Anyone know anything about the Grand Canyon RR?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone. My family and I are vacationing to Phoenix and the Grand Canyon for spring break this year, and we all agree (especially me[:)][;)]) that taking an excursion on the Grand Canyon RR would be a lot of fun. So, how long does the ride last? How often do they run their ex LS&I 2-8-0 steamer? Their rates seem fairly expensive, and they talk of staying in hotels. Is it an overnight thing?

[Anonymous]

they run daily, and from my understanding this summer i heard that they were going to run two trains a day, but i am not certain. during the summer months they almost alway run the steam engine in the lead. if memory serves me correctly the track is up hill all the from williams to the canyon, and the track is 25 mph. it is about 90 miles from williams to the canyon. if you want to you can take the train up to the canyon and stay a night or two at the canyon and take the train back. on the return trip in the summer they have some cowboys rob the train and have a wild west show in williams. it is really neat

[CMSTPP]

QUOTE: Originally posted by [e-mail]

if memory serves me correctly the track is up hill all the from williams to the canyon, and the track is 25 mph. it is about 90 miles from williams to the canyon.

The track is only 50 miles to the canyon. Flagstaff, Arizona is only 10 miles from Williams and from Flagstaff to the canyon it's about 30 to 35 miles.

James

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CMSTPP

QUOTE: Originally posted by [e-mail]

if memory serves me correctly the track is up hill all the from williams to the canyon, and the track is 25 mph. it is about 90 miles from williams to the canyon.

The track is only 50 miles to the canyon. Flagstaff, Arizona is only 10 miles from Williams and from Flagstaff to the canyon it's about 30 to 35 miles.

James

i know flagstaff is 30 miles from williams, williams is 80 to 90 miles from the canyon. i live in flagstaff

[Anonymous]

The GCR's official website is http://www.TheTrain.com/

[Anonymous]

The ride isapproximately a little more than 2 hours each way. When I rode it in May 2005, they operated the LS&I steam locomotive with GCR 239, one of their former AMTK F-40's beautifully repainted in GCR's scheme, behind it (MU'ed none the less).

The hotels are all optional. They trip from Williams to the Canyon is in the morning, with the return trip in the afternoon. Seeing as the whole trip takes much of the day, you might want to consider a hotel in Williams. The hotels they advertise at the Canyon are only if you want to spend an overnight at the canyon and take the next afternoon's train back to Williams.

[ChuckCobleigh]

I believe there are single-day round-trips from Williams to the Village, but they do not leave a lot of time for sightseeing.

Taking the train, I would advise staying overnight at one of the lodges in the village and take the many trams around the south rim that are available. During the summer for sure, and maybe in the off-season now, you can only get onto West Rim Drive by walking or tram, and it's a pretty ambitious walker that would do it, especially at altitude.

My sister and brother-in-law did pretty much that scene this fall and loved it. If you have a couple of days to spend (at least) it would be a trip you will talk about for years.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget 4960

Also, doesn't the track speed get up to 30-40ish is certain places?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by norfolkwestern

Don't forget 4960

Also, doesn't the track speed get up to 30-40ish is certain places?

yea i am not sure. i worked with an engineer that worked for the grand canyon railway and he said the speed was 25mph, but that was over five years ago. the track could have been upgraded snice then

[greyhounds]

I rode it a few years ago. Power was ex CB&Q 4960, an engine I had ridden behind before when The Q was running steam excursions and I was 14 or 15. You can ride in a dome for extra $$.

The 4960 was mu'd with FA's. The engineer was a drop dead beautiful blond female person.

There's a nice hotel in Williams and you can stay overnight at the canyon if you want. We didn't stay at the canyon, but had time for a bus tour and lunch on the canyon rim. IIRC, "Miss Kitty's Steakhouse" east on old US Route 66 offers great steaks at good prices.

Pictures of old steamline Santa Fe varnish are displayed at the restored canyon station. Eisenhauer rode behind the Warbonett to the rim.

[videomaker]

Hey Guys,
This is truely a blessing ! I am retiring about this time next year and my wife and I are planning a land cruise via Amtrak and this is one of our stops to spend a few day...! Thank Ya'll sooooo much for the info...Danny

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

I rode the Grand Canyon Railway in August of 1994. At that time the GCRY had just acquired the 4960 and was in the process of rebuilding her. The power for the train was one of the ex-LS&I steam locomotives, #29. A lot of the passenger coaches, if not all of them, were originally owned by the Southern Pacific. The Grand Canyon Railway would not permit me to wander the full length of the train like the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad would, and there is no way that any of the windows in the car that I was riding in could be opened all the way. I had to get down on my knees and shoot out the window with my 35mm Nikon if I wanted any pictures of the scenery. And that, I think was a bad deal!

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

[Anonymous]

GCRy. is 64 miles w/ maximum 3% grades. #4960 is a 2-8-2 and is my favorite stream locomotive of all time. former LS&I #18 was recently retired as it need to be rebuilt. LS&I #29 is a larger 2-8-0 than #18 and is operational. As far as i know the ONLY diesels are ALCO FPA-4's and FPB-4's and a GP7. The LS&I engines when rebuilt (by GCRy.) were designed to run 35-40m.p.h. 4960 can go over 70m.p.h. but i'm sure GC never runs it that fast.

[Leestoermer]

Rode it with the family last summer. Both kids loved it. Be sure to take some snacks though as it is a bit long each way. Would offer that you stay overnight in the Canyon at least one night, as there is no way to really take it all in. Plus that's the only way you'll get to experience a sunset and sunrise. You have to catch those times. The ride while long, was better than driving, which I had done a few times before over the years. Now with the buses/trams running you can get anywhere you need on the south rim. And as stated Kitty's steaks are good as are other places. The depot in Williams takes a while to get a ruond to see it all so you need at least an hour or better to check it out and the surroundins, and then make your purchases on your return. Hotels available in Williams and in FLagstaff, but book ahead because of travelers and being a college town. All in all worth the money just for the memories and the faces on the kids!

[Anonymous]

Did you try this web site?

http://www.thetrain.com/

Originally posted by 4884bigboy

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