Daily Archives: May 3, 2026

Arizona – Feb 20, 1995

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In February of 1995 I made a second trip to Flagstaff, AZ, the first being February of 1994, both times by flying Alaska airlines into Phoenix, AZ.

Arrival into Phoenix this trip was on Sunday 2-19-95 and then I drove up to Flagstaff for the night.  The next morning, Monday 2-20-95 I was out railfanning the Santa Fe soon after the sun came up.  I drove east from Flagstaff out to the Cosnino area and first train I caught was an eastbound merchandise train at MP 333 behind 913/601/864  (C40-8W/C44-9W/C40-8W) at 0925 AM.

01) ATSF 913 E E. Flagstaff, AZ 2-20-95 MP 333

Next train was a westbound general merchandise led by 660/5437/5856/3831 (C44-9W/SD45u/SD45-2u/GP50) at 11:25 AM, again at MP 333.  Nose door open when it wasn’t really that hot out.

02) ATSF 660 W E. Flagstaff, AZ 2-20-95 MP 333

Here is a roster of the second unit, SD45u 5437

03) ATSF 5437 Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

The 5437 was built as SD45 1806 in 1966, then renumbered to 5509 before being rebuilt to 5437 in 1982.

The next train was identified as the PXKC with 5207/5257/5014/5818/5106/945/694/845  (SD40-2/SDF40-2/SD40/SD45-2u/SD40-2/C40-8W/C44-9W/C40-8W)  Too bad I could not get the entire consist in but the curve kind of kept that from happening.  This train was by MP 333 at 11:33 AM.

04) ATSF 5207 E Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

Next was a few rosters as the train passed, first was ATSF 5257, former Amtrak SDP40F 622.

05) ATSF 5257 Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

Then Santa Fe C40-8W 945

06) ATSF 945 Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

At 11:35 AM some westbound lite power passed by.  They were the 2354/2726 headed towards Flagstaff.  GP30u 2726 I roster shot.

07) ATSF 2726 Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

The 2726 was built as GP30 1226 in 1962, later renumbered to 3226.  The 2354 was a GP38u so I think I was happy to go with a photo of the GP30u.

Being as it was around lunchtime it appears I went back to Flagstaff for some fast food.  Seems logical as this set of 10 Warbonnets passed through Flagstaff next led by B40-8W 543.

08) ATSF 543 W Flagstaff, AZ 2-20-95

At 1:11 PM I was at McPhetridge, AZ (MP 336) where local LAZ081 passed under the Route 66 overpass headed east behind GP20u 3010.

09) ATSF 3010 E McPhetridge, AZ 2-20-95 MP 338

Then it was back to MP 333 Cosnino for the rest of the afternoon.  1-197-18 was next at 2:39 pm with 3840/3805/3844  (GP50/GP40X/GP50)

10) ATSF 3840 W Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

A roster shot of GP40X 3805.  Santa Fe only purchased 10 GP40X’s  (3800-3809) so it made sense to photograph the 3805.

11) ATSF 3805 Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

The ATSF 7445 West was next at 3:39 PM with autoracks.  7445/5124/5045 (B40-8/SD40-2/SD40-2) leading the way.  Nice, only B40-8 seen all day and it was leading a train!

12) ATSF 7445 W Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

Coming the other way at 3:41 PM was an eastbound autorack train with 3823/3808/9556/4019  (GP50/GP40X/SF30C/GP60)

13) ATSF 3823 E Cosnino, AZ 2-20-95

Getting roster shots of the 3808 or 9556 would have been nice but for some reason, no pics of them.

Then it was back to Flagstaff for the night.  I’d spend a few more days around Cosnino before heading for New Mexico and then on to El Paso, TX for some SP action winding things up Feb. 26 before heading back to Phoenix and the flight home..