Santa Fe, All The Way! A Steam Train Sojourn on the "Grand Canyon Limited"

[Hiawatha Pete]

Last edited Mon Apr 13, 2020, 05:21 PM - Edit history (3)

Hello Again, DU'ers,

While holed up here in my house looking for a distraction from the non-stop bad news about the global pandemic, I thought l'd share some more photographs - this time showcasing an all-but-extinct mode of transport: the steam-locomotive-hauled long-distance passenger train.

For those interested in taking a virtual journey across the Southwest, in 2012 my wife & I were passengers on "The Grand Canyon Limited" (a one-time specially-chartered train recreating the original Santa Fe train of the same name that entered service in 1929) complete with restored Santa Fe Steam Locomotive #3751 & vintage cars which ran on a five-day round trip excursion from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon to celebrate Arizona's Centennial.

The pics are from my website, https://northamericabyrail.info/

Hope you enjoy!

First, a pic of Santa Fe 4-8-4 type steam locomotive #3751 in front of the Grand Canyon Depot after arriving with the "Grand Canyon Limited"


Now, from West to East: Los Angeles Union Station


Crossing the Los Angeles River in the dome car 'Silver Lariat' on the eastbound "Grand Canyon Limited"


Dome car dining on the Grand Canyon Limited


Grand Canyon Limited approaching San Bernardino


Grand Canyon Limited approaching Sullivan's curve


Sullivans Curve, Cajon Pass, CA


Panoramic view of Santa Fe 3751 pulling the Grand Canyon Limited around Sullivan's Curve


Alray, Cajon Pass, CA


Riding in the baggage car for a closer view of Santa Fe 3751


Old Route 66


Riding eastward through the California desert


Meet with an Arizona & California Railroad freight at Cadiz, CA


Grand Canyon Limited eastbound near the California-Arizona state line


Santa Fe 4-8-4-type steam locomotive 3751 on the point of the Grand Canyon Limited. Photo run-by at Bouse, AZ


Grand Canyon Limited photo run-by at Bouse, AZ


Dome-chair car Silver Lariat


Dome-sleeper-lounge-observation car Silver Solarium on tail end of the Grand Canyon Limited


River near Salome, AZ


Santa Fe 3751 digs in its heels with the Grand Canyon Limited at Wenden, AZ


Saguaro cactus


Santa Fe 3751 pulls the Grand Canyon Limited through the wye at Matthie, AZ


Congress, AZ


Grand Canyon Limited, Skull Valley, AZ


Grand Canyon, south rim


Lookout Studio, Grand Canyon Village, AZ

[Docreed2003]

1. Absolutely gorgeous

Thanks so much for sharing.

[Hiawatha Pete]

2. No problem!

Thanks for checking out my pics & for the compliment.

[hedda_foil]

3. On the way to Cali Forn Eye Ay on the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe.

[Hiawatha Pete]

5. But I make my run & I make my pay on the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe

Thanks for posting the clip. Judy Garland starred in that movie.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Can you tell me what town the Alhambra Saloon is in? Sign on their window says they got

some beautiful girls in there. I'd like to meet me some.

[Hiawatha Pete]

10. Lol! I think the movie was set in New Mexico

But if you google search the real Alhambra Saloon, it appears to be in Tombstone, AZ.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Wow, these are just gorgeous, my dear Hiawatha Pete!

We all need a break and this virtual tour is just the ticket.

What a great trip that must have been for you and your wife. Lucky you!

[Hiawatha Pete]

8. Thanks for the compliment!

It's hard to argue with the scenery in the Southwestern United States . The fact that meal service and unlimited libations were included in the fare didn't hurt either. To say that my wife & I enjoyed it would be an understatement.

Not to mention the fact that the train was steam-hauled with all vintage equipment. A 'kid in a candy store' experience for this train nut.

[Talitha]

6. Thanks, HP!

[Hiawatha Pete]

9. No problem, thanks for checking out my photos!

[mike_c]

11. wow, wow, and more wow....

Thank you so much for sharing these!

[Hiawatha Pete]

12. My pleasure,

Thank YOU for viewing them and for the compliment!

[alfredo]

13. That locomotive reminds me of the coal trains in Ky. They were huge.

[Hiawatha Pete]

14. Cool!

Might it have been the Norfolk and Western Railway? I know they were one of the big coal haulers in the region and they had huge articulated steam locomotives. A few years ago wifey & I got to ride behind a smaller (4-8-0 type) Norfolk & Western steam engine at the Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania:

[alfredo]

15. Most ikely it was the L&N.

Big Emma
https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/louisville-and-nashville-m1-big-emmas.15038/

I used to work the Louisville rail yard with Railway Express. I could route and load 4 boxcars a day. I would look like a coal miner at the end of my shift, all black from the coal dust.



My uncle supervised the repair of rail cars. Also some of my people helped build High Bridge in Ky.

[Hiawatha Pete]

16. Thanks for sharing

that snippet of your family history, as well as the pics & the footage of the L&N "Big Emma" Berkshires - all very interesting!

[alfredo]

17. It would have been easy to become a train enthusiast