Grand Canyon Railway to celebrate anniversary with runs by Steam Locomotive 4960 August 13, 9:51 AMNational Parks Travel ExaminerMarilyn Crain Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon Railway Sept. 17, 1901, marked the beginning of train travel to the Grand Canyon. The train was operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company until 1968, when it closed. Then, in the mid-1980s Max Biegert purchased the tracks and gave the Grand Canyon Railway the chance for a second life when, 88 years to the day after its maiden run, the train began running again on Sept. 17, 1989, It's been a fine run. The Grand Canyon Railway will commemorate the 20th anniversary of its rebirth on Sept. 19, 2009, with a special roundtrip run to the Grand Canyon of its Steam Locomotive 4960. What makes this trip even more special is that the locomotive will be fueled by recycled vegetable oil. About the anniversary trip The Sept. 19 excursion for the Railway’s regular 65-mile journey from Williams, Ariz. to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and back to the Williams Depot departs Williams at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at the Grand Canyon Depot at 11:45 a.m. For the return trip the train departs the Grand Canyon at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in Williams at 5:45 p.m. The Railway’s typical four classes of service will be used. Rates for adults range from $70 to $190, and children’s rates range from $40 to $110. Children 15 and under are permitted only in the coach and first classes. The Sept. 19 event will feature live music, photo opportunities with the steam engine, a ribbon cutting and remarks by local dignitaries. More runs by Number 4960 The steam locomotive will also make several eight-mile trips throughout the days of Sept. 5 and 6, 2009 with a single class of service in the train’s historic 1923 Harriman cars. Tickets for the “Cataract Creek Rambler” will be sold on-site for unreserved seating and will cost $15 for adults and $10 for children 15 and under. The train will leave on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. A special Photographer's Run will leave at 6:00 p.m. This special run will allow people to get off the train to set up for photography of the train. The train will do a run-by allowing for timeless photos of the steam engine. A little background The Grand Canyon Railway has two operable steam locomotives that have been restored to like-new working condition. Locomotive No. 4960 was built in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. It operated a freight- and coal-hauling service for the Midwestern Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) railroad until the late 1950s and made its first official run on the Grand Canyon line in 1996. Locomotive No. 29 was restored in 2004 at a cost of more than $1 million and 26,000 man-hours of labor. An SC-3 class locomotive, Locomotive No. 29 was built in 1906 by ALCO in Pittsburgh and weighs 185 tons. Until last year, the steam engines were operated from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Perhaps these anniversary runs will be a little consolation to the many steam fans who were so unhappy when the steam locomotives were pulled out of service.
This is nice. I hope they'll also consider firing them up for other special days and occasions. Boxcab E50
It's interesting to me they are retaining the two working steamers and haven't sold them off. I sure wish they would revive their steam program.
Keep your fingers crossed that this may be the realization factor for future steaming. I believe one or two other steamers were put on display in town but I cant recall for sure.
