Find Your Perfect Train Ride in Arizona Today

For elegant dinning while viewing the Arizona landscapes, the Sierra Madre Express offers both comfort and charm on week long rail adventures traveling through 80 tunnels and passing over nearly 40 bridges.
The Grand Canyon Railway provides an entertaining leisurely paced 2-hour, 15 minute scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon.
Additional scenic train rides in Arizona include the elegance of a luxury streamliner service and fine dining aboard the Arizona Eastern Railway’s Copper Spike Train Excursion with departures out of Globe, AZ. On the Verda Canyon Railroad, passengers ride can ride in either air-conditioned or open cars year-round.

Did you know?

Arizona has 25 steam locomotives on display around the state and the 1923 ex-CB&Q 2-8-2 No. 4960, now powered by environmentally friendly waste vegetable oil, is the state’s lone operating steam locomotive with departures out of Williams on the Grand Canyon Railway.
Listed on the National Southern Register of Historic Places, Southern Pacific 2-6-0 locomotive #1673 is on display at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum in Tuscon and the 1906 Southern Pacific 2-8-0 #2562 is on display at the Arizona Railway Museum. AT&SF “Mountain Type” 4-8-4 steam locomotive #3759 is on display at the Locomotive Park in Kingman.
Seventy six railroads once covered Arizona’s breath taking landscape. Today, Arizona’s 1800 plus rail miles of heavily traveled commerce routes are handled primarily by Union Pacific and BSNF. Both Amtrak trains, the Southwest Chief from Los Angeles and the Sunset Limited, make several stops in Arizona.

Chandler

Arizona Railway Museum

The Arizona Railway Museum features more than 30 pieces of railroad equipment including locomotives, freight cars and passenger cars dedicated to Arizona and the southwest. Open weekends from September through May. Directions.

Clarkdale

Verde Canyon Railroad

The Verde Canyon Railroad is often referred to as the finest scenic train rides in Arizona and acclaimed as Arizona’s longest-running nature show. Passengers enjoy this four-hour scenic train ride in first-class style aboard renovated passenger coaches and open-air viewing cars pulled by vintage locomotives. Often called Arizona’s ‘Other’ Grand Canyon, Verde Canyon Railroad offers passengers the opportunity to see a beautiful red rock canyon up close in all its seasonal glory. Considered one of the finest scenic train rides in North America, be assured you’ll want to return with friends and family again and again. A perfect addition to any vacation. Scenic highlights include a covered bridge and a trestle over a 175-foot deep gorge. Some of the many excursion tours include the Fall Color tour, October’s Ales on Rails, the Haunted Halloween Express and the ever popular Santa Claus Express. Trains run year-round. Directions

Globe

Copper Spike Train

Round trip or one way “Copper Spike” Train Excursions depart from a 2 story 1916 restored depot located on Globe,Arizona’s historic Broad Street. Your forty-five minute ride through the “Land of the Apache” terminates at the Apache Gold Casino Resort. The Copper Spike Train Excursion operates full-length dome cars built in 1954 for the Santa Fe Railway that were used on luxury long-distance trains. They feature seating for 66 passengers on the upper level, with a 22-seat dining area on the lower level. These cars are air-conditioned and restroom-equipped.Polar Express and New Year’s Eve excursions run during December. Luncheon and dinner trains run Fridays and Saturdays.  Update 2012: Permanently Closed

Kingman

Locomotive Park

Locomotive Park is home for AT&SF “Mountain Type” 4-8-4 steam engine #3759. Visitors are allowed to climb aboard the AT&SF 3759. The locomotive is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Phoenix

Maricopa Live Steamers

The Maricopa Live Steamers offersfFree rides to the public each Sunday (except Mid-May through August) from Noon till 5:00 p.m.

Scottsdale

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Static railroad displays and scale train,

Tucson

Sierra Madre Express

The Sierra Madre Express offers a scenic train ride travel experience reminiscent of the golden age of railroading. The fleet includes four sleeping cars and a domed dining and observation car. In addition, there are four other public areas. As the train travels past some of the most spectacular vistas imaginable, travelers may choose any of four different passenger cars to from which to view the passing landscape.1-800-717-0108 or 503-292-5055.

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum

Depot museum and Southern Pacific Locomotive #1673 on display.

Williams

Grand Canyon Railway

Grand Canyon Railway made its first journey to the Grand Canyon in 1901, long before Arizona was dubbed the “Grand Canyon State.” With the arrival of the train, people could get to the legendary canyon with ease and comfort. Today, you can travel to Grand Canyon National Park on this scenic train ride along the same rail line your parents or grandparents did. Select from one of five vintage classes of service which have been lovingly restored. Today, Grand Canyon Railway carries more than 230,000 people by rail to Grand Canyon National Park each year. The Railway also offers Grand Canyon vacations that include train travel, stays at Williams and Grand Canyon hotels, RV park stays and much more. Thomas the Tank Engine days run during May. The Polar Express trains run from November to January. The only steam locomotive operating today on the Grand Canyon Railway is the 1923 2-8-2 Mikado #4960. The railway also uses ex-Canadian National Alco FPA-4’s for diesel service excursions on the 65 mile run to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Directions