A Power Line-Up. On a windy, chilly morning in late October, a quartet of Grand Canyon Railway trains sit poised in the Williams Yard preparing for a busy schedule of events. These trains display most of the locomotive types from the past and present, including two steam locomotives....perhaps the last time we'll see that for a while. From left to right, we see Consolidation #29 on a photo freight. This former LS&I locomotive is a 1906 Alco product and at the time of this photo, she was appearing in her last event before the expiration of her FRA Form 4. To her right is a pair of EMD F40PH locomotives, led by #239, which will be heading up the line's daily service to the Grand Canyon. As of now, these EMDs are the primary power on the line. To their right is the former CB&Q #4960, a massive Baldwin, 2-8-2 Mikado type dating to 1923. The 4960 sports a tender, which might be more properly called a "tanker", that weighs as much as the locomotive when fully fueled and watered. On this day, the 4960 is pulling a consist of vintage Harriman-style Pullman passenger cars. Last in this line-up is one of the lines venerable Alco FPA-4 Diesel Locomotives built in 1959. Formerly the mainstay of the GCR diesel fleet, these engines are now used only for special events. On this day, #6793 is hauling the line's Pumpkin Patch Special. It's not often when you can photograph all of these engines together, and with the 29 going down for an indeterminate period of time, it might be quite a while before you see it again.
