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The railroads of north central Arizona were all built to support Arizona’s richest copper mine located in Jerome, in the Mingus Mountains above Clarkdale. The Verde Canyon Railroad (formerly the Verde Valley Railroad, operated by the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad,) was financed by Senator William A. Clark for $1.3 million dollars in 1911. Built miraculously in only one year, the 38-mile, standard gauge line from Clarkdale to Drake, AZ was constructed by 250 men using 200 mules, picks and shovels and lots of DuPont black powder explosives. Today, the same railroad would cost in excess of $40 million to build.

During the first part of the last century, the railroad was often referred to as the “Verde Mix” because it carried such a diverse mixture of product and people. Today, the same transportation corridor still hosts both freight and excursion trains on its rails.

The present owner of the Verde Canyon Railroad is Dave Durbano. Dave is a native Utahan but now resides in Wyoming with his wife, Linda. He has six children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Other than railroads, he has a passion for airplanes and horses.

"Dere Control Man. Think you for letin us go on the train. It was fan. You have the funist train riad ever. It was the best, bomb, fun, so think you for everthink. From 1st class Lauren’s family."

—(Written on a napkin)

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