WILLIAMS, Ariz. — As part of the 2023 steam schedule of operating the “First Saturday” excursions, Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s 2-8-2 No. 4960 was fired up for the special occasion. The former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad locomotive, with assistance from F40 diesel No. 4128, headed the railway’s round-trip excursion train from Williams to the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park on June 3.
“No. 4960 performed great last Saturday,” said Eric Hadder, chief mechanical officer of Grand Canyon Railway. “Pulling 15 cars, 948 trailing tons, and nearly 850 riders.”
The locomotive will receive a one-week turnaround to lead a June 10 five-car charter train for the National Model Railroad Association’s PSR Grand Canyon Special Convention, hosted by the Arizona Division. According to the convention’s website, a tour of the GCRY shops will take place on June 9 with the charter operating the following day from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park, including a photo run-by en route. All passengers and attendees must be either an NMRA member or invited guest.
“Only routine servicing will be required for No. 4960,” Hadder explained.
The 2-8-2 was built in 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the ex-CB&Q. In the late 1950s, it was selected to pull “fan trip” trains on the railroad until the end of the steam excursion program in 1966. Purchased by Grand Canyon Railway in 1989, the locomotive has been in active service since 1996 after undergoing an extensive rebuild and being converted to burn oil. No. 4960 currently burns waste vegetable oil.
For more information, visit the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel website.
