4th June 2025

Well, we have had the most fantastic day riding the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. 👏

We arrived yesterday in Williams, Arizona, after a very long drive and checked into the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel.

After settling in to our lovely room, we had a delicious dinner and even managed a visit to the gift shop! 😉

We were a little worried when we checked the weather last night as it forecast rain and lightening for our visit to the Canyon today and even gave a Flash Flood warning! 🌧️⛈ 😱

The Grand Canyon Railway started carrying passengers to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on 17th September 1901 and since that time, notable passengers to ride the Grand Canyon Railway include Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, William Howard Taft, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Clark Gable, Jimmy Durante, Doris Day, Warren Buffet, and Bill Gates.

It’s estimated to carry more than 225,000 passengers every year, resulting in around 50,000 fewer cars entering the park.

Thankfully, overnight the weather forecast changed to only a slight chance of rain. After a lovely breakfast we wondered over to the train station to take photographs and then it was time to board the train.

This engine from the Pikes Peak railway was of interest as a couple of years ago we drove to the top of Pikes Peak instead of going by train.

While checking out the railway station, we suddenly heard a train whistle and a freight train appeared. We were rather surprised to see it had five engines and wondered why! We found out soon enough when it took three and a half minutes to pass through the station. It was pulling 202 containers (yes, I counted them!) The driver waved and blew his whistle for us as he passed by.

Before we boarded, we were serenaded by a group of cowboys and then were treated to a cowboy gunfight by the Cataract Creek Gang (we were going to see them later in the afternoon!) and Marshall Tucker. They are a group of performers known for their Old West-themed gun fights and robberies. They were very funny.

After that boarding commenced.

The train consisted of 13 carriages and appeared as though every one of them would be full. Our train carriage was called ‘Fred Harvey’ and had a glass domed ceiling. Everyone in our carriage were just fantastic and friendly. Our hostess was called Noel and she made the day. She was so funny and could she talk! 😂🗣️

Fred Harvey had a strong connection to Grand Canyon hotels because he and the Santa Fe Railway formed a partnership to create a chain of Harvey Houses along their train routes. Harvey recognized the need for better accommodations for travellers and worked with the railroad to build hotels and restaurants, including those at the Grand Canyon. 

The journey to the Grand Canyon was just 65 miles and the train travels at about 35 miles per hour so took us approximately 2.5 hours. We had a buffet and plenty of drink to keep us occupied during the trip.

This is our train. Sorry for the poor video!

As well as watching the scenery, which was mostly flat countryside, we were on the look out for wildlife and saw cows, elk and Pronghorn antelope. Fact: Did you know Pronghorn antelope are related to giraffes?! No, we didn’t either. 🤷‍♀️Another fact given to us by Noel.

We were also treated to entertainment in the form of Brian, who sang and played the guitar. He was great and we even sang along to a couple of John Denver numbers.

At the back of our carriage was an open-air platform so we took advantage of that as we had never stood in the open-air on the back of a train before. Another ‘first’ for us.That was fun!

We reached the Grand Canyon in lovely warm sunshine and were, once again, overawed at the amazing sight before us. No matter how many times you gaze upon it, it always takes your breath away. We took loads of photographs. Here are just a few. No photograph will ever be as good as seeing it in person.

While we were there, we were surprised to see this elk having his lunch and the squirrel waiting for his! 😂

Then it clouded over and started to rain. Luckily, we had booked to have lunch in the El Tovar, the South Rim’s hotel, so managed to miss getting wet. 🌧️ The rain passed quickly and there was no thunder or lightening.

We boarded the train for our return journey and again, were treated to a buffet and drinks, although we couldn’t manage much after having such a delicious lunch.

Once again there was entertainment, this time with Singing Sam who sang rock and roll and played guitar. Then suddenly, the train stopped and was boarded by the Cataract Creek Gang, who were wearing masks and carrying guns (not real ones!) They tore through the train robbing as many people as possible! In hot pursuit behind them was Marshall Tucker who eventually caught up with them as they had run out of train and marched them off to jail. It was hilarious! 🤣

We learnt a couple of things on the way back to Williams. Noel was telling us it snows in Arizona, we did not know that, and has 600 volcanic mountains!! Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

Tomorrow we leave Williams for the relatively short drive to our last ‘port of call’ on this holiday, Las Vegas.

Please join us for tales of gambling, fine food, fine wine and if the weather forecast is correct, very, very, high temperatures!! ☀️

Thanks, as always, for joining us on our adventures.