'd like to see it for myself. Thank you.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello and thank you for watching and commenting. We intend to go back out and see what's up, I hear they have started building again. We will see. Marion.

[@wizardofodds8239]

Im'a guessin' the rattlesnakes wanted their neighborhood back??

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello MusicalTrains Brown, We didn't see any out and about, but I sure they were around. Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@zonashad5953]

Read David myricks books on railroads of Arizona they give the best info you could ever ask for

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Shadow, Thanks for the information. Marion.

[@AWSmith1955]

Whats even stranger is a "google car" drove all the way out there on those dirt roads, goo.gl/maps/KRsAHn5GJqL2

[@FatManWalking18]

the google car has been in even more remote places

[@dmp9135]

I have difficulty believing that is a RR bridge. First of all it is very low. Second of all it's just made of concrete. It doesn't look like it could hold the weight of rail cars. Railroad bridges are normally made of steel. Large I beams and steel trusses. I believe that bridge to be way to small. Anyone else??

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello David, Thank you for watching and commenting, Marion.

[@TickledFunnyBone]

It appears that there is a bridge or something in the hill part of that abandoned rail line.

[@C17Inspector]

Some absolutely beautiful countryside. Glad they didn't build on all of it......thx.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Patrick, Thank you for watching!! We are planning on showing more of that area further to the north. Again thank you for watching.

[@jtc1947]

YO TEAM? How about getting to where the horses are? You've spent something like 2 or 3 minutes on the road. That is NOT why tried to view this vid.

[@grimreaper3526]

I assume that subdivision is a big waste of tax dollars....can't see a private investor doing it

[@bradster59]

awesome video thanks, some of that area reminds me of scenery from breaking bad

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Bradster59, Thank you for watching and commenting. I keep saying we will get back out there to do a followup but, as of yet it is still on the board. Yes that area and New Mexico look extremely similar. Marion.

[@bradster59]

@@marionmitchell261 thank u , since our recession 10 years ago many such places exist, a few of my coworkers moved to AZ and love it there as cali with all its beauty has a ugly political future,heck i think my power is even goin off today ,crazy, thanks again,B

[@marionmitchell261]

@@bradster59 Words sometimes do not convey the totality of the intent at the base of expressing them. I hope you and you family, all of the people affected by these fires and from what I hear now earthquakes are and continue to be safe. I would not have believed that many people are without electricity. I read a few days ago, insurance companies are not renewing policies in certain areas. Thank you for watching and good luck to you and everyone involved. Marion.

[@bradster59]

@@marionmitchell261 thank you marion, yes right now 200k evacuated and im in tracy ca so im 50 miles east of SF and about 100 miles from the big fires although there are nearby closer fires but aside from smoke and ash in your eyes and mouth, plus we have not been shut off yet from power , prayers to those directly affected, thanks again

[@CampKohler]

Ghost towns are always interesting---disappointment and unrealized dreams, etc. There are many areas like this due to developers running out of money, misjudging sales potential, and so forth. Sometimes when this happens and property changes hands, the plans of the new owner don't match up with those of the original owner, as can be seen here in this Y-shaped court ending in Sydney, Australia (notice how the ends of the Y don't meet up with the as-built driveways): www.google.com/maps/@-33.7413638,150.9748596,3a,60y,149.75h,72.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4W7EF09HjAVYoOh-ccaG3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656. PS: You are driving one second behind the flatbed at the beginning. Should be three minimum. (If there is an accident, how quickly do you want to arrive at it?)

[@CampKohler]

Test

[@thomasthompson1444]

YOU WOULD THINK THAT DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE LEARNED BY NOW THAT THE EXPANSION OF A SUBDIVISION IS BASED ON SALES AND NOT GET SO FAR AHEAD? IT LOOKS LIKE NOT ALL THE PLACES HAD SOLD IN THE FIRST UNIT EVEN AT THE DATE OF YOUR FILM. I THINK YOU FILM IS A GOOD DOCUMENTERY AND VERY GOOD QUALITY. YOU DO A GREAT JOB COMMENTING ON IT AS WELL.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Thomas, thank you for watching, it's a great feeling people enjoy watching what we have compliled.

[@mcresq65]

Thomas Thompson .

[@michaelmooney3369]

what about the unfinished subdivision, it looks 25+ years old?

[@shwt121]

Where is the unfinished 'subdivision' ??

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Sonny, Thank you for watching, the area is West of Benson, as you are going toward Sierra Vista Az.

[@evilabi2664]

Where is this at?

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Caliroadgeek, Thank you for watching. This area is near Benson Az. east of state route 90.

[@carlosrosr425]

They are so many abandoned track and this is not the first one that you recording of this there is more everything that you didn't even notice that 50 states abandon track different location if you really want to know you could go over there from different states and let's see how you define it

[@rayrowe2664]

where the hell is this

[@slowbuildings]

Bridge to nowhere, over nothing. So weird. Someone did a lot of work for nothing! Thanks for the vid

[@marionmitchell261]

A long, lloonngg time ago, that rail line extended from Benson, down to Douglas Az., and then on to El Paso Tx. It has long since been removed. Thanks for watching!

