Engine No. 1 of the Arizona and Pacific Railroad (present operating Miniature Railroad) , the "Phoenix" is the current workhorse of the railroad. It was originally purchased by Del Webb in September 1959 and operated at his HiWay House Hotel and convention center in Phoenix. The track wound its way around the flower gardens, swimming pools and barbecue cabanas of the sprawling and manicured grounds of the hotel in central Phoenix. Webb at the time was developing numerous commercial and residential properties throughout the Southwest and also owned the New York Yankees. Reportedly, Yankees manager, Casey Stengel, several of his star players, the cast of Gunsmoke, and numerous notables from the entertainment and sports fields who stayed at the hotel rode the train. We'd love to have photographs. Local brownie and cub scout troops included train rides on the HiWay House Express as part of their regular activities.
The hotel had a ten year run (56-65) when it competed very successfully for the local conventions and traveler. Interest in the hotel began to wane after the completion of the interstate highway through Phoenix routed traffic several miles to the south and Webb sold the hotel in 1965. It changed hands several additional times before it was abandoned as that part of town deteriorated even farther. The State of Arizona eventually purchased the property and converted it to operation as a Women's prison.
It is believed the train was last operated in early 1975. We were lucky enough to purchase the derelict train at a state auction in May of 1995. To say that the train had merely fallen into disrepair after many years of neglect is an understatement. Twenty years of neglect, vandalism and theft had taken a tremendous toll on the diminutive S-16.
