Grand Canyon Railway:

Grand Canyon Railway: #4960 8-6-2022. On the first weekend of August 2022, on a trip to see my* family, we ventured out to Williams Arizona to see the Grand Canyon Railway. We scheduled one of eight different first Saturdays to see Grand Canyon's famed steam locomotive #4960.
4960 was built in 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as a class O-1a 2-8-2 "Mikado" for the Chicago Burlington and Quincy (Burlington Route). She pulled mostly freight trains on the "CB&Q" until 1957. However, the owner of the CB&Q decided to spare 4960 and 4-8-4 #5632 for excursions. This would last until 1966 when management changed, and both locomotives were retired that same year. Rather than suffering the same fate of 5632 (being scrapped), 4960 was donated to the Circus World Museum, then the Mid-Continent Railroad Museum for static display. In the early 1980's it operated on the Bristol and Northwestern Railroad for excursions. However, that operation didn't last long, and it was placed in storage as a result. In 1988, the Grand Canyon Railway purchased the locomotive for their steam program, and restoration was finally complete in 1996. 4960 has been pulling passengers from Williams Arizona to the Grand Canyon's South Rim and back ever since. When 4960 arrived at the GCRR, they gave her a ton of modifications to not only improve performance, but also give it more of a standard 1940's steam appearance which include (in no particular order):
- Smaller diameter smokebox (decreased back pressure by 30%)
- Dual beam centered headlight, top mounted bell, and new grab irons
- ATSF inspired tube cowcatcher
- Converted from coal to oil firing
- Larger tender from a Soo Line 4-8-2 "Mountain" type (raising the back frame to match the tender as a result0
- Has had many different whistles over the years (the current one is a homemade (ATSF inspired) 6 chime).
*4960 is one of a few steam locomotives in United States that burns recycled vegetable oil. It's expensive but it's much cleaner for the environment. You can usually find it at any fast-food restaurant. But hey, nothing better than smelling french fries while chasing.
Enjoy our look at the Grand Canyon Railway!