Thursday, July 26, 2012

Train-quility!!!! Verde Valley Railroad from Clarkdale to Perkinsville!!

ALL ABOARD!!!!!!  We decided to go ride the Verde Valley Railroad...lived in AZ nearly my entire life(just 4 short months keeps me from being a Native) and we have never riden this train. We have  heard the scenery is amazing.......We came aboard the train in Clarkdale, just a short drive from Sedona, Az.
Mike and Shawna joined us too...Shawna is an Author...you can google her name..Shawna Newton and also her books are on Amazon.So fun to spend 4 relaxing hours with great friends!!
Scott and Donna came along as well...we have been Very Good friends with them for over 30 years!!!
We bought tickets for the first Class Car!!!!Nice and Cool and Comfortable......
With a Champagne toast!!
It truly was a Tranquil ride!!!and what a Great day for a train ride through the canyon...rained on us briefly....
So fun just riding along and enjoying the magnificent scenery.
And chatting away....


Us girls had a great time, talking and laughing!!
Appetizers were included in our ticket price...Chicken wings, sandwiches, veggies, and dessert.
And a Cash bar!!
In some spots, you get very close to those Canyon Walls, no wonder they warn you to keep your arms inside!
The scenery was breath taking.
The tunnel was about a mile....it did get completely dark for a while!!
Our journey ended in Perkinsville, Az...  A small community in Northern Arizona, the population is less then 50 people...I saw more cows and horses then people, actually I think my hubby said our tour guide said only 6 people live there.She also mentioned that family members of the Perkins family still own this ranch.
This is the old train Depot, built in 1912. Parts of the 1962 film "How the West was Won" was filmed here....the movie starred James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda and Debbie Reynolds to name just a Few!!!It is a Small weathered beaten building barely standing, but it is a Movie Site so that's a plus for me!!This is also the end of the line....
A pile of old train track repair hooks maybe???
The train uses a side track to get to the other end and pulls the train from the rear back to Clarkdale....it was cool to see the two engines come strolling by!!
When we started we were the next to the last car..only the caboose was behind us.....now we are in the front!!!
Going over one of the three or four trestle bridges...

The ride was so fun and so relaxing.....we spotted 1 bald eagle, but it was so fast, I missed getting a picture of it.
Looking back at the Long train...nearly a 1/4 of a mile long. I decided the last hour of the ride back, I would go inside and put my feet up and rest!!Loved the clicking clicking sound,and the rocking...I could have fallen asleep!!

1 comment:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh we have been on that ride and it really is a fun one. Looks like you all had a great time too. Hugs, Marty