[citation needed] It was built to support the United Verde Mine at Jerome, Arizona.

On April 14, 1989, the Santa Fe Railway sold the Clarkdale branch to David L. Durbano.

The vintage FP7 diesel locomotives are two of only ten remaining in operation in North America.

They were originally built for the Alaska Railroad in 1953 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in La Grange, Illinois.

The route is nestled between two national forests and adjacent to a designated wilderness area, follows the Verde River the entire way and features a 680-foot (210 m) long tunnel and many bridges.