The Magma Arizona Railroad was built by the Magma Copper Company and operated from 1915 to 1997. The railroad was originally built as a narrow gauge line, but was converted to in 1923. Originally headquartered in Superior, Arizona, the company primarily hauled cattle and copper on 30.2 mi of standard gauge track to and from the Southern Pacific mainline in Magma, Arizona, between Florence and Queen Creek. BHP purchased the Magma Copper Company and its lines in 1996 for A$3.2 billion and suspended rail operations on this line a year later. The Magma was the last industrial short line railroad to use steam power, dieselizing on September 4, 1968.

Revival

The railroad has since changed hands and is currently owned by Resolution Copper, a joint venture of Rio Tinto and BHP. Exploration in 2001-2003 resulted in the discovery of a large copper ore body some 7,000 ft beneath the surface of lands just 3 mi east of Superior. If the mine is eventually reopened, it is highly likely the Magma Arizona will be revived to transport the 1000000000 ST of ore to off-site smelters. Discussions with representatives of Resolution indicate the Magma Arizona name will be kept if the mine and railroad are both reopened, which may occur after feasibility studies are completed in 2009.

Locomotives Roster

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