Williams AZ to Grand Canyon Train Trip

I know that this probably belongs in Railfanning, but I do not subscribe there. Being a rail fan as an activity is not one of my things. The N Scale Forum is where my "buds" hang out, so here's where I post it.

My wife had bugged me for several years to take the Grand Canyon Railway Company trip from Williams AZ to the Grand Canyon. This year I gave her the trip for her Birthday. Our best friends, Ron and Linda McMullen joined us. We took the "luxury" trip - 2 days and one night at the Canyon and 2 nights at Williams. We left Williams in the Observation Car "Grand View" and returned in the Parlor Car "The Chief". On our 2nd day at the Canyon we were treated to an aerial show by 7 or 8 Condors as we were leaving the Arizona Room where we had lunch. The whole thing was a real ball.

I am sure that many of you have done this trip. For those of you that haven't, I urge you to give it some thought for a great 4 day short vacation. In case you are interested, here's a link to the pictures of our trip, taken with a $70 HP cheapie.

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I've taken that trip with my wife several years ago. It was a great experience.

 

Do they still use the steamers or the FPA4 ?

 

I couldn't get an answer to "the why", but it's Steam June to September and Diesel the remainder of the year. As I understand, the diesels are also used for the Polar Express in December. As you go by the maintenance yard, there appears to be 3 or 4 operating diesels (in addition to the train in use). I couldn't see the steam. It/THey were poabably indoors.

 

Hi Chartsmalm, that is always a great trip, especially with the incredible scenery that awaits you when you get to the south rim of the canyon. From your photo album it looks as though you and your guests enjoyed yourselves. I'm just a little bummed that they have stopped operating steam at all. They announced that not long ago and parked the 4960 and the 29, sold the 18 last year.
By the way, you can post your adventures in any forum here. You are "subscribed" to all of them as a member. :tb-biggrin:

 

"I couldn't get an answer to "the why", but it's Steam June to September and Diesel the remainder of the year. As I understand, the diesels are also used for the Polar Express in December. As you go by the maintenance yard, there appears to be 3 or 4 operating diesels (in addition to the train in use). I couldn't see the steam. It/THey were poabably indoors."

There has been no steam since late summer last year, discontinued because of the price of diesel fuel that they were using to fire them got too high. Their power now are the MLW FPa/FPB4s and EMD F40PHs. (Wonder if, now that the price of diesel has gone down considerably if they might consider it once again.)

Oh, by the way... I'd like to see your photos "chartsmalm" but don't believe a service should require you to register to view what is on it, so I will pass. You ought to consider posting them to something like RR Picture Archives, that way everyone can enjoy them.