Phoenix in the spring

Eric - you might have a bigger shopping list than you think!!!

MIKE

a bit larger than O, the Maricopa Live Steamers track is always worth a visit.  even more so if you are there on the spring meet weekend.  there is a model club (as i remember, a few different scales including a small 3-rail display, but mostly HO) directly adjacent to live steamers, but i cannot recall the name.

pack plenty of sun screen.

cheers...gary

Not train related, but if you have any interest in music, I recommend the Musical Instrument Museum.

http://mim.org/

Verde Canyon Railroad is a must do!

Thanks for your replies

I must say that the Verde Canyon Railroad is a must !

Yes Mike I need to save up for some spending money, mind you saves on shipping !!!

A must stop is the Scottsdale Railroad Park on Scottsdale Road.  In a beautiful building, there are a N scale, HO scale and a wonderful high rail layouts.  In addition the park has an operating 15" gauge railroad and other displays.

In addition to the Verde Canyon railroad, consider a trip to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway.  It is a day trip with a three hour layover at the Canyon.  Steam pulls the train on the first Saturday of each month!

There's the Arizona Railway Museum that has quite a bit of rolling stock.  It's all open air displays.  You'll can even get a look at my grandfather's privet passenger car, Southern #16.  As for hobby shops, Roy's Train World is small but a friendly place to stop.  Tim (the owner) usually knows about local events to check out.  If you don't mind a drive, Burling's Ton of Trains in Fountain Hills is a fun shop to visit.

Yes Eric - I need to save up as well so that I can then give the cash to you with my shopping list!!

MIKE

Hi Paul - cool pics!!

MIKE

wow, that is one wild paint scheme.

does it have some meaning?

i thought bald eagles liked the more northern climes.

cheers...gary

here is another place;

http://pandprr.com/newpandprr/Home.html

If you're in the Pheonix area in March and enjoy baseball, be sure to see a t least one Spring Training game.

The canyon has a unique history and yes eagles just like the one below. My advise is go first class, well worth the money.

If you have time for a side trip to Tucson:

Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum

Open 12:30-4:30 the second and fourth Sundays of the month. 

Tucson has two fantastic non-train attractions that make it worth a visit: 

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

Not exactly a museum, more of an open-air exhibit of native plants and wildlife. Fantastic, worth the trip from Phoenix all by itself.

Pima Air and Space Museum

Most of us who like trains, also like airplanes - and this is one of the best aviation museums in the country. Mainly military, but with some interesting civilian aircraft as well. An SR-71, President Eisenhower's Air Force One, a whole hangar devoted to a B-17, and lots more. 

Please keep in mind that the Great South west is an interesting combination of a lot of different climates. Several years back, we flew to Las Vegas, NV early April. Beautiful weather compared to what we left in Western, PA.  We did the "big swing" north to catch Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and then on to the Grand Canyon. We woke the second morning at Ruby's Lodge, Bryce Canyon to experience Pennsylvania sky, not the high blue Arizona sky.  I asked our breakfast attendant if it was going to snow.  He said, "Yes, 1 to 3".  I said, "inches?"  He said, "No, feet, but it goes away quickly"      Note that the bottom of the Grand Canyon is about the same elevation as Phoenix.    Have fun on your trip to the Great South West.   Mike.
Snow at Bryce Canyon

Early April, South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Desert Tower

   South Kiabab Trial head

My sweetheart having more fun than she expected.

Alco FPA4's at the South Rim a few days later.

Thank you all for helping me plan my trip

Your suggestions, I am sure, are going to contribute to a super vacation

Many thanks once again

Spring is a great time to visit Arizona as the weather is usually wonderful no matter what part of the state you visit.  If you end up in the vicinity of Prescott, AZ and would like to come by for a layout visit, you would be most welcome (in fact we have some very nice tinplate layouts in our area if you are interested).

Peter you are very kind

I will bear that in mind when I put together the itenerary