Grand Canyon Railway Back in Steam!

[TNtrainboy15]

How do you get to that spot?

[pgatonna]

@TNtrainboy15

I walked in from Pronghorn Road to MP 4

[TNtrainboy15]

@pgatonna Thanks, how long of a walk is that? I may make it out that way this summer.

[pgatonna]

@TNtrainboy15 It is not bad, perhaps a half mile or so. But you can also catch the train as it crosses Pronghorn road itself and with a good view as it heads north (or returning from the Canyon in the afternoon, coming from the north)

[TNtrainboy15]

@pgatonna Thanks man, I'd be going in July when they have 4960 running though.

[pgatonna]

@TNtrainboy15 For all who may want to be in Williams for steam this year, here is the schedule for 2011

GCRR STEAM SCHEDULE: 2011

• National Train Day

• Memorial Day

• June 4th

• Fathers’ Day

• July 4th

• Sept. 17th (anniversary)

[pennyf9]

so steam on the GCR is back, bit Xanterra will run the steam locomotives on "special events" . I know it better than no steam at all, but they do that just so us railfans can stop complaining on how bad they are. its great steam is back, but steam should be running regulary.

[azbobbybooshay10]

The steam run today to the Canyon was fantastic. I've never seen so many people whipping their cameras out every time we went around a curve and you could see 4960 on the front. We had "foamers" every 5 to 10 miles taking pictures, and a helicopter hovering over the train getting video of us as we came up out of Millers Wash. The attitude today was fantastic, I hope the importance and enthusiasm that we saw today will be seen and steam will return at least part-time next year.

[TVRM610]

What did they do this for? Is steam gonna return to the GCRY?

[Trainfanatic192]

Its was for the GCRY's 20th annivarsary. And 4960 will be going back to display, supposedly only running on "special occasions" at the most.

[pgatonna]

Actually #4960 will be taking the train on the regular run to the Canyon on the 20th of Sept, the GCR's anniversary. The Labor Day run was somewhat of an experiment, both in the use of the vegetable oil fuel and to see whether these special runs draw interest. Sadly, the ridership was pretty low.

[trainmaster844]

Yes, steam will return... but only for special occasions...

[Chinodavis]

Excellent! Too bad Xanterra canceled regular steam service to the canyon.