Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Who doesn’t love traveling by train? Especially when that train heads to one of my most beloved national parks.
The steam engine changed the world. Steam engine trains kick-started the Industrial Revolution and connected the East and West Coast in America, reducing travel time and necessitating the need for time zones.
One of the last places in America to see, hear, smell, and feel the majesty of the Iron Horse is on the Grand Canyon Railway. Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway has been taking passengers on a fabled journey to the heart of one of the seven wonders of the world: the Grand Canyon.
Not only is the journey fun with picturesque landscapes around every curve, but taking the train instead of driving to the Grand Canyon helps remove an estimated 70,000 cars from the roads leading into the treasured national park.
To the delight of many (including me, for sure), the Grand Canyon Railway announced that in 2024, it will once again run the big steam engine #4960. Built in 1923 and weighing in at 310 tons, the steam engine is a true “green machine,” now powered by waste vegetable oil and snowmelt.
Steam is scheduled to pull the 9:30 a.m. departures on the first Saturday of each month from March (March 2) through October as well as on Earth Day (April 20), August 12 (the steam engine’s birthday) and September 21 (for the anniversary of the railroad).
Restoring a Steam Locomotive
According to the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel site history, Steam Locomotive 4960 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia and saw service on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad hauling iron ore and other freight throughout the American Midwest.
Retired from CB&Q RR in 1960, it pulled excursion trains, and museum and circus trains, throughout Wisconsin and other midwestern states until the early 1970s when it was put on static display.
Purchased by Grand Canyon Railway in 1989, #4960 underwent one of the most extensive locomotive rebuilding and restoration projects in modern history in 1996, converting it from a coal burner to using diesel as fuel.
Further modifications were made in 2009, as GCR converted it to run on recycled waste vegetable oil. Since 2009, #4960 has served as the backbone of the Grand Canyon Railway’s steam fleet, powering all steam excursions and round-trip trains to the Grand Canyon. Due to its popularity, it has taken its place as an icon among operational steam locomotives in the U.S.
Going Green
For many years, the Grand Canyon Railway operated steam locomotives from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but in 2008 discontinued runs due to environmental considerations from blowing out all those diesel fumes. In 2009, the railway came upon the idea of burning carbon-neutral waste vegetable oil as a fuel, thereby keeping #4960 and sister engine #29 regularly on the rails.
As a result, The Grand Canyon Railway recently became the first tourist railway in the United States to receive ISO 14001 third-party certification of its environmental management system (EMS) after a two-year process involving complete review, development and implementation of environmental initiatives in all of its operations.
Guests wanting to ride the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon can make a reservation on the website. In addition, train travelers can book special overnight packages this spring at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, AZ.
