Train Buffs All Aboard for National Train Day at the Grand Canyon

From steam to diesel-powered engines and from New York to Los Angeles, Americans have had a long love affair with trains. National Train Day reminds us all of the role that the passenger train has played – and continues to play – in moving America.

Amtrak’s National Training Day 2010 is hosted here by The Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Arizona May 8-9.  All events will take place at the Grand Canyon Railway’s depot (map) in the heart of Williams. The event will run from 10am to 6:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

The highlight of the two day event will be the ‘Cataract Creek Rambler.’ A 45 minute train ride in open air passenger coaches passengers are pulled behind the1923 Baldwin steam locomotive #4960, which has been recently converted to burn waste vegetable oil. Trains leave every hour on the hour from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tickets are sold on the day of the event and are $15 for adults, $10 for children.

The Williams Depot has dedicated 3500 square feet adjacent to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for model railroad displays. At least five different scales will be on display, including several N-trak displays from the Mountain Valley N Scale Group, Arizona Southwest Model Railroad Society, and Prescott Valley N-trak. N-trak is a special organization of N scale model railroaders who build individual modules to specified standards. The modules can be combined to form layouts of various sizes, configurations, and themes.

Several pieces of full scale railroad equipment will also be on display, including a modern BNSF diesel electric locomotive, a historic Grand Canyon Railway locomotive as well as GCRy’s “Max Biegert” parlor car will be open for display showcasing how rail barons traveled in style and luxury. The Chapter’s own Santa Fe Caboose will be open for tours.

In addition there will be exhibits by Operation Lifesaver, historic railroad artifacts from the Arizona Railroad Museum, a computer railroad simulator, and live entertainment.

Food will be available at the railroad, but I suggest that you wander one block into downtown Williams and visit the shops featuring Route 66 memorabilia as well as the great local restaurants like Pancho McGillicuddy’s Mexican Cantina on Railroad Avenue or Cruiser’s Café 66 on West 66.

The lobby at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, AZ

If you’d like to make the weekend out of the event, take advantage of a special package that includes two nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams plus Coach Class train travel to the Grand Canyon for $370 per couple.  Call 1-800-THE-TRAIN and ask for promo code SPE2 at time of reservation.  This price does not include tax or National Park entry fee.

To get to the event, take I-40 west from Flagstaff to the Williams exits. Take any Williams exit and go to the center of town. The Depot is just at the railroad tracks and Grand Canyon Blvd. There will be ample free parking.

Photos courtey of Grand Canyon Railway