A 4K look at the railroad operations of the Arizona and California Railroad during the SD40-2 era.

Filmed from 2017 up until May of 2022 when “new” GE CW44-9's arrived (but had not yet in service) this is an in depth look at one of the very last pure "EMD SD40-2" operations in the country. This video is oriented starting with EAST bound trains from Cadiz, then WEST bound trains from Matthie/Castle Hot Springs.

The SD40-2 fleet of the ARZC: Most are rebuilt from SD45 and SD45-2 EMD locomotives (classified as SD40M-2's by ARZC), having received 16 cylinder engines rather than the more fuel guzzling 20 cylinder 645 engines originally installed. The extra horsepower was not really useable in actual railroad conditions (the extra horsepower could not be applied to the wheels at lower drag speeds) so most 45's got rebuilt into 40's as you see here on the ARZC. Also engines 3998 and 3999 are actual "as built" SD40-2's built for the Union Pacific railroad in 1980.

There is a complete listing of each locomotive and its heritage in the video at the very end.

This strategic regional railroad owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc., runs from Matthie, Arizona to Cadiz, California. The Arizona and California (reporting marks ARZC) has trackage rights to Phoenix from Matthie but interchange with BNSF is usually at Castle Hot Springs.

The growing agricultural & industrial operations of western Arizona are rapidly expanding for a world marketplace. Present ARZC operations include full unit grain trains and stack trains for unloading at the Lone Cactus Railroad at Utting, Arizona. (these trains always run with BNSF power)

ARZC 807 eastbound operations: Present operations of the 807 "East" train from Cadiz to Matthie/CHS are Sunday - Thursday evenings (starting at Cadiz sometime around 6:30 p.m. give or take a few hours. 807 re-crews at Parker around 3 in the morning and arrives at Matthie usually after sunrise. Schedule can vary by many hours. 807 does NOT run on Fridays and Saturdays from Cadiz (but the previous nights “Thursday 807” will run thru to Matthie/CHS on Friday mornings.

ARZC 708 westbound operations: Present operations are CHS/Matthie to Parker upon completion of interchange at CHS or Matthie (usually Castle Hot Springs) utilizing the same crew from Parker. Because of traffic on the Peavine (BNSF) the exact time of return is unknown and long waits are possible. The train will usually make it back to Parker by 12:30 or 1 P.M. The run to Cadiz from Parker is called for approx 2 p.m. with the train leaving around 2:30 to 3 p.m. The 708 will usually arrive in Cadiz anywhere from 4:30 to 7:30 or later. 708 does NOT run west from Parker to Cadiz on Fridays and Saturdays!

The only 807 Friday operations are Parker to Matthie/CHS and back to Parker. Nothing scheduled for Saturdays. Sundays are train 708 to Parker to Cadiz & back only with the usual call time around 2 p.m. Sunday afternoons.

SAFETY NOTE: The line is really not accessible between Milligan and Cadiz... there is NO cell phone service in and the road is absolutely NOT passable to passenger cars despite Waze and GPS phone guidance apps recommending that route. It is ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE to travel that road unless in a 4 wheel drive JEEP with LARGE sand tires due to many washes having very long tracks of loose sand that are extremely difficult to drive. If you want to see the interchange at Cadiz, wait at Parker until the west bound leaves.. get it going across the bridge at Parker, then you must go up to Needles CA and over I-40 west to the Kelbaker Road exit. Take route 66 west from Kelbaker road to Cadiz past the "road closed" signs and follow to Cadiz Road. Bring lots of water/snacks and a FULL tank of gas from Needles as there are no services other than at Amboy, CA which is about 15 miles west of Cadiz and the Amboy station may be closed do to road closures presently… so.. FULL tank of gas only from Needles (or Barstow) and LOTS of water! You will just beat the train to Cadiz driving this way.. In the winter months the operation is often at night, and during the long days of summer the heat in the Mojave desert is such that it is only recommended if in very good health and a very reliable car. Cadiz is one of those places that NOT many railfans go for very good reasons. Milligan is somewhat accessible from the SOUTH (absolutely do not drive from Cadiz to Milligan from the north!) but it is a good 25 miles from a paved road if your car breaks down so not really recommended unless traveling in a group with more than one car.


A special thanks to Diana Stuart who made so many of these shots possible!!!!