[@kumarsingh2152]

slowbuildings

[@cjstibitz2130]

Idk man there's some curves in that too tight for a train to take even at 1mph I mean the bridge definitely looks rail. Not sure though those curves would never have lasted

[@marionmitchell261]

Hi Cj, Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@mollycaz1]

Looks.like home lots

[@marionmitchell261]

Apparently there were going to be many more than the few already built. Thanks for watching. Marion.

[@castle4610]

Where is this? I didn't have the time to watch the entire video

[@marionmitchell261]

South of I-10 on State Route 90. About 6 miles there is a housing development on the EAST side of the road. This area was in the back of said development. Thank you for watching. Marion.

[@edwardfast4525]

Sad to see stuff like this is this in Arizona?

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Edward, thank you for watching. Yes, this is Southeast of Benson Az.

[@alrodness]

Very nice video well done and nice music. I think that whole subdivision was a victim when the economy tanked 10 years ago...

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Al, I believe you are correct, there are several areas around the Phoenix area that are the same, hope to be showing these soon, thank you for watching!! Marion.

[@warrenwilson4818]

Utterly fascinating. This could have been a place to help with overpopulation I guess. Probably no water. Too far to Walmart (no more hyphen.)

[@zonashad5953]

It wasn’t southern pacific it was San Pedro and southwestern

[@melperry3576]

where?

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Mel, It's southwest of Benson Az., off state route 90. The rail bed runs behind the area where the homes are going to be built. It used to tie in with the Souther Pacific line and extended down to Douglas and then over to El Paso. It has long been torn up, when the smelter in Douglas was torn down there was not much use for it after that.

[@Kathrynyoder-x2j]

The first 7:35 is totally boring and the music is horrible. I wish you get to the point without wasting time.

[@marionmitchell261]

Well hello Kathy, Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@rogercabe6175]

they sure wasted a lot of money putting in curbs and sidewalks

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Roger, It sure is. One day we will get back out there. And see what if anything has progressed. Thank you for watching, and commenting. Marion.

[@markduncan6690]

Dull! Dull! Dull! This sucks!

[@davidmcintyre1377]

Sad that the whole area is planned for a huge development.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello David, Yes, there are many more survey markers way beyond what can be seen from the air. With the halt of building, it may be a while before the rest of the development is complete. Cheers, Marion.

[@CXensation]

Looks more like abandoned 2007 crisis real estate area.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello CXensation, Yes, yes it does and if felt that way too. Thank you for watching and commenting, Marion.

[@HunterR909]

You haven't shown any proof of an abandoned Espee line, where is your proof??

[@marionmitchell261]

If you follow that rail bed, you will see it once connected to what is now the east and westbound union pacific tracks, then follow south to where it branched off at Bisbee and then the smelter at Douglas Az. This is shown very nicely using google earth.

[@iamacarnut]

very somber..

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Robert, Thank you for watching.

[@billfitzpatrick6910]

Such are the plans of mice and men.

[@rico334]

You need to go to Walmart and get a can of spray paint for the hood of your pickup dude......... And no wonder construction went bankrupt, that would be the ultimate of a shit-hole place to live, pure desert, not a tree in sight......

[@AlarakTheHighLord]

rico334 that's clear coat peeling off from the sun.

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello rico334, Yes, indeed the paint has seen MUCH better days........Thank you for watching, and it is quit a lonely place to live, if they ever get the rest built. Cheers, Marion.

[@tjbailey29820]

rico334, What does the condition of their hood have to do with this video. Also your comment on the desert is ridiculous and offensive. Amazing, you have managed to show your ignorance twice in one post.

[@AlarakTheHighLord]

Tom Bailey I bet if you tossed his ass out there he would die in a few hours

[@tjbailey29820]

More than likely he would. I guess I'll never understand people who post comments like that.

[@davep6977]

somebody spent a lot of money on something that didn't materialize

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello davep6977, We have not been out there for a while, am planning another trip down to Tombstone and we'll be revisiting this area to see what if anything has changed. Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@MrMark85044]

since it is a clear path to the north, i wonder if it it used by immigrants trying to get north?

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello there!! Thank you for watching. When we get more than one day off, we would like to follow it south towards the border, but judging from google earth, some of the line runs through what appears to be peoples homes. Again thank you for watching.

[@Cockroach2008]

Would have been nice to go out there with some spray paint & "decorate" some of those rocks in the road median & that bridge! I would have used a case of blue, red, green, yellow, black & white!

[@freewill1114]

You are well named.

[@Cockroach2008]

+freewill1114 Thank you! I think I am too! However, what you think is none of my concern or interest!

[@dannygillingham7904]

For crying out loud, what is all this driving down the road stuff for?! On with the show already, gees?

[@suzylarry1]

let immigrants build there, start there own city

[@ericmarks6322]

John how about send the immigrants back to where they lived before?

[@bakdrft2009]

How many fuckin times do i hav to delete this vide o. I dont give shit!

[@1Hogman1zz]

Yawn..........yawn........Zzzzzzzzzzzzz Snore Zzzzzzzzzzzz Snore Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Douglas, Thanks for watching and commenting. Marion.

[@brucec6442]

Dreadfully boring !!!!

[@marionmitchell261]

Hello Bruce, Thank you for watching and commenting. Marion.