By Thomas McColloch
Prescott once had a railroad that ran right through town. The Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway (SF, P&P) was completed in 1895 and provided freight and passenger service to help open the Arizona territory to development. The SF, P&P connected to the Santa Fe mainline at Ash Fork, ran south through Chino Valley and Prescott, then west to Hillside, turning south to Phoenix. The railroad served small towns along the route; transporting dry goods, mining equipment and produce. This route was nicknamed the “Peavine” because of the numerous curves required as the track followed mountainous terrain. At Chino Valley, an interchange with the narrow-gauge railroad that served Jerome was built. In 1898 a branch line was constructed to Mayer to serve the mines in that area. A passenger depot was constructed in Prescott in 1907 on Sheldon Street, with a rail yard for servicing steam locomotives. In 1912 a branch line was built to Clarkdale.