...or so they claim. Seems they stopped the steam service to the Grand Canyon last year due to environmental concerns and are now going to resume service using vegetable oil.
12 minute video...
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We'll see.

This is an encouraging story! And what a lovely old gal to keep in steam.

-Crandell

AFAIK, the steam engines will only be used for special events and not see regular service. My brother works for the railway, so I will ask him if attitudes have changed.

BTW (the following statement is in no way official, but is what I pieced together from various rumors relayed by those who live in williams and work for the railroad): "environmental concerns" was really only a half-truth. Actually, it was almost "no-truth". Bad economy and market research had as much to do with them not running steam. The bad economy meant ridership was down. They realized most of their riders were California and international tourists who didn't care what the train was pulled by, or even how what a steam engine is. So, they took the opportunity to cut costs by eliminating the steam program, and used the "environmental" label as a marketing hook for those who are into that sort of thing.

Sounds like the Villiage, County, State, and Federal governments to me.
The one and only time I got to ride the train up to the canyon, it was supposed to be pulled by steam.......it was diseaseled!! Insert: (distinct sound of under the breath muttering), and I had just broken my right ankle.

When we rode in December, the train was running with just 3 coaches and a SGU.
The Polar Express trains were running with about 14 coaches, making 2 trips in an evening, absolutely packed.

Well, I hate to admit it, after living in Arizona all those years, but I've never been on the Grand Canyon train!! I've been to the Canyon many times by auto or RV, but not by train. Thanks for posting the link to that video! Now I see what I missed!!!

nachoman Wrote:BTW (the following statement is in no way official, but is what I pieced together from various rumors relayed by those who live in williams and work for the railroad): "environmental concerns" was really only a half-truth. Actually, it was almost "no-truth". Bad economy and market research had as much to do with them not running steam. The bad economy meant ridership was down. They realized most of their riders were California and international tourists who didn't care what the train was pulled by, or even how what a steam engine is. So, they took the opportunity to cut costs by eliminating the steam program, and used the "environmental" label as a marketing hook for those who are into that sort of thing.

Kevin,

Your insights are correct. It was simply a decision not to deal with the steam any longer. Steam didn't help the bottom line, so it wasn't worth the effort/cost. What I haven't heard about, is the fate of their wheel lathe and other tremendous resources. There are (or were), to my knowledge, three places in the nation that can turn a mainline locomotive's drivers: Strasburg, Grand Canyon, and Chattanooga.

As an odd footnote, GCRy initially sold two 2-8-0s to an operation in Washington. IIRC, they arrived in Washington only to be resold to the Rio Grande Scenic/San Luis operation in Colorado.

They ran 4960 on their aniversery last year and plan to run it on National train day this year also.
I coud be wrong but it was my understanding that they traded those 2 consolidations for a Mikado.

Yes, they traded 2-8-0 #18 and #20 for an ex- Spokane, Portland & Seattle Mikado. That was before the GCR had cancelled the daily steam program. #18 was operational, but its boiler had expired and needed new flues. #20 was basically a parts engine for #18. The smaller 2-8-0s weren't very suited for 40mph track, so they were traded away for the SP&S 2-8-2 in hopes of rebuilding it someday. A few months later, the company was sold again, and the new owners decided having a steam program was not giving them any extra business to justify the expense (probably true).

I can't fault the new owners for their decision, because it is basic capitalism. Research who your customers are and where they come from (predominantly California), and latch on to whatever fad can draw more of them in. In this case it was the "clean air - keep traffic from the canyon - save energy" fad. So, they cancelled the steam program in order to save money, and came up with the "environmental friendly" reason as a means of replacing whatever business was lost by canceling steam. It was considered a temporary cancellation at the time.

It's really the same old marketing strategy used for ages, no different than someone capitalizing on patriotism in late 2001 by printing and selling a bunch off US flag stickers, or the local restaurant hanging a bunch of "arizona cardinals" banners out front in order to latch on to "cardinals fever" last year. The difference here was the railroad used to be owned by someone who liked steam engines. When he sold it, it sold to a public-traded corporation that only cares about dollars and cents.

Any particular reason why the steamer was pulling a diesel unit behind the tender?

MountainMan Wrote:Any particular reason why the steamer was pulling a diesel unit behind the tender?

Several reasons:
1) Head end power for the air conditioners in the cars.
2) Power to get up the 2.5% grade. The 2-8-2 is good for about 7 cars on its own. During the summer, the train would regularly have 12-14 cars. Considering the railroad never had more than 2 operable steam engines at one time, and one was usually under repair or a boiler wash, it just made more sense to use a diesel helper. Plus, it saved having to use two crews.
3) There is no water along the line, and none at the Grand Canyon. The railroad kept a tank car at the rim in order to refill the tender for the return trip. Using two steamers would have meant twice as much water to refill, and twice as much water to haul to the Grand Canyon. In fact, there were local complains about the railroad using water from the city of williams. The town's water infrastructure was very poor, and during one particularly dry year, the town nearly ran out of water. The town has since drilled a couple of deep (3000 feet deep) wells, and their water situation is better.
4) Possibly for dynamic braking. I am not sure if the ALCos have dynamic brakes, but I know the F40s do.

BTW, that is my brother building the fire at about 7:40 in the video.

nachoman Wrote:BTW, that is my brother building the fire at about 7:40 in the video.

Nice!

I can't look at that locomotive without thinking back to when I was a halfling...in the mid-late 1980's, she sat outside the 765's shop east of New Haven, IN. Gary Bensman was working on her, but I only remember he sitting there and looking sad. It is always great to see her running.

Michael

An update here, GCR has posted the dates of the steam excursions for 2010:

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They will be running short 8 mile roundtrips out of Williams on the weekend of May 8-9, plus the major summer holiday weekends.

I wish I could say that I'm pleased... but I'm not. 4 measley weekends for the entire year and ONE complete roundtrip to the canyon and back in September. Plus, like you said, during the 4 weekends, they are only doing 8 mile round trips. What kind of waste of time is that? Pathetic. Sounds like attendance has dropped (understandably so) and they are grasping at anything to bring the people back. Still, I guess it's better than nothing.