MARRCO

The Magma Arizona Railroad Company (MARRCO) has a long and colorful past. The railroad was constructed in 1914 to transport copper from the mine to the marketplace as well as transporting supplies to the mine.

The railway provided a critical link from the mine to the rest of the world - a link which enabled the mine to operate smoothly and cost effectively. Other interesting historical highlights:

• The last steam locomotive in the United States was operated on the MARRCO line until 1968.
• The rail line has been used in movies sets, including the train robbery/wreck scene in “How the West Was Won”.

The MARRCO line runs from Superior to the Magma Junction located between the towns of Florence and Queen Creek. There it hooks to the Union Pacific main line and the Copper Basin Railroad going to Hayden. Total distance of the line is nearly thirty miles. For half of that distance, the line follows Queen Creek; the other half traverses flat Arizona desert.

Looking to the Future

The railroad has been idle since 1997 when the Magma Mine was shut down, but it has never been abandoned. The line is quiet now but the future may bring with it exciting changes. Depending on the final location of the Resolution Copper processing plant, the MARRCO railway may once again be used to transport copper and supplies, this time from what may be the largest copper-producing mine in the United States.

In addition to supporting future production at Resolution Copper, the MARRCO line can also support regional economic development. Once operational, the railway will have capacity to haul goods and supplies for businesses in Superior as well as the State Trust Land known as Superstition Vistas. Resolution Copper has been working closely with the Superstition Vistas Steering Committee and the Pinal County Comprehensive Planning effort to have the area around the line and south of Highway 60 designated as an industrial zone. As a consequence, the Magma Arizona Railroad will be able to support the growth and economy of the entire region even after our mine operations have ceased.

The potential revitalization of the historic MARRCO railway and its subsequent impact on economic development is just one example of how Resolution Copper Mining can contribute to the long term sustainability of Superior and the surrounding area.