Rail line could be part of Resolution Copper land exchange

A proposal has come forward to include a Magma Arizona Railroad line as part of the land swap bill in Congress for the Resolution Copper mine near Superior. Her proposal is to add the rail line to the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act that would trade 5,500 acres of conservation lands for lands Resolution needs to develop its mine. [right, Magma engine #10, at the Arizona Railroad Museum]

State Representative Barbara McGuire wants the existing line now owned by Resolution to become a passenger line connecting the Superior area to the Phoenix Valley and eventually to the new light rail line. According to a story in the Arizona Republic, McGuire also wants to get federal transportation stimulus money to help convert the line.

The rail line was built to transport cattle and copper to the SP line in Magma.