Ash Fork Station
Encyclopedia
Ash Fork Station is a railway station previously used by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
. Also on the station site was the Harvey House Escalante hotel. Service to Ash Fork began in the early 1880s when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
(predecessor of the Santa Fe) built through town. After the completion of a line in 1895—the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway
—to Phoenix, Ash Fork became an important junction point for the Santa Fe.
, and built in the same style as the current Flagstaff station
. The structure was one of the first made by the railroad and became too small to handle the amount of passengers at Ash Fork. It was destroyed in a 1905 fire.
Built in 1907, the second structure was built as part of the famous Esclante hotel and restaurant. It was part of the Fred Harvey Company
, although built after Harvey's death. The cost of construction was $
150,000 (now $2.6 million due to inflation). Ash Fork was a meal stop; all trains stopped so passengers could eat. The Harvey House eventually closed in 1948—nothing remains on the site presently.
Ash Fork's service on the main line
lasted until 1960, when the Santa Fe completed a bypass around Ash Fork. This was done to avoid the steep Johnson Canyon, west of Ash Fork. The junction point shifted to Williams Junction
and the line to Phoenix became the only service through the town. The former main line west of Ash Fork was abandoned. This, combined with I-40
bypassing the town, began the decline of Ash Fork.
The final regular passenger service to Ash Fork ended in April 1969, when train number 42, nicknamed the Hassayampa Flyer, was discontinued.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. Also on the station site was the Harvey House Escalante hotel. Service to Ash Fork began in the early 1880s when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was a U.S. railroad that owned or operated two disjoint segments, one connecting St. Louis, Missouri with Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the other connecting Albuquerque, New Mexico with Southern California. It was incorporated by the U.S. Congress in 1866 as a...
(predecessor of the Santa Fe) built through town. After the completion of a line in 1895—the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway
Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway
The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway was a common carrier railroad that later became an operating subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Arizona. At Ash Fork, Arizona the SFP&P connected with Santa Fe's operating subsidiary, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad mainline, that...
—to Phoenix, Ash Fork became an important junction point for the Santa Fe.
History
The first station in Ash Fork was a 1893 structure made out of red Coconino sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and built in the same style as the current Flagstaff station
Flagstaff (Amtrak station)
The Flagstaff Amtrak station is located at 1 East Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The station, formerly the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway depot, doubles as a visitor center and is located in the midst of the shops, cafes, and boutiques of downtown Flagstaff...
. The structure was one of the first made by the railroad and became too small to handle the amount of passengers at Ash Fork. It was destroyed in a 1905 fire.
Built in 1907, the second structure was built as part of the famous Esclante hotel and restaurant. It was part of the Fred Harvey Company
Fred Harvey Company
The origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
, although built after Harvey's death. The cost of construction was $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
150,000 (now $2.6 million due to inflation). Ash Fork was a meal stop; all trains stopped so passengers could eat. The Harvey House eventually closed in 1948—nothing remains on the site presently.
Ash Fork's service on the main line
Southern Transcon
The Southern Transcon is a main line of the BNSF Railway between Southern California and Chicago, Illinois. Completed in 1908 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, when it opened the Belen Cutoff in New Mexico and bypassed the steep grades of Raton Pass, it now serves as a mostly...
lasted until 1960, when the Santa Fe completed a bypass around Ash Fork. This was done to avoid the steep Johnson Canyon, west of Ash Fork. The junction point shifted to Williams Junction
Williams Junction (Amtrak station)
The Williams Junction is located southeast of Williams, Arizona. This station is not accessible to private vehicles; passengers are transferred via an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach shuttle to Williams, Arizona which travels in part on a gravel road to connect with the Grand Canyon Railway...
and the line to Phoenix became the only service through the town. The former main line west of Ash Fork was abandoned. This, combined with I-40
Interstate 40 in Arizona
Interstate 40 is an east–west Interstate Highway that has a section in the U.S. state of Arizona connecting sections in California to New Mexico. It enters Arizona from the west at a crossing of the Colorado River southwest of Kingman...
bypassing the town, began the decline of Ash Fork.
The final regular passenger service to Ash Fork ended in April 1969, when train number 42, nicknamed the Hassayampa Flyer, was discontinued.