Prescott and Eastern Railroad
| Company type | Non-operating subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway (operating control) |
| Founded | September 14, 1897 |
| Defunct | December 30, 1911 |
| Successor | California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway (after consolidation) |
| Headquarters | Prescott, Arizona , United States |
Area served | Arizona |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The Prescott and Eastern Railroad (P&E) operated as a non-operating subsidiary under the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway (SFP&P) within Arizona. This common carrier line extended 26.4 miles (42.5 km), facilitating service to local mining operations. Its route commenced at a junction with the SFP&P in Entro, proceeded southward to Poland Junction, and concluded at Mayer. At both Poland Junction and Mayer, connections were available with the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad, which was likewise a non-operating subsidiary of the SFP&P. After a series of corporate consolidations, the P&E was absorbed into the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF), which ultimately discontinued the line. Presently, the initial four miles have been repurposed as part of the Iron King Trail leading to Prescott Valley, Arizona.
History
The P&E was officially incorporated on September 14, 1897, with construction work starting from the SFP&P link at Entro on March 10, 1898. The entire 26.4-mile track was finalized by September 30, 1898.
On December 30, 1911, the Prescott and Eastern Railroad was consolidated into the California, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway, a paper entity owned by the Santa Fe Railway.
Motive power
While operational control rested with SFP&P, the P&E possessed two locomotives: numbers #11 and #12. These were Brooks Locomotive Works 4-6-0 steam engines manufactured in November 1898, featuring 19×24 inch cylinders and 56-inch driving wheels. Each locomotive weighed 106,800 pounds and delivered a tractive effort of 22,270 pounds. They were subsequently renumbered as SFP&P #11 and #12, then later as ATSF #2431 and #2432 before being decommissioned (#11 in October 1927; #12 in April 1922).
Operating railroads
- 1897–1912: Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway
- From 1912 onward: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Route
The line was eventually abandoned by ATSF. Notable stops along its path included:
- Entro – connection to SFP&P mainline
- Yaeger
- Dewey
- Humboldt
- Poland Junction – interchange with Bradshaw Mountain Railroad Poland Branch
- Arizona City
- Mayer – connection point for Bradshaw Mountain Railroad Crown King branch