Fresh from its successful purchase of the Grand Canyon Railroad from the Biegerts last fall, it appears that Xanterra (which, as you may recall, descended in corporate hierarchy from the AT&SF's old Harvey House operations) has decided it likes the heck out of railroad operations, and, taking a page from the Texas State Railroad operation acquisition/contract, has submitted an application to the National Park Service to assume the excursion operations (but not the real estate, rolling stock, etc.) of the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pa., with plans to extend regular service to Delaware Water Gap and "potential connections to future or current NJTransit passenger stations in New Jersey, contingent upon appropriate arrangements being made for connecting services being operated by NJTransit."

It should be emphasized that this is an unsolicited offer, and that Xanterra piled a host of conditions to their offer. As but one example, Xanterra expressed that they would reserve the right to substitute their own contract motive power on the excursions. Specifically mentioned in the proposal as examples: PRR 1361, NYS&W 142, "Blue Mountain & Reading" (does that corporate name even exist anymore, or is it all "Reading & Northern"?) 425 and 2102, and--getta load of this, folks--C&O 614. Other conditions involve the rights to contract for "luxury" operations such as parlor and dome cars on these trains, charging for photo runbys or Alco-powered photo freights at Moscow or other locations, and contracting with the Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society for nighttime dinner train operations.

Sounds like someone at the Grand Canyon listens to Ross!

More at the following links:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0401b-xanterra-pa0401.html

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18155796&BRD=LOOF-LIRPA=461&dept_id=LOOF-LIRPA415898&rfi=6

One of your links points to a sitemap for the website and the other to an article about smokers and a smoking ban. Happy April Fools Day?

Heck No... They're gonna Stay Local...they're buying the BNSF "Peavine" line...didnt you know???

(

April 1st, 2007 - Xanterra Parks & Resorts Completes Purchase of Historic Grand Canyon Railway, plus other Western Railroad Lines and Equipment.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ; Xanterra Parks & Resorts has completed the purchase of the Williams, Ariz.-based Grand Canyon Railway from owners Max and Thelma Biegert. Effective immediately, Xanterra assumes management of the Grand Canyon Railway's operations including the train trip from Williams to Grand Canyon Village, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, RV Park and Pet Resort, Max and Thelma's Restaurant and several real estate parcels in Williams.

Also in Addition to the Grand Canyon Railway, has also purchased 200 miles of trackage from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway company of Ft. Worth Texas. The purchase includes all the trackage from Williams, Ariz to Phoenix, Ariz along the fabled "Peavine" line of the old Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The new Copper State Railway Company (CSRyCo.)as the railroad portion is now called, plans to start revenue passenger operations from the soon to be refurbished Phoenix Union Station directly to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon starting April 2nd. To Kick off the commencement of regular passenger service between the two points, the railroad is sending down its two steam locomotives 29 (former Lake Superior and Ishiming Railway) and 4960 (former Chicago Burlington and Quincy) to Phoenix to pull the first train without the assistance of diesels.

In addition to the purchase of the current trackage, the new CSRyCo. has already gathered new supplies of rail, ties, and other accessories to begin reconstructing the Santa Fe Railway line into the Territorial Capitol of Prescott. The CSRyCo. plans to have this trackage in service no later than one year from now, April 1st, 2008.

To help supplement the Railway's current rolling stock, the railroad is currently purchasing Spokane, Portland and Seattle 539, a 2-8-2 "Mikado" type; and Santa Fe 3751, a 4-8-4 "Northern" type. Currently the 539 is inoperable, but CSRyCo. crews plan to have this magnificent steamer running soon, while 3751, in operable condition should soon arrive on the railway. To also supplement its diesel fleet the railroad is in talks with major diesel locomotive builders to recreate a fleet of famed Alco "PA" Units to be painted in the famous Santa Fe "Warbonnet" paint scheme.

The Copper State Railway Company now operates daily train service between Phoenix, Ariz. and the Grand Canyon. The Railway offers five distinct classes of service, as well as money-saving packages featuring the Copper State Railway Company Hotel in Williams Arizona. Overnight stays at the Grand Canyon also can be included in the packages. Copper State Railway Company is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service and the Kaibab National Forest. For more information, visit www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).



eh...I know it's late...but I had already posted it on another board...

I have been waiting by the phone for the call from Xanterra. I hope we can get out of the deal we made with Disney last month when they told us they were taking over Steamtown.

Tim Stuy
Secretary - ELDCPS

For those who live long enough something like that will eventually happen. Lord only knows how long it will take but eventually it'll happen.
Remember where you heard it first!!
Ross Rowland