Even Cars Have Heroes
The Grand Canyon Railway offers its guests the opportunity to relive history both en route to the Grand Canyon and in its restored, historic locomotives and passenger cars.
Locomotives
Skilled mechanics rebuild and restore Grand Canyon Railway locomotives utilizing a 30,000-square-foot maintenance facility located on the outskirts of Williams.
Steam Locomotives
The Railway possesses four steam locomotives, including locomotives No. 29 and No. 4960, which have been restored to like-new working condition.
Locomotive No.
4960 made its first official run on the Grand Canyon line on July
28, 1996. The restoration project took more than 80,000 man-hours at a cost of
more than $1.5 million. The locomotive was purchased for $27,000 in 1923. A 01-A
class 2-8-2 Mikado type (with 2500 horsepower and capable of speeds exceeding
70 mph), Locomotive No. 4960 was built in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in
Philadelphia, Penn. The locomotive operated in freight and coal hauling service
for the Midwestern Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) railroad until
the late 1950s. From 1960 to 1966 the locomotive gained legendary status as one
of only two steam locomotives preserved for the exclusive service of hauling
special excursion trains in the Midwest. In this capacity, No. 4960 pulled trains
of schoolchildren to educate them on the history of steam locomotives, gaining
the nickname "Teacher." During the same period the locomotive also
pulled the colorful Schlitz circus train.
Restoration on Locomotive No. 29 was completed in early 2004. It took more than
26,000 man-hours and cost approximately $1 million to restore the locomotive.
A SC-3 class locomotive, Locomotive No. 29 was built in 1906 by ALCO in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. It is a 2-8-0 consolidation-type locomotive and weighs 185 tons.
Locomotives No. 18 and No. 20 SC-4 class locomotives were built
in 1910 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Pittsburgh, Penn. Both are
2-8-0 consolidation-type locomotives. The Grand Canyon Railway restored No. 18
to service for the re-inaugural on Sept. 17, 1989. It required about 15,000 man-hours
to be rebuilt. Today, No. 18 is out of service and Locomotive No. 20 is currently
inoperable.
From their date of manufacture until 1960, the three sister locomotives (No. 18, No. 20 and No. 29) served on the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad in northern Michigan hauling iron ore to the Marquette docks 20 miles away. Idle for nearly 30 years, all were in need of general rehabilitation, mechanical and boiler repair, rust removal, and conversion from coal to oil fuel upon arrival in Williams in August 1989.
Passenger Rail Cars
Grand Canyon Railway is home to a remarkable collection of historical railway cars, each with its own story. All of the Railway's cars are equipped with restrooms, staffed by a coach attendant and can be reserved for groups and special events.
Pullman Coach Cars
Grand Canyon Railway owns 17 Harriman-style coach cars. Thirteen are fully restored and used in regular service to the Grand Canyon. Built by Pullman in 1923, Harriman-style coach cars seat 80 to 88 passengers. The cars served their early career on a Southern Pacific commuter line from San Jose to San Francisco until retired in the 1980s. The coach cars are configured for seating four across with a center aisle. Seats are reversible (so foursomes can face each other). Large, operable windows afford uninterrupted views and can be opened for fresh air. Coach cars are heated in the winter and naturally cooled in the summer (cars feature ceiling fans). Handicapped access (for boarding and exiting the train) is provided by lifts at Williams and Grand Canyon Depots.
Budd Coach Cars
The 14 commuter coaches that comprise Budd Coach Class came from the Joint Powers Board (CALTRAIN). The vintage 1950s stainless steel cars which match the Railway's first-class cars were built by the famous Budd Manufacturing Company. Refurbished by Grand Canyon Railway's locomotive shop in 2005-2006, these coach class cars offer guests air-conditioning and better serve passengers with disabilities. Each new car can comfortably fit wheelchairs in the aisle and four feature wheelchair accessible restrooms.
The Club Car
This 1923 Harriman-style Pullman car was converted by Grand Canyon Railway's own craftsmen to accommodate 58 passengers. The Club Car originally went into service in 1993, but the interior was refurbished in 2002. The comprehensive rebuild in 2002 involved removing and re-pouring the concrete floor, adding new carpet, new toilets, metal doors, an electrical heating system and aluminum windows. The car features a hand-finished mahogany bar, period-representative floor carpet and room to stand.
