NO, IT'S NOT APRIL FOOL'S DAY.................

Yes, the Grand Canyon RR is "going green" with an electric locomotive!!!






[sits back a moment for the rumors to spread like wildfire across the globe.........]


>:-)



Okay, now the REST of the story:

Trusted AT&SF "Peavine" trackside resident and spotter Douglas Wood of Paulden, a.k.a. "arizonapug", spotted this Wednesday delivery of ex-Black Mesa & Lake Powell RR E60C 6001, which dates to Dec. 1972 or early 1973, to the Grand Canyon RR, ostensibly being stored for future preservation (along with a Shay and other rolling stock) for the Arizona State Railway Museum to be built at Williams. (Not to be confused with the existing Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, near Phoenix...)

Mind you, there was a serious proposal for electric light rail on the northern end of the GCRY to cut pollution at the South Rim and alleviate congestion........ and an electric would easily handle that steep grade into the park.....

Sure, sure... get some Interborough subway cars, complete with graffiti, and give the tourists a true "western" experience. Only problem is the jackrabbits keep electrocuting themselves on the trolley rail, but that's easy to fix... put some of those critter detectors that they use to turn on warning lights on the Interstate, and have them turn off the trolley power. So what if it strands trainloads of people... nothing is too good for the cute little critters...

Actually, an electric light rail line up there meeting a then-steam-powered Grand Canyon Railway would have been cool, although it would have been better to go with something like Gomaco replica cars instead of the modern jobs that were talked about. The stations for the light rail line were actually built, by the way; problem was, some congressman got upset at the federal money being used for the project, and cut it out. Thought buses were good enough, and they are what is running on the route of the proposed trolley line today.

I will let some here have their own opinions on this--heck, they will anyway--but there was some talk about said congressman, a Republican, being very anti-rail in general. I'm sorry I can't recall his name, perhaps someone here can answer that or confirm this story.

Question: If you do know who this fellow is, is he currently between 60 and 90? If so, his being in that "progress generation" we spoke of a while back could be one of the factors involved.

Is America's Finest Railroad* retiring all of their original E60C's in favor of "new old stock" Mexican units?

Steve

* DPM, Trains, Oct. 1974

[quote="J3a-614"]Actually, an electric light rail line up there meeting a then-steam-powered Grand Canyon Railway would have been cool, although it would have been better to go with something like Gomaco replica cars instead of the modern jobs that were talked about. The stations for the light rail line were actually built, by the way; problem was, some congressman got upset at the federal money being used for the project, and cut it out. Thought buses were good enough, and they are what is running on the route of the proposed trolley line today.

I will let some here have their own opinions on this--heck, they will anyway--but there was some talk about said congressman, a Republican, being very anti-rail in general. I'm sorry I can't recall his name, perhaps someone here can answer that or confirm this story.

This is the same state that let the 3 day aweek "Sunset Limited" get routed around a tiny village called PHOENIX. 3 days of income and 7 days of expenses and great departure times! The bus lobby is doing very well. Someday they will be pushing for BRT to GC! Of course the best place for this, will be on the rail right a way. With Phoenix light rail being a big success. There are pressures for rail in this arid zone now.