San Manuel Arizona Railroad

The San Manuel Arizona Railroad (reporting mark SMA) is an Arizona short-line railroad that operates from a connection with the Copper Basin Railway (CBRY) at Hayden, Arizona to San Manuel, Arizona, 29.4 miles (47.3 km).

Two SMA EMD GP38-2 units heading south with empty cars

History

San Manuel Arizona Railroad was constructed by a joint venture consisting of Utah Construction Company and The Sterns-Roger Manufacturing Company, which had a contract with San Manuel Copper Corporation for the construction of the railroad. The company was incorporated September 29, 1953, and the railroad began operations in 1955. The copper mine at San Manuel was permanently closed in October 2003. The SMA ceased operations in 1999. In July 2012 work was started to re-open the operation [construction of a new locomotive inspection and servicing shop & Administrative Offices] and upgrade of 29+ miles of mainline track between San Manuel & Hayden (Arizona). In April 2013 it was announced the railroad will be purchased by Capstone Mining Corp. as part of the Pinto Valley mine operation acquisition from BHP Billiton in 2013.[1][2]

References
  1. San Manuel Arizona Railroad Company SMA #794, UPRR website. Retrieved 8/7/12.
  2. Capstone Mining Corp website Archived 2013-06-28 at Archive.today. Retrieved 28/4/2013.


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