The Great Train Trip

With

Chris & Rich

September 2000

	Chris drove over to Phoenix from San Diego one weekend and then we headed up to Williams, Arizona to catch the train to the Grand Canyon. We checked into the Frey Marcos Hotel at Williams on Saturday evening and had dinner and breakfast in the station restaurant.
After breakfast we went to check out the train which during the summer months is pulled by this steam locomotive. From October to May they use diesel electric locomotives to give the steam engines a break and to avoid problems with freezing weather and water lines.
	It is definitely impressive and neat to see a live steam locomotive rather than a run down display. Chris then checked out the rest of the train at the historic old Santa Fe Station in Williams built as part of the Fred Harvey chain of stations in the 1910 time frame.
Chris is standing beside the coach cars built in the 1920s in the picture above. On the trip up we rode the observation or dome car pictured on the right. It was built in the early 1950s. The restoration on all the cars both interior and exterior is very complete and a joy to see.
	Here you can see the upper level of the dome car on the left and the first class cabin on the lower level of the dome car below.
	All the staff on the train was full of historic information and fun to talk with. On the right is the interior of one of the 1920 coach cars which shows the great restoration.
Our conductor’s name was Phil and he always looked busy doing official conductor work and answering all the questions the passengers had. Behind Phil you can see the snack bar for juice and pastries and the steps up to the observation deck from the lower level. I opted for a Starbuck’s mocha from the dining car.
	Chris and I were really getting into things by now so pulling out of the station was another big event being able to see the steam locomotive puffing and watching all the people and town go by as we left and started to enjoy the scenery. The train was easily a quarter of a mile long and required an auxiliary, cheater, diesel electric locomotive to augment the steam engine.
Our host in the observation car on the way up was a guy named Chris on the left and Ginny was the hostess in the parlor car on the way back. More on that later.
	While I’ve been to the Canyon many times and spent a summer working there this was Chris’ first trip that he can remember. Regardless, it was again impressive for both of us. I remembered how much I like the Canyon and Chris could instantly see why. We made the obligatory stops at the El Tovar Hotel, the Hopi House and the Kolb Studio behind Chris on the left.
Then we hiked about a mile away from the visitor area to get an unobstructed view.
	Back at the station the train was waiting for us and we saw some local not so wild life.
	On the way home we rode the parlor car at the back of the train.
Sodas and snacks were complementary and there were more history lessons as well as a visiting troubadour singing western and railroad ballads. The scenery changed constantly from the tall pines just south of the Canyon rim to the open high desert areas between the Canyon and Williams where it got hilly with more vegetation.
	The view out the window and off the back platform was always interesting.
	Just about 15 miles out of Williams the train got waylaid by a band of outlaws on horseback who boarded the train and tried to rob us. They were quickly taken into custody by the local marshal and his deputies who just happened to be on the train with us. After we got back to Williams, Chris and I jumped in the car and headed back to Phoenix to end our adventure. If you’re interested, there’s more on the train at http://www.thetrain.com. It was a great weekend break for us.