Grand Canyon Railway Steam - Powered by WVO

Grand Canyon Railway's historic steam run on September 19, 2009, is being powered by waste vegetable oil (WVO) collected from the restaurants at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and from Williams.

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  Travel & Events

[Ernie cLAY]

It really is a cool concept that these tree hugging Enviro-nazis have actually stumbled on.

[Eric M]

Just think if someone did a test on how burning vegetable oil and the emissions it makes and power to regular diesels. If it came out the same or close to the same. it might be a way to go back to steam powered trains. Yes it means more people but its a way not to run on diesel and get the same power and all that. Just think of making a modern day steam train that can beet any diesel, this can be a start of it maybe. just an idea.

[guitboxchicken]

I see your point, and I love a coal fired locomotive myself, but what happens when the price of coal goes up just like gasoline has? What happens is that an already expensive beast to run becomes TOO expensive. I'd rather see a steamer run on vegetable oil than not run at all! Sure, it's weird an non traditional, but it keeps a fire in her belly, and isn't that all we can hope for? :)

[Weiberts]

I like how they do run them, but honestly, there are what, maybe 20 steamers running in North America? That isn't going to be that big of an environmental impact. Keep them running like they did 100 years ago. Coal.

[Matt Olmsted]

wonder if it can only burn recycled veggie oil

[Matt3985]

Hope GCR #29 comes back now on the new fuel. :D

[Matt3985]

OMG. STEAM HAS RETURN TO THE GRAND CANYON. OMG. :D IM SO HAPPY TO SEE THE RETURN OF STEAM. Grand canyon here I come. :D

[Casey Rhodes]

He talks about offsetting the turn of the century technology, but the steam locomotive is turn of the century technology and it should be preserved for what it is. It's environmental impacts are miniscule compared to most everything else that is "polluting."

[sgprailfan]

Will number 29 run off of WVO any time soon? Will they be selling off any of there engines?

[nicholasbreeden]

I believe they are the same, pretty sure they are both Sante Fe 6 Chime longbells

[razgrizaceblaze259]

I know Xanterra is trying to be more environmentally friendly, but they keep forgetting to mention one important thing. While diesels use less fuel and water than a steam locomotive, and are more efficient, they put out gases that are much worse than what is put out from a steam locomotive. I'm not saying that steam locomotives are completely environmentally friendly, but, as far as I can see, they're better than diesels.

[leadfrog454]

More French fries, more train rides.