Adobe Mountain Desert Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adobe Mountain Desert Park (Railroad Park)
Porter 0-4-0 18" gauge locomotive
Type	Railroad Park with Museum
Location	23280 North 43rd Avenue Glendale, Arizona
Operated by	Sahuaro Central

The Adobe Mountain Desert Park, also known as "The Railroad Park", is a fun place in Glendale, Arizona. It's a big park that's home to several cool groups. These include the Sahuaro Central Railroad Heritage Preservation Society, the Sahuaro Central Railroad Museum, the Arizona Model Railroading Society, and the Maricopa Live Steamers.

This park covers about 160 acres. You can find it south of Pinnacle Peak Road on 43rd Avenue. It's a great spot for anyone who loves trains, from tiny models to big, rideable ones!

The park also has some special historical buildings. These are houses that were once used as temporary homes during World War II. They were for Japanese-American citizens who were moved from their homes on the West Coast. These houses were originally at a place called the Leupp Isolation Center.

History of the Railroad Park

Old Adobe Park Ranger Station, now the Sahuaro Central headquarters and museum

The Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park and Museum started in 1989. That's when the Sahuaro Central Railroad Heritage Preservation Society leased 80 acres of land. They made an agreement with the Maricopa Parks and Recreation Department. This agreement allowed them to use the land for 25 years for free, with a chance to renew for another 25 years.

In 1992, another group, the Arizona Model Railroading Society (AMRS), needed a new home. They had been in Scottsdale since 1984 but had to move. They thought Adobe Mountain Park would be a perfect fit. So, they asked Sahuaro Central if they could join. An agreement was made later that same year.

The Maricopa Live Steamers (MLS) also wanted to move their operations. They used to be at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. They also made an agreement with Sahuaro Central in 1992 to move to the park.

These groups work together to manage the park. They make sure the common areas, like roads and parking, are well-maintained. Any big changes to the park need approval from the Sahuaro Central board and local government groups.

The Sahuaro Central Railroad Museum

Welcome to Sahuaro Central Railroad Museum

The main building for the Sahuaro Central Railroad Museum used to be the Park Ranger Station. Now, it's filled with cool exhibits about trains! You can see different sizes of train models. There are also old items from Arizona's early railroad days. These include a conductor's cap, railroad spikes, and old lanterns. You can even see the bell and headlight from a real Porter 0-4-0 locomotive! There's also a gift shop. The building has been made bigger for meetings and museum activities.

Outside the museum, you'll find several real steam locomotives on display. One is a Porter 0-4-0 locomotive built in 1887. It's an 18-inch gauge train that was once used in a copper mine in Morenci, Arizona. There's also a restored mini H.J. Ottaway steam engine, which was built in Wichita, Kansas. Plus, you can see four of those historical Japanese Internment Camp houses from 1943.

The Arizona Model Railroading Society (AMRS)

Right next to the museum is a large metal building. This is the home of the Arizona Model Railroading Society. Sahuaro Central helped pay for this building. Inside, you'll find amazing model train layouts. These include the Huntley HO train layout and other layouts in G, N, and O scales. It's a miniature world of trains!

The Maricopa Live Steamers (MLS)

Sign leading to free rides at Adobe Station

The Maricopa Live Steamers (MLS) is the oldest group of its kind in Arizona. They have many 7 1/2-inch gauge train engines. They also have about 50 cars you can ride in and 20 other cars.

Between 1996 and 1999, MLS built three miles of track outside the Sahuaro Central museum. By 1998, a loop of track went all the way around the museum. As of 2022, MLS has more than 18 miles of 7 1/2-inch gauge tracks! They also have 1500 feet of smaller 4 3/4-inch track.

MLS offers free train rides on Sundays from October through April. The rides start at Adobe Station and take you through the desert. There are six different routes, but usually up to four are used for public rides. Along the way, you'll see working signals, many bridges, trestles, and even a "Teeny Tiny Tunnel."

Since 2012, Shelby's Junior Engineer School has been open at Adobe Train Station. Here, kids of all ages can learn to operate a small electric model of a diesel train. The MLS's Arizona Western Railroad is one of the biggest miniature railroad setups in the United States! They even built an old 1890s western-themed town with fake fronts on their storage buildings.

Images for kids

The following photographs show The Sahuaro Central Railroad Museum, the Arizona Model Railroading Society (AMRS), and the Maricopa Live Steamers (MLS).

More to Explore

• McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
• List of heritage railroads in the United States
• List of historic properties in Glendale, Arizona
• Catlin Court Historic District
• Manistee Ranch
• Sahuaro Ranch
• USS Arizona salvaged artifacts