The Magma Arizona Railroad was constructed to serve a rich copper vein in Superior, Arizona, approximately 55 miles east of Phoenix. Mining started in the area in the late 19th century, but was heavily developed during the early 1910s. Freight was hauled by wagon road to Florence, approximately 25 miles southwest of Superior. The wagon road was slow and expensive, leading Magma Copper Company to explore constructing a railroad to serve a newly constructed mill in the area.
Although Magma Copper considered other transportation options, a narrow gauge railroad was selected as it was deemed to be the cheapest and most reliable method available. Although originally shopping for gasoline-mechanical motive power, multiple builders steered the company towards steam power. Magma Copper staff ultimately selected a double-ended 2-4-2T saddle tank arrangement from American Locomotive Company (ALCo). Engine 1 rolled out of the ALCo Cooke Works in December 1914, and was on Magma Arizona property in January 1915.
Engine 1 was soon replaced by larger 2-4-2 tender engines. Information regarding operations of the line during its brief narrow gauge era is sparse, but it appears likely it was employed either as a spare or as a switcher at the concentrate mill once the larger engines arrived. As a narrow gauge railroad, the Magma Arizona only operated until 1921. The line was dormant until standard gauging in 1923. Engine 1 was sold to the Salt River Valley Water Users District in 1924 for a construction project. After completion, the locomotive was scrapped.
Steam locomotive builders assigned code words to catalog locomotives to for ease of ordering. Magma Arizona 1 was used as the catalog example of a code word Ubjat 2-4-2T.
Magma Arizona 2-4-2T #1
Built: American Locomotive Company Cooke Works December 1914
Boiler Pressure: 165 PSI
Cylinders: 10 x 16 inch
Drivers: 30 ½ inch
Tractive effort: 7,800 lbs
Weight: 45,000 lbs
Oil: 150 gallons
Water: 700 gallons
Cost: $3,800 ($106,834 in 2022 dollars)
Тип: traincar