This Magma Copper Co. steam locomotive was acquired by the Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society for $7,500, the same price Magma paid the El Paso and South-Western Railroad for the engine in 1922. It hauled copper from the mine at Superior to the Southern Pacific interchange at Magma for 38 years. (Photo provided)

The park today

          Over the 44 years, the railroad park has evolved into one of the most popular attractions in Scottsdale with approximately 1 million visitors a year.

This updated 1982 aerial photo shows the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park a few years after its grand opening in 1975. The park was built on 30 acres of McCormick Ranch, donated by Guy Stillman to use specifically as a railroad park. (Photo provided)

          The first attraction, the operational exact 5/12 reproduction of a Colorado narrow gauge railroad, continues to be the centerpiece of the park. The park also contains three steam locomotives, two diesel engines, an electric engine and several scale model cars. A second train ride in the desert arboretum area includes a 1 1/2-inch to 1-foot scale train on a 10-minute loop.

          Throughout the park, there are also two playgrounds and two historical museums, one of which displays a history of the park itself. The Scottsdale Charros carousel that was added in the 1980s is a 1950 vintage Allan Herschell carousel, complete with 30 horses and two wheelchair chariots.

          There is a 10,000-square-foot model train building, which houses four model railroad clubs, three layouts and a variety of exhibits and hands-on amenities. The building weaves contemporary architecture into the long and low style like a 19th century train shed and has been rated LEED Gold in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. From this building’s lobby, eight scales of trains can be seen from the smallest Z-scale to the full-sized Roald Amundsen Presidential Pullman car.

          Each year the park holds special events such as their Holiday Lights, Halloween Spook-Track-Ula, Railfair, Slide the Rails and Exclusive Little.

          “Upcoming plans for the park will include the relocation of the Merci train box car, additional parking, replacement of the bunk house with a new building that will include an indoor play area for children and a 5,000-square-foot splash pad,” Grimes shared.

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