Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend Railroad

The Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend Railroad went from the Southern Pacific's (now Union Pacific's) Gila Subdivision in Gila Bend, Arizona to Ajo, Arizona.[1]

The railroad was incorporated in 1915[2] for use by the New Cornelia mine at Ajo. Originally, the railroad was intended to connect to Tucson.[2] The railroad was in operation from 1916 until the 1980s.[3]

The station of Childs was established in 1916[4] six miles north of Ajo.[5] Childs was named for local rancher and miner Tom Childs, who discovered copper at Ajo.[4] In 1934, Childs was described as having a post office and station.[4]

In 1926, it was reported that the track was 44.327 miles long and that the railroad owned an additional 3.310 miles of tracks and sidings.[6]

In 1969, six stations were listed in the timetable, but only Ajo and Gila Bend were agency stations. Black Gap and Rocky Point were short sidings used when passenger trains met. Childs and Midway were longer sidings.[7] In 1972, it was mentioned that there were children living in Childs.[1]

In 1998, Phelps Dodge upgraded the railroad for proposed resumed mining at Ajo.[8]

The railroad passes through the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range.[8]

The Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend caboose No. 15, listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 2018, reference# 100001660.

References

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  1. ^ a b Cavanaugh, Wade (December 24, 1972). "Freight Train, Passenger Train, Friend". Arizona Daily Star. p. C3. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Railroad Keeps Rights in the Tucson-Ajo Survey". Tucson Citizen. May 10, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Old Building Gets New Lease on Life as Visitors Center, Chamber Office". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. July 10, 2013. p. A2. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Barnes, Will Croft (1935). Arizona place names. p. 91. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Ridge Jr, George W. (August 1977). "Hear the Rattle &the Clatter". Arizona Highways. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Reports and Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States (Report). Vol. 119. Interstate Commerce Commission. 1927. p. 600. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Munson, C. E. (April 1969). "Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend". The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin (120): 68–70. JSTOR 43518274.
  8. ^ a b Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR), Renewal of the Barry M. Goldwater Range Land Withdrawal, Legislative EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) (Report). Vol. 1. United States. Air Force. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
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