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The Grand Canyon Railway, The Only Way To See And Experience The Grand Canyon!

While the line the Grand Canyon Railway operates on today has had a rocky history since the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (the Santa Fe) gave up on its branch to the Grand Canyon in 1974, today the tourist line is one of the most popular excursions in the country with its top-notch services and stunning scenery of the Arizona desert and Grand Canyon National Park. As the popularity of the Grand Canyon Railway has certainly increased over the past twenty years since its inception in 1988 and today, the railroad's fleet of diesel locomotives carry you in a fleet of restored passenger equipment ranging from café and club cars to observations and domes for unparalleled enjoyment and spectacular views.

Today the Grand Canyon Railway is owned by Colorado billionaire Phil Anschutz, who recently purchased the railroad from Xanterra Parks & Resorts of Denver, Colorado (which itself had purchased the railroad and assets from owners Max and Thelma Biegert in early 2006). During the Biegerts ownership they watched their small operation grow from a dilapidated and rundown property (which was in the process of being salvaged after two other attempts at turning the railroad into a tourist trap fell through in the 1970s and early 1980s) in 1988 to a popular, well respected, and well maintained railroad when they sold it in 2006.

The rail line to the Grand Canyon itself dates back to 1901 when the Santa Fe Railway decided to complete a branch (which had been started in 1898) from a junction at Williams, Arizona, which connected the national park 65 miles due north.

To give a brief history of the Santa Fe, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway likely is not only this country’s but also the world’s most recognized and famous railroad. It has had its own movie, song, and numerous model trains and other purchasable gifts created in its honor. The railroad’s renowned Warbonnet livery has been made in several variations ranging from the more popular silver and red with yellow trim to the blue and yellow. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, albeit no longer an operating company, is truly a railroad whose name is as common as that of Coca Cola or General Electric.

Few other railroads, and institutions for that matter, are so recognized and respected as the AT&SF. Its star status can be compared to that of many of today’s Hollywood stars, rich and famous. While the name is gone the Super Chief carries on with Amtrak (as the Southwest Chief) and interestingly many have questioned the BNSF Railway about bringing back the Warbonnet livery and applying the famous paint scheme to its locomotives once more.

To capitalize further on its new rail line that offered magnificent views of Arizona and the canyon the Santa Fe built the El Tovar Hotel just feet from the edge of the canyon. However, like most such branches in the region it played out quickly of profitable rail traffic and in 1974 (with passenger service had been eliminated some years earlier) the Santa Fe called it quits on the branch.

For power today, the GGrand Canyon Railway maintains a fleet of six diesel locomotives and four steam locomotives. Unfortunately, it was announced in the September of 2008 that the railroad's fleet of steam locomotives would be retired although for now they are still retained. Below is an up-to-date roster:

Diesel Locomotives

· EMD FP40 #237: Ex-Amtrak

· EMD FP40 #239: Ex-Amtrak

· EMD FP40 #295: Ex-Amtrak

· EMD GP7 #2134

· Alco FPA-4 #6773: Ex-Canadian National

· Alco FPA-4 #6776: Ex-Canadian National

· Alco FPA-4 #6793: Ex-Canadian National

· Alco FPB #6860: Ex-Canadian National

· Alco FPB #6771: Ex-Canadian National

Steam Locomotives

· Alco 2-8-0 Consolidation #18: Ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming (Currently out of service.)

· Alco 2-8-0 Consolidation #20: Ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming (Currently out of service.)

· Alco 2-8-0 Consolidation #29: Ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming

· Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado #4960: Ex-Chicago, Burlington & Quincy

Today, Grand Canyon Railway trains depart from the Williams depot to take the journey 65 miles north to the Grand Canyon's South Rim and the famous El Tovar Hotel (which you can still stay at, by the way).

For more information on tourist trains like the Grand Canyon Railway might want to consider the book Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2006 from the Empire State Railway Museum. Given excellent reviews this guidebook covers nearly all of the tourist railroads and museums operating in the country in fine detail. So, if you’re interested in locating a tourist train or railroad near you, or simply want to know more about a particular one, you will certainly not be disappointed in Empire State Railway Museum’s guidebook to tourist railroads and museums. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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