ATSF 309L (F7A) with Train No.23, The Grand Canyon, in siding at Springer, NM waiting for York Canyon Coal Unit Train, August 19, 1967. Click to enlarge.
(A Roger Puta Photograph, courtesy Marty Bernard, railfan 44, via Wikimedia Commons)
GRAND CANYON / GRAND CANYON LIMITED
The Grand Canyon Limited was one of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was train Nos. 23 & 24 between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.
Group photo of passengers who rode on the first run of the Grand Canyon Railway, Arizona, September 1901.
(The Cline Library Digital Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
History
In 1901 the Santa Fe Railroad completed a 64-mile (103-km) branch from Williams, Arizona, to "Grand Canyon Village" at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The first scheduled train arrived from Williams on September 17 of that year; branch line trains and excursions from Southern California, Chicago, and Texas could run directly to the Rim. On June 29, 1929, service commenced on the Grand Canyon Limited, which became a celebrated vacation train.
The westward train split at Barstow, one section running to San Francisco (Oakland-Richmond) via the Tehachapi Loop while the other continued to Los Angeles. In 1938 it began running via Amarillo instead of La Junta; in 1950 it became two trains west of Kansas City, one by each route.
During World War II the Limited often ran in two or three sections carrying troops. In later years the train lost passengers to the railroad's newer trains such as the Super Chief with