By Ron Oster
How’s your train of thought? It might be better after reading my article about the Grand Canyon Railway located right here in Arid-zona. It’s more fun than a solar powered submarine in Seattle and makes a great exciting weekend getaway. I say “Go north young man,” or is that woman? Heck, take the whole family! Ever wished you could take a time machine and relive the 19th century? Well, I have news for you! And, no space rockets are necessary or those long boring flights to Mars because it’s just up the road a piece. You’ll only need your car and a vivid imagination to travel back to the “turn-of-the-century wild west” along the 64-miles of fillet steel.
The area between Williams (where you board) and the Grand Canyon (your destination) is rich with incredible and nostalgic history. To educate you just a bit, grading for the railway began in June 1899 and after this ENORMOUS engineering feat was finished, travel from Williams Depot to the Grand Canyon began on September 17, 1901. For decades it was a struggle to keep the railway profitable and sadly, tourist travel ended July 30, 1968.
The railway was used for hauling freight until the summer of 1974 when the tracks were permanently abandoned and unfortunately many of the neat looking trackside buildings were destroyed. Over the years, several people, including TV personality Arthur Godfrey, tried to resurrect the railway but all were unsuccessful and it seemed that no one would ever hear a lonesome whistle on their way to the Grand Canyon ever again. But in 1988, Phoenix businessman Max Biegert, and his wife Thelma, purchased the railway and to this day are still the present owners. Both of them can be credited with the revival and restoration of the railway and saving it for future generations to experience and enjoy.
On September 17, 1989, exactly 88 years from its meek beginning in 1901, the thunder of steam roared to life once again into the Grand Canyon Depot and lures a whopping 130,000 passengers annually to relive the nostalgia of a real steam locomotive. The Williams Depot, built in 1908 is an attraction in itself and looks the same today as it did 90 years ago. In fact, the brick loading platform where you board the train is the original platform set in 1908! There is a museum next to the depot where you can see Locomotive #20, built in 1910, along with its tender (a small coal car) and a Harriman passenger coach, built in 1923. And while you’re there, try a delicious continental breakfast in the historic Santa Fe Room. I’d say their breakfast makes a dishrag look like a Rembrandt. Scrumptious. And, prior to your departure, don’t miss the show put on by Marshall John B. Goodemore and the Cataract Creek Gang which has got to be “wild west fun” at it’s very best.
All of this fun and without even boarding the greatest adventure yet which starts at 9:30am when the train slowly leaves Williams Depot chugging north towards the Grand Canyon. You immediately feel the gentle swaying of the 1923 Harriman coaches and hear the “clickity clack” of the old tracks just beneath you. On the 5-hour round-trip adventure, expect to see the West’s diversity of nature as your eyes scan the horizon for any signs of life. Besides the awesome natural scenery, be on the lookout for Hereford, Longhorn and Angus cows. There’s also a WIDE Varity of Arizona’s wildlife such as mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, black bear, elk, antelope, grey fox and cottontail bunnies. In the air, look for an occasional bald eagle (may be wearing a toupe to disguise himself), horned owl, hawk, blue heron, America West Airlines or even an evil turkey vulture perched on a tree limb waiting for my ex-wife (here, let me help you)!
Trees? Needles to say, railing through the Kaibab National Forest is more delicious than fried chicken with all the trimmin’s. From Mesquite to the Englemann Spruce, and from the colossal Ponderosa Pine to the Douglas Fir, get ready for some awesome possum beauty. An “extra special rare treat” would be to spot the heavenly Century Plant in full bloom as it takes 15 to 25 years to flower then it dies.
But to me, the REAL TREAT is the hospitality of the Grand Canyon Railway’s employees. True Blue people with a genuine interest in YOU as an individual and as a guest in “their home.” Don’t find that much these days. During the 64-mile two-and-a-half hour trip, from what I observed, they work extra hard keeping “their passengers” comfortable and entertained. I found them to be helpful, informative and genuinely concerned about your well-bring and safety, even telling stories and jokes. And, periodically during the rail adventure, “Cowboy balladeers” roam the passenger cars singing songs while strumming their guitars! Complimentary Coke (in those old glass bottles) was served to and from the Canyon.
Not to disappoint anyone, and most people don’t know this, but the steam engine pulling the vintage 1923 cars ONLY runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The rest of the year a nostalgia 1950’s diesel powered locomotive is used pulling the same era passenger cars because of temperature and maintenance reasons.
We don’t want any long sad faces upon arrival in Williams now, do we? So get in touch with Mother Nature’s crown jewel and come face to face with the world’s deepest chasm and the most fascinating railroad in the world. Call me at Rawhide Travel and Tours if you’d like more information as I’ve ordered an ample supply of brochures for those of you interested in experiencing this awesome adventure.
Since the train leaves Williams Depot at 9:30am on a daily schedule and check-in time is at 8:00am or earlier, obviously, it would difficult to catch the train driving from Phoenix unless you left at 5:00am! My advice is to spend a relaxed night prior in Williams and enjoy this immensely quaint historical western town. Did you know that downtown Williams is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? That should tell you something, and the fun you could be missing by not overnighting. And yes, there are several tour packages available, some nice ones too I might add.
Some of the costs are as follows and, like all travel, should be booked as far in advance as possible. There are FIVE CLASSES of service offered. COACH CLASS (regular seats and gratis soft drinks), CLUB CLASS (has a bar, gratis pastries and coffee in the morning, gratis soft drinks the entire trip), FIRST CLASS (over-sized reclining seats, huge viewing windows, air conditioned, gratis pastries, coffee and fruit in the morning with gratis champagne and snacks on the return), DELUXE OBSERVATION DOME CLASS (includes all of the above First Class amenities plus you’ll be seated in the upper-deck glass-domed 1950’s streamliner coach) and LUXURY PARLOR CLASS, the ultimate railing adventure! This class includes all of the above First Class amenities plus you’ll enjoy extraordinary elegant comforts like an open-air outside platform for timeless snapshots, bar and complimentary appetizers. Prices range from $60 to $155 for adults and $25 to $85 for children (ages 2-10). There is also a “youth rate” of $35 to $130 (ages 11-16). Several “overnight” packages that range from $149 per adult for a one night stay to $369 per adult for a three night stay are also available. Obviously, I can’t get into great detail about the overnight packages but if you’re interested, please stop in for a beautiful color brochure which does explains everything and what’s included.
The rewards of ridin’ the rails” not only include genuine nostalgia and romance, but also staggering natural beauty and just down right plain old wild west fun. The authentic hospitality of the Grand Canyon Railway employees, hostesses, engineers, conductors, balladeers, cowboys and train robbers at the Williams Depot are all to be commended as a “rare breed” as far as I am concerned and have made the railroad what it is today. Visit us at www.rawhidetravel.com for further information.
And now it’s time for the “Rawhide Travel Question of the Day” (bongo drums please)……why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
