We'll begin by heading off any topic title confusion: Razing Arizona is a take on the name of a fairly obscure - and pretty weird - Nick Cage flick called "Raising Arizona."
This little holiday season safari into the parched wastes of our 48th state occurred because Alice (former Executive Assistant of the Patrick & Alice RailRiot 2009) had some business to transact in the Phoenix area and invited me along for the ride. By automobile. Ordinarily I woulda declined. I mean, who looks forward to a road trip when the driver is a maniac with a known penchant for making left turns from the right lane?
Still, the lure of a new and unridden (by me) light rail line at Phoenix got the better of me and I agreed to go. The Desultory Duo of RailRiot infamy was rapidly reconstituted as Team Whooz, and the acting MayhemMobile was pointed east.
We made a week of it, enjoying a number of rail-related and nonrail activities in addition to riding the Phoenix Valley Metro light rail.
Because it was an auto jaunt Razing Arizona is essentially a photo/video essay, leaving captions and clips to tell the tales. These initial links cover the early days of the trip. Later stuff will be posted as captioning is completed, including a UP track renewal train (personal tour of it by a UP employee), the Arizona & California Railroad at Parker, AZ, as well as the Pima Air & Space Museum outside Tucson and the adjacent, legendary military aircraft "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB.
A special shout out to AU member/pal chuljin (Chris), former SoCal denizen, ex-terror of Surfliners, and new Phoenix resident. He joined Team Whooz for a fine day of Valley Metro rides over the entire system, and other fun activities. Thanks, Chris!
To the links!!
Photos:
Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail
Trains At Tucson
Video:
This little holiday season safari into the parched wastes of our 48th state occurred because Alice (former Executive Assistant of the Patrick & Alice RailRiot 2009) had some business to transact in the Phoenix area and invited me along for the ride. By automobile. Ordinarily I woulda declined. I mean, who looks forward to a road trip when the driver is a maniac with a known penchant for making left turns from the right lane?
Still, the lure of a new and unridden (by me) light rail line at Phoenix got the better of me and I agreed to go. The Desultory Duo of RailRiot infamy was rapidly reconstituted as Team Whooz, and the acting MayhemMobile was pointed east.
We made a week of it, enjoying a number of rail-related and nonrail activities in addition to riding the Phoenix Valley Metro light rail.
Because it was an auto jaunt Razing Arizona is essentially a photo/video essay, leaving captions and clips to tell the tales. These initial links cover the early days of the trip. Later stuff will be posted as captioning is completed, including a UP track renewal train (personal tour of it by a UP employee), the Arizona & California Railroad at Parker, AZ, as well as the Pima Air & Space Museum outside Tucson and the adjacent, legendary military aircraft "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB.
A special shout out to AU member/pal chuljin (Chris), former SoCal denizen, ex-terror of Surfliners, and new Phoenix resident. He joined Team Whooz for a fine day of Valley Metro rides over the entire system, and other fun activities. Thanks, Chris!
To the links!!
Photos:
Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail
Trains At Tucson
Video: