Tour of the Mountain Pacific Lines

A Tour of the Mountain Pacific Lines Flagstaff Model Railroad Club Click for larger map of the MPL and its links to the nation! (Thanks to Bruce Petrarca)
The Mountain Pacific Lines (MPL) is a freelance concept based on a single-track, north-south route linking Phoenix, AZ. with Ogden, UT by way of Flagstaff. Although never built in reality, this route was actually proposed by Flagstaff pioneers who dreamed of constructing the Arizona Mineral Belt south of Flagstaff to Globe and Tucson. The Riordans of Flagstaff bought the company for regional logging operations and renamed it the Central Arizona Railroad. Trackage of the Central Arizona operated with up to 25 steam locomotives south of Flagstaff to the Mogollon Rim until the 1960s but never went south of the rim. Tunnel bores and initial grades still exist from attempts to build south. The design concept for the MPL therefore roughly coincides with this original idea of a bridge line connecting southern Arizona with Utah. In the modeling world, the MPL represents the 1950s and operates between Phoenix and Provo, Utah with trackage rights to Ogden. The MPL can interchange with the SP and ATSF (now BNSF) in Phoenix, ATSF in Flagstaff, Rio Grande and Union Pacific in Provo, and the SP, WP, and BN in Ogden. The Colton mining branch runs northwest from Provo, modeled with a two-track reversing loop under the layout's South Mountain. On the MPL layout, the staging yard at the north end of the club facility represents both Provo and Phoenix (see below). Depending on the direction of departure from the staging yard, trains travel from point to point through several towns in prototypical directions. This illustrated tour (below) of the MPL begins at Phoenix (staging) and moves north across Chaffee Canyon (the steepest grade on the MPL) and up over the Mogollon Rim to Timber Creek. This portion of the MPL route from Phoenix to Timber Creek was also a “helper district” in the days of steam and early diesels, and helper jobs were domiciled at Phoenix. Now on the Colorado Plateau, MPL trains continue north to the railroad's headquarters and largest classification yard at Flagstaff. Nearby are the industrial towns of East Flagstaff and Oildale, both with heavy switching duties on a given day. These towns are typically served by a Local (way freight) based out of Flag Yard. The MPL's primary passenger station is also located at Flagstaff. Heading north, MPL trains make their way through the ranching community of Glenview and eventually into Hill Valley (named for former club member, Mr. Hill). Hill Valley includes a small classification yard, Main Street, and numerous businesses and light industries, including a small grain elevator. From here, northbounds continue on to Provo, Utah, with trackage rights to Ogden (staging). The MPL is set up with north and south divisions. Crews are stationed at Provo, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. By union work rules, Flagstaff is a common board and crews can work either north or south. All crews change at Flagstaff. The boards work FIFO and out-of-town crews are first up for service to their home terminals. Hill Valley and Timber Creek may be served by mainline trains or by local turns out of Flagstaff.
PHOENIX (and Ogden, background) Trains staged at Phoenix, ready to head north toward the rim country.
CHAFFEE CANYON A mixed train heads up the grade over the canyon, with the MPL "Ad Train" (upper right) and narrow gauge passenger train on their respective routes. Swimming beneath the canyon trestles. Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2006.
TIMBER CREEK All three scales visible here: N-scale (background), HOn3 (middle), HO scale (foreground). MPL Decapod #12 does some switching. Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2006. Photo: Tom Paradis, 2003.
GLENVIEW A short cattle train moves north out of Glenview Siding. Hill Valley is seen here at upper right. Photo: Tom Paradis
FLAG YARD Looking north into Flag Yard, with Fair-goers inspecting the action. A busy Flag Yard during the County Fair.
EAST FLAGSTAFF (Stay Tuned! Recently rebuilt.)
OILDALE
HILL VALLEY Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2003.

A Tour of the Mountain Pacific Lines
Flagstaff Model Railroad Club

Click for larger map of the MPL and its links to the nation!
(Thanks to Bruce Petrarca)

The Mountain Pacific Lines (MPL) is a freelance concept based on a single-track, north-south route linking Phoenix, AZ. with Ogden, UT by way of Flagstaff. Although never built in reality, this route was actually proposed by Flagstaff pioneers who dreamed of constructing the Arizona Mineral Belt south of Flagstaff to Globe and Tucson. The Riordans of Flagstaff bought the company for regional logging operations and renamed it the Central Arizona Railroad. Trackage of the Central Arizona operated with up to 25 steam locomotives south of Flagstaff to the Mogollon Rim until the 1960s but never went south of the rim. Tunnel bores and initial grades still exist from attempts to build south. The design concept for the MPL therefore roughly coincides with this original idea of a bridge line connecting southern Arizona with Utah.

In the modeling world, the MPL represents the 1950s and operates between Phoenix and Provo, Utah with trackage rights to Ogden. The MPL can interchange with the SP and ATSF (now BNSF) in Phoenix, ATSF in Flagstaff, Rio Grande and Union Pacific in Provo, and the SP, WP, and BN in Ogden. The Colton mining branch runs northwest from Provo, modeled with a two-track reversing loop under the layout's South Mountain.

On the MPL layout, the staging yard at the north end of the club facility represents both Provo and Phoenix (see below). Depending on the direction of departure from the staging yard, trains travel from point to point through several towns in prototypical directions. This illustrated tour (below) of the MPL begins at Phoenix (staging) and moves north across Chaffee Canyon (the steepest grade on the MPL) and up over the Mogollon Rim to Timber Creek. This portion of the MPL route from Phoenix to Timber Creek was also a “helper district” in the days of steam and early diesels, and helper jobs were domiciled at Phoenix. Now on the Colorado Plateau, MPL trains continue north to the railroad's headquarters and largest classification yard at Flagstaff. Nearby are the industrial towns of East Flagstaff and Oildale, both with heavy switching duties on a given day. These towns are typically served by a Local (way freight) based out of Flag Yard. The MPL's primary passenger station is also located at Flagstaff. Heading north, MPL trains make their way through the ranching community of Glenview and eventually into Hill Valley (named for former club member, Mr. Hill). Hill Valley includes a small classification yard, Main Street, and numerous businesses and light industries, including a small grain elevator. From here, northbounds continue on to Provo, Utah, with trackage rights to Ogden (staging).

The MPL is set up with north and south divisions. Crews are stationed at Provo, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. By union work rules, Flagstaff is a common board and crews can work either north or south. All crews change at Flagstaff. The boards work FIFO and out-of-town crews are first up for service to their home terminals. Hill Valley and Timber Creek may be served by mainline trains or by local turns out of Flagstaff.

PHOENIX (and Ogden, background)

Trains staged at Phoenix, ready to head north toward the rim country.

CHAFFEE CANYON

A mixed train heads up the grade over the canyon, with the MPL "Ad Train" (upper right) and narrow gauge passenger train on their respective routes.

Swimming beneath the canyon trestles.
Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2006.

TIMBER CREEK

All three scales visible here: N-scale (background), HOn3 (middle),
HO scale (foreground). MPL Decapod #12 does some switching.
Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2006.

Photo: Tom Paradis, 2003.

GLENVIEW

A short cattle train moves north out of Glenview Siding. Hill Valley is seen here at upper right.
Photo: Tom Paradis

FLAG YARD

Looking north into Flag Yard, with Fair-goers inspecting the action.

A busy Flag Yard during the County Fair.

EAST FLAGSTAFF

(Stay Tuned! Recently rebuilt.)

OILDALE

HILL VALLEY

Photo: Bruce Petrarca, 2003.