The event features the 1906 Alco-built Consolidation that was built to haul iron ore on the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad in Michigan. Grand Canyon Railway purchased the locomotive in 1989 and put it into service in 1990. A comprehensive story about 2-8-0 type locomotives by noted steam authority Ed King will be published in the September issue of Trains.
“I know a consolidation like 29 is not as glamorous as a larger Mikado like 4960, but this engine is a lot of fun,” Chief Mechanical Officer Eric Hadder says. “It’s a real workhorse, and when you listen to it bark up a 3% grade with 5 cars at 20 mph, you will really appreciate what it can do.”
The locomotive will pull a train of classic Harriman coaches in Pullman Green to South Rim with multiple photo stops on Saturday, including a dawn silhouette. That evening at a social time for participants, Hadder will give a presentation on the locomotive and the railroad’s operating steam and diesel locomotives and its extensive passenger car fleet.
On Sunday, Grand Canyon Railway will recreate a busy short line rail yard of the 1950s. There will be a freight train, a passenger train of pre WWII Commuter cars, a 1950s era streamliner, and a mixed consist of both. Grand Canyon Railway has initiated a refurbishment program of the 1923 Pullman cars, which will result in a new paint scheme. So the days are limited to capture these cars in Pullman Green behind steam. No. 29 will make runbys with freight cars, and Grand Canyon 2-8-2 No. 4960 will make a cameo appearance at Williams before No. 29 heads out on its grand finale on the main line. The railroad also will offer shop tours on Sunday morning.
“Trains is delighted to partner with Grand Canyon to offer this experience,” says Editor Jim Wrinn. “Steam on the former Santa Fe Grand Canyon branch is always an exhilarating experience, and this is more proof of our commitment to bring our readers great content online and in print as well as great experiences.”
Tickets, which include all railroad operations and lunch both days, are $600 per person and are limited to 70 customers. To order, call 800-843-8799 or go online at thetrain.com/trains. Customers ordering tickets may also reserve space at the railroad’s hotel in Williams at the same time and receive a 20 percent discount.
Mark, the service time is up, it’s due for it’s 1,472 day FRA mandated tear down and inspection…the Grand Canyon doesn’t run steam enough to worry about doing that for now. Would be nice if some new owners took over and brought in more steam and sidelined the diesels instead.
Why is No.29 going into storage?