Grand Canyon Railway Back in Steam!

For the first time in 2009, steam ran on the GCR. Over labor day weekend, #4960 pulled hourly 45 minute trips to milepost #4. Powered by vegetable oil (yes, that is true!), she didn't quite smell the same, but the sound was still great. Here is a clip from the stop at MP #4 and beginning of the return run to the williams depot.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Grand Canyon Railway
• steam
• locomotive
• GCR
• grand canyon

[TNtrainboy15]

How do you get to that spot?

[pgatonna]

@TNtrainboy15

I walked in from Pronghorn Road to MP 4

[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)

[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)

[TVRM610]

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

[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.

[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.

[trainmaster844]

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

[TNtrainboy15]

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

[TNtrainboy15]

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

[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.