Possible Cleanup Sites

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FJ40LVR

FJ40LVR

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 15, 2006
Threads
108
Messages
1,382
Location
Chandler, AZ
Website
www.claritypoolservice.net
I am always up for a cleanup....I made a solo run to Butterfield Stage / Railroad tressle the other day to let the kids play in the Gila, and it is in need of some serious help......
It was filled in with garbage, beer bottles and more and more of the walls are coming down, either from erosion or vandalism. (probably the latter)
Trash in Butterfield.webp
 
FJ40LVR said:
I am always up for a cleanup....I made a solo run to Butterfield Stage / Railroad tressle the other day to let the kids play in the Gila, and it is in need of some serious help......
It was filled in with garbage, beer bottles and more and more of the walls are coming down, either from erosion or vandalism. (probably the latter)
Click to expand...
Howwdy! Is that out west of Maricopa? If so, I think I've seen the signs, but never wandered off the highway enough to find it. I'd be interested in doing a cleanup out there. It is really pretty close to Chandler. John
 
This is actually one of the areas we used to frequent. Beautiful Saguaro forest, it is part of the Sonoran National Monument on BLM land. So, yeah, I'll pitch in...

We should probably start a dedicated thread for this - not everyone will look under "Dead Threads" for a clean up...
 
inkpot said:
Howwdy! Is that out west of Maricopa? If so, I think I've seen the signs, but never wandered off the highway enough to find it. I'd be interested in doing a cleanup out there. It is really pretty close to Chandler. John
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No, but I think I know what you are talking about between Casa Grande and maricopa. Butterfield Stagecoach house is well off the beaten trails in Florence Junction, closer to the florence-kelvin highway side. (not easy to find) It is a pretty remote stage stop on what I (believe)was the route to tuscon from the Superior / Globe area.
I like to go there because there is a massive unused railroad tressle over the Gila that immediately cuts right through a small mountain - cool tunnel to walk through with the kids. Not a seriously hard trail to run though, anyone can make it, more of one of those slow scenic AZ backwoods trails that the family likes.
Light at end of tunnel.webp
Tunnel Mouth.webp
Tresle.webp
 
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RHINO said:
you sure its unused?
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No- I am not sure, I only based that assumption on the condition of the track, mostly rusty on the top of the rails. It still could be in use, but not heavy use, that is for sure. I'm sure there is someone on the board that has the definative answer to that question though.
That question sure goes through your head if you step into the tunnel to check it out, I will admit!
 
Tools R Us said:
Great shots, the light at the end of the tunnel!:cool:
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Thanks for updating the thread intent Kevin, the only reason i brought it up when trailbus called for cleanup's is due to the fact that it is NOT just a favorite trail of mine / place to go with my kids, but a historic monument of old Arizona that is slowly dissapearing.
The access trail in to Butterfield has several "camp" spots that would need even more clean up than the tresle area itself.
Stage 2.webp
 
I agree a cool area, I haven't been out there in a couple of decades, are the old rail cars and axles still laying out there? This maybe a good project for TTORA weekend?
 
Tools R Us said:
I agree a cool area, I haven't been out there in a couple of decades, are the old rail cars and axles still laying out there? This maybe a good project for TTORA weekend?
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Still two old cars, (more bullet holes though) and about a dozen old axles laying about. Some of the axles have been moved to block the tracks from being driven on, but a bypass has been created to the left at the base of the hill :confused:.
TTORA, good point......
 
Hi all!!

The old ruins might have been associated with a stage route, but not the Butterfield. The Butterfield runs more along Interstate 10 and Interstate 8 to the south(Maricopa as pointed out in a previous post). If it was a stage stop, it more likely was associated with the Kelvin-Florence line. The current railroad bed is most definitely still being used!! I do a lot of walking out in the area and it was just a few weeks ago that I had to stand aside to let one of the company's track adapted pickups pass by. In the area to the east of the ruins and Cochran, a lot of track maintenance has recently been done. Donnelly Wash just to the west of the ruins was the destination for my daughter's first off-road driving adventure....Regardless of the origin of the ruins it is part of a really nice area and deserving of attention!!
 
Tools R Us said:
This maybe a good project for TTORA weekend?
Click to expand...

NEGATIVE!

I plan on wheeling my ass off that weekend. I think we should do this before the TTORA event and then do a run out there during the weekend to show off our newly cleaned up area. Now THAT sounds more like a plan to me...
 
Toysx2 said:
Hi all!!

The old ruins might have been associated with a stage route, but not the Butterfield.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification, since the first time I went out there, I have heard of the location reffered to as the "Butterfield Stage House". Not knowing any better I never questioned it's authenticity, as I trusted the information.
 
FJ40LVR said:
Still two old cars, (more bullet holes though) and about a dozen old axles laying about. Some of the axles have been moved to block the tracks from being driven on, but a bypass has been created to the left at the base of the hill :confused:.
TTORA, good point......
Click to expand...

Cool deal, one of those axles would look good in my front yard. Next time your out there just toss one in the truck and drop it off at my house?:D :lol:

BMAN said:
NEGATIVE!

I plan on wheeling my ass off that weekend. I think we should do this before the TTORA event and then do a run out there during the weekend to show off our newly cleaned up area. Now THAT sounds more like a plan to me...
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me.:D
 
FJ40LVR said:
No- I am not sure, I only based that assumption on the condition of the track, mostly rusty on the top of the rails.
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i only ask cause i'm pretty sure those are the same tracks that i saw one of those maintinence engines one one day. of course like you said it doesnt mean they are regulalrly used, maybe occasionally, maybe private??
 
FJ40LVR said:
No- I am not sure, I only based that assumption on the condition of the track, mostly rusty on the top of the rails. It still could be in use, but not heavy use, that is for sure. I'm sure there is someone on the board that has the definative answer to that question though.
That question sure goes through your head if you step into the tunnel to check it out, I will admit!
Click to expand...

At least twice when I was out there in the past several years, I have been at the Cochran site and have seen a train moving along that track...at least 15-20 cars on them. Just make sure you don't stay out on the tressel too long just in case. ;) :D
 
offroader5 said:
At least twice when I was out there in the past several years, I have been at the Cochran site and have seen a train moving along that track...at least 15-20 cars on them. Just make sure you don't stay out on the tressel too long just in case. ;) :D
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See post above from Toysx2:) :) :)

If you want to see some of the cars and engines that use the track drive up the river to the yard at Kelvin and then on past Kearny to Hayden Junction--All part of the Copper Basin Railway. I believe that a lot of the "old iron" salvaged from the tear-down of the smelter at San Manuel exited through this route.
 
well we lost another lacrosse game to colorado,,,,,,,, ok well, just for historical discussion on the topic (sorta) isnt it kinda interesting how all that work and stuff went into building a route from st louis to san fransisco and it was only used for what 3 yrs? i think it was 1858-61? i would say the closest the route got to the building in question would have been the oneida station, but that was near black butte about 7 mi or so south of sacaton station, which was in present sacaton. like toysx2 said above, it didnt get too far off where I-17 is now, from eloy it took a turn north right into sacaton then went west again. there were alot of mail routes running during those times, maybe wells fargo or another of the few were responsible for the building in question.
 
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