Trains, trains and more trains! That is what the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale is all about. After deciding none of us wanted to get up really early to hike Camelback Mountain, we set our sights on this less daunting expedition to a city park I often passed in my time in Scottsdale.
The highlight for the kids was the train ride that figure-eights around the park. It is a mini-train, but big enough for people to sit and ride on the cars. Other attractions include a carousel, historic railroad cars, large playground and themed play areas, another smaller train to ride and a fantastic collection of model trains.
Historic Train Cars
For me, a person interested in history, the real train cars that you can tour are a highlight. There are two cars you can walk through—one with a special history that very few other vehicles can boast. Both cars are Pullman cars. The first is set up with displays about different railroading history tidbits, but the second is like a historic house all set up with period dressings and accessories. The second Pullman car is The Roald Amundsen Pullman Car that was used by four U.S. Presidents and is where leaders from Canada and the U.S. agreed to the Ogdensberg Declaration, which provided for the joint defense of North America in the event of foreign invasion and set into motion what would become North American Air Defense (N.O.R.A.D.).
Whistle-stop tours used to be such an important part of the campaign trail. My grandma remembers getting let out of school to go watch FDR speak from the back of his train car from one of his campaigns. It wasn’t the Roald Amundsen, but the memory of the whistle-stop is one she won’t forget.
The car was used by Herbert Hoover for campaigning and then by Franklin Delano Roosevelt for his 1936 reelection campaign and then for many years as his official presidential train car known as U.S. One. After the U.S. entered the war and an identical Pullman car, the Ferdinand Magellan, was retrofitted for tighter security, FDR continued use of the Roald Amundsen and his Vice President, Harry Truman, used the armored car. However, for the funeral procession Truman allowed FDR’s widow, Eleanor, the use of his train car and rode in the Roald Amundsen. Then this already historic train car served Dwight D. Eisenhower on his whistle-stop tour across the country in 1952.
With all of this significance, the Roald Amundsen Pullman Car is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Model Trains
When you stand on that storied rear platform of the train car, you’re looking at the model train building. This space is a model train enthusiast’s dream. Sheldon Cooper would be jumping up and down and squealing with glee in this building. In fact it is the home of a handful of model train clubs that have set up some extremely intricate displays of elaborate landscapes and dioramas with buildings, lots of moving pieces and rails of fun.
The first was the most complete and most interactive. Though you can only look and not play with the trains directly, there are little sensors set up around the display to let onlookers control things like lights turning on and various elements moving. It is lots of fun.
The other two displays are currently in flux. These are all active models for the local model train clubs. One of the groups was there working on their model when we were there.
This building is free for visitors as is the park in general. Many of the attractions including the Pullman cars, carousel and mini railroad cost a dollar or two through purchased tickets like at a carnival. Scattered through the park are some historic train depots that were moved or replicated at the park. Attraction tickets are available in the Stillman Station. Also on permanent display is a monument to Bil Keane, creator of Family Circus and is from Paradise Valley, AZ. The memorial is a statue of him with the characters of his comic strip climbing on him just as he had portrayed the family many times before.
The train park is lots of fun. It has a little something for everyone. Visit their website for more information to plan your visit.
