The
Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) is a 103km-long passenger railroad, which operates between
Williams (Arizona) and
Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. The first train arrived to Grand Canyon on September 17 1901. Competition with the automobile forced the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to cease operation of this railway in 1968. Its fate seemed sealed, but in 1988 was bought by Max and Thelma Biegert, who restored it, and the first train has ran on September 17, 1989. The
Grand Canyon Depot, owned by the National Park Service, remained the northern terminus for passengers of the line. In 1995 the GCR introduced vintage diesel locomotives, reconditioned 1970s
EMD F40PH (in the second postcard), and a year later
steam locomotive No. 4960 (in the first postcard) made its first run on the line after being fully restored. No. 4960 (a
2-8-2 locomotive) was built in 1923 by
Baldwin Locomotive Works in
Philadelphia, and operated a freight and coal hauling service for the Midwestern
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad until the late 1950s.
In 2006 the GCR carry about 240,000 passengers, which reduced automobile traffic to the South Rim by 10%. In the same year
Xanterra Parks & Resorts bought the Railway, but sold it in 2008 to
Philip Anschutz. In 2009, as a result of popular demand, the Railway reinstated limited steam operations at the Williams Depot. After converting locomotive No. 4960 to run purely on waste vegetable oil (WVO), it began conducting steam trips on its special event train dubbed the "Cataract Creek Rambler". Over the winter of 2011/2012, engine 4960 underwent its 15-year overhaul and inspection, and returned to service in 2012 for a special Centennial Run on February 14, celebrating 100 years of Arizona Statehood. Since then, it continues to pull GCR excursions once per month during the summer months from May through September, and for special occasions.
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