Unconfirmed report, via Phoenix "Peavine" BNSF YahooGroup:

"Was told today that this Monday will be the last 2 train trip per Day up to the Canyon because of the price of FUEL so it still remain to see if they plan to run steam with diesel helpers or straight FA's on the daily run to the canyon or if the steam program is over now instead of labor day. Will keep you all posted."

I've seen photos of the repainted F40's on trains already. Allegedly these are among the worst fuel hogs of the railroad...... I gotta wonder if their original CF7/GP7's are still around.......

How reliable is the source of this information?

It's inconsistent with what's on their web page -- which indicates a two train a day schedule for the summer....

and the website was revised July 11, 2008

Bob H

Just got off the phone with Sam Lanter the CMO of the GCRR. He reports that effective today they have cut back to one train daily which leaves Williams at 0900 and returns from the Canyon at 1715 hrs. They will operate the second train (departs Williams at 10:30 returns at 1845) when demand warrants. He says that their pssgr. count is down modestly from last yr. and he expects that for the full year they will carry approx. 275,000 folks vs. 307,000 in 2007.

He says that the railroad is fully committed to continue running steam through Labor Day as advertised.

He further said that they are feeling good about the pending sale of the operation to Phillip Anschultz as they believe that Mr. Anschultz is much more railroad savy and pro- steam than Xanterra Corp.

That's the latest from the GCRR.

Ross Rowland

Howdy,

That's Phillip Anschutz, not Anschultz.

I'm hoping the price of hay goes up tenfold. That might make their return trip less nerve-wracking!

Cheers, Roger

Makes sense when you think of it. Unless you're doing a trip package, you have one heck of a drive to Williams from Lost Wages. Flagstaff is much closer, but it's a smaller airport folks don't fly into much. With gas where it is, I'd bet overall, the canyon isn't seeing nearly the attendence it did when my wife and I were there last year...

Thanks, Ross, for getting correct information.
Do the present and possible future prices of fuel have any effects on your locomotive or Coal Enterprise?

Not exactly sure about the meaning meant in the statement of driving distance from Vegas... Flagstaff is 40 miles beyond Williams, and makes for a longer trip to the Canyon. Though the cost will go up, there is no other place like it, so I suspect it will be somewhat inflation proof compared to other tourist locations.

Still, if there are less people renting cars at the Vegas airport, it might make sense to offer a bus from Vegas... I suppose there are these already, but it would seem to be a sensible package the railroad could offer.
O. Anderson

Two images from last Friday.

This news does not bode well for the SP&S 539......



TH

Before anyone posts unsubstantiated rumors as to the cause of the loss of the second scheduled trim I think one needs to consider that Xantera did not put the money into advertising that the Biegerts did. That seems to be the real underlying cause of the problem. Reports are that the train out of the Canyon is doing a fair business and that many people riding it did not even know of the Grand Canyon Railway option prior to their arrival to the park.

Robby