The Coconino
This unique dome coach was built by Budd Manufacturing Company in 1954 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and Northern Pacific railways. It first served that railroad as No. 554. Amtrak purchased the car in 1971 and assigned it number 9481. Grand Canyon Railway purchased the car in 1996. It first went into service for Grand Canyon Railway in March 1997.
The Kokopelli
Built for the Empire Builder, the premier name train between Chicago and Seattle, a train jointly operated by the Great Northern Railway, the Burlington and the Spokane, Portland & Seattle. While the three railroads shared ownership of the car, it was originally put into service for the GNRy, May 29, 1955 with the number 1326. On May 1, 1971 Amtrak took over the nation's remaining passenger routes. Car No. 1326 and her sister joined the new system. From 1984-1985 the car was leased to the Alaska Railroad, after that the car was stored for a number of years before finally being sold to a private owner. In 1998, under the new ownership of the Great Northern Dome Co., the car underwent a full rebuild after years of neglect. The rebuild included a complete truck rebuild and installation of two Safety-Stone heating and air conditioning systems. In May of 2000, Grand Canyon Railway leased No. 1326 from the Great Northern Dome Company to replace another dome car. No. 1326 was repainted and named the Kokopelli.
Arizona Class
Arizona and Bright Angel cars were part of a large 32-car order sent to the Budd Manufacturing Company in 1951 (Job 9621-110). The order of 60-seat coaches with lounges was part of an attempt by the Pennsylvania Railroad to upgrade service on the busy New York - Washington corridor. The Boston Washington Senator and the Morning and Afternoon Congressional trains received most of the cars, but several went to other trains. The cars ran with the Pennsylvania Railroad, beginning in 1952. Then later moved to Penn Central Railroad. In 1976, Amtrak purchased all but two of the original 32 cars. Many of the cars were still in service for Amtrak as late as 2001. Two of the original 32, No. 1568 and No. 1581, were scrapped in 1968. Grand Canyon Railway acquired the cars in 2003. It completed a full restoration and in 2004, the cars went into service as First Class coaches. Today, passengers can enjoy the original color combinations and etched glass and mirrors featuring historic early American themes.
Buckey O'Neill
The Buckey O'Neill class cars were delivered to the Southern Railway in 1949 where they served on the Southern Railway's varnish passenger trains, including the Southerner, Tennessean and Royal Palm. The most notable railway these cars ran on was the Crescent, which ran from New York to New Orleans. When Southern passed its passenger service to Amtrak in 1979, the Buckey O'Neill Class Cars followed, then served on the Alaska Railroad before coming to the Grand Canyon Railway. These cars honor the Grand Canyon Railway's original founder.
The Colorado River Car
This car was built in 1948 as a 16-section sleeper for the Denver Rio Grande Western. At the DRGW it was called Silver Aspen and given number 1120. It was eventually converted to a 48-seat coach and acquired by the Chicago Northwestern and renamed the Iowa River with number 422. The CNW put the Iowa River into its business-car fleet where it served as a classroom. The car changed hands a couple of times before being acquired by Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, a foundation dedicated to preserving historical railroad equipment. Grand Canyon Railway purchased the car in June of 1999. Grand Canyon Railway rebuilt the car and put it into service in April 2000. The car was renamed the Colorado River and given the number 2098 at that time.
The Anasazi
This car was built in 1950 by the Budd Manufacturing Company for use by the Southern Pacific. It was originally called the Golden Ore and given the number 2377. At that time it seated 44 passengers. In 1971 the car was sold to Amtrak and given number 4410. In the mid-1980s the car was rebuilt and given number 4010. Amtrak sold the car to the Santa Fe Southern Railroad in 1996. Grand Canyon Railway purchased the car in 1998 and put it into service that year.
Grand View
The Grand View car ran as a Vista Dome Coach on the famed California Zephyr, arguably one of the most popular trains of all time. The car was sold to Amtrak in 1971 then joined the Alaska Railroad in 1984. After changing owners and being leased to various railroads nearly every year from 1986 to 2002, the Grand Canyon Railway acquired this classic dome coach in 2004. The seats inside the Grand View running on the Grand Canyon Railway are original, upstairs and downstairs. The Zephyr cars can be easily identified by the linear fluted skirting on sprung hinges at the bottom of the car.
