Steam locomotives were a widely used means of transportation in 19th-century America, but we’ve mostly moved on to more efficient (and less sooty) ways to get from one place to another.
Of the more than 30,000 steam engines that were built in the U.S., fewer than 200 still exist today. Even fewer are still in operation as passenger trains.
Related: How to plan your 1st visit to a national park
One of the last places in the U.S. where you can experience a classic, leisurely ride on a train pulled by a steam locomotive is onboard the Grand Canyon Railway.
On Feb. 23, the Grand Canyon Railway announced that it will once again run its 1923 steam engine for the 2024 season. No longer fueled by coal, steam engine GCR No. 4690 is now powered by nearly carbon-neutral waste vegetable oil and snowmelt. The railway even sometimes refers to No. 4690 as the “French Fry Express.”
Steam locomotive excursions are planned for the first Saturday of the month between March and October on what is called Steam Saturdays. The steam engine will pull only the 9:30 a.m. train on each of these dates. The full schedule for the 2024 season is as follows:
- March 2
- April 6
- April 20
- May 4
- June 1
- July 6
- August 3
- August 12
- September 7
- September 21
- October 5
The Grand Canyon Railway is celebrating some special milestones on several dates. No. 4960’s birthday is Aug. 12, and the anniversary of the Grand Canyon Railway is Sept. 21.
There is no additional cost to ride the train when the steam locomotive is in service. Ticket prices start at around $70 round trip for adults and $36 round trip for children ages 2 through 15. Discounts are available for guests with a National Park Service Park Pass and AAA members. Vacation packages that include a Grand Canyon Railway Hotel stay are also available.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
The Grand Canyon Railway takes riders on a full-day journey to the Grand Canyon and back. The train leaves Williams, Arizona, at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at the Historic Village on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim around 11:45 a.m.
From there, you’ll have about three hours to explore the Grand Canyon before the train departs at 3:30 p.m. You’ll return to Williams at 5:45 p.m. If you want to spend a few nights in the Grand Canyon before returning to Williams, you can book different departure and return dates.
Related: 4 great scenic train rides across the US
If you love scenic train rides or you are looking for a unique way to see the Grand Canyon, take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway.
If you want to secure your spot on a real, working steam train journey, you can reserve your tickets online or by calling 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).
Related reading:
