Zephyr railcar on track for new home

A Maricopa icon was moved one step closer toward its new home Tuesday at the Maricopa City Council Meeting.

Council approved a measure which will guarantee $240,000 in relocation funds for the Zephyr railcar, which is to be moved as part of the State Route 347 Union Pacific Rail Road Overpass project.

The money was granted to the city by Pinal County as part of its contribution to the overpass project and will go to a contract awarded to Caliente Construction Incorporated to provide “preconstruction and construction services for the California Zephyr Relocation.”

The Maricopa Historical Society, with the hopes of turning the railcar into an operational museum of Maricopa history, took control of the Zephyr in July after purchasing it from the county for a symbolic $1.

Though the icon is not in the direct path of the overpass, it would end up so close to the grade separation that the historical society and the county decided the best option would be relocation.

Maricopa Historical Society President Paul Shirk said there are a few places they would like to move the Zephyr, but nothing is set in stone. When pressed on a likely home for the railcar, Shirk said he didn’t want to jinx it.

Possible areas mentioned at past historical society meetings include Edison Road near the proposed Estrella Gin Business Park, and a much closer location, just across Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway from its current home, in the Heritage District.