Filed Under Transportation

Riding the Rails in Peoria

New Routes Benefit the Community

By William M. Bercu, Ph.D.
Water Tower
Water Tower Peoria’s Water Tower met the water storage needs of the town. It was a visible landmark as travelers progressed on Grand Avenue. The train station is visible behind it. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: n.d.

A spur line of the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railroad passed through Peoria, connecting Phoenix to Prescott and the east-west transcontinental line of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway's main line in Ashfork.

William J. Murphy, whose Arizona Improvement Co. had been instrumental in creating Grand Avenue in 1887, used his influence to get a spur line of the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railroad to pass through Peoria.

Providing the railroad a right-of-way along Grand Avenue ensured a route beneficial to the community Murphy helped create. The line included new stations at Phoenix, Alhambra, Glendale, Glendale, Peoria, Marinette, and Beardsley to Wickenburg.

Construction on the line began in 1891 and concluded in March 1895. It connected Phoenix to Prescott and the east-west transcontinental line of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway's main line in Ashfork.

Images

Water Tower
Water Tower Peoria’s Water Tower met the water storage needs of the town. It was a visible landmark as travelers progressed on Grand Avenue. The train station is visible behind it. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: n.d.
Field trip of children visiting locomotive at train station.
Field trip of children visiting locomotive at train station. Train children at station, Peoria, AZ This was a Peoria grade school class getting ready for a day trip to Wickenburg. A train ride was favorite field trip for Peoria students. Creator: Dr. W. Bercu Date: c. 1940
Family preparing for train trip
Family preparing for train trip This photograph of the Charles Young family, preparing to board the next train at the Peoria Train Station. Photograph is circa 1938. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: c. 1938
Christmas time at the Peoria RailRoad Station.
Christmas time at the Peoria RailRoad Station. The Railroad Station was the center of activity in Peoria as the daily passenger trains came through. For many years, a Christmas Tree was erected near the the station. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: n.d.
Train Station ready for move to Scottsdale Railroad Park.
Train Station ready for move to Scottsdale Railroad Park. The Peoria Train Station on move to Scottsdale Railroad Park. The Depot - built in 1895 in Peoria, Az., was dismantled and rebuilt at the park located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Date: c. 1970
Peoria Depot heading to Scottsdale.
Peoria Depot heading to Scottsdale. The Peoria Train Station on move to Scottsdale Railroad Park. The Depot - built in 1895 in Peoria, Az., was dismantled and rebuilt at the park located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: c. 1970's
Class on field trip to Wickenburg
Class on field trip to Wickenburg Students getting ready for train ride. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: nk.
Peoria Train Depot, located in Scottsdale Railroad Park since 1972.
Peoria Train Depot, located in Scottsdale Railroad Park since 1972. Peoria's station made a move to be part of Scottsdale's Railroad Park. Source: Peoria Historical Society Date: 1979

Location

Metadata

Citation Info

William M. Bercu, Ph.D., “Riding the Rails in Peoria,” Salt River Stories, accessed September 8, 2024, https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/225.
Published Dec 5, 2016. Last updated Jun 2, 2023.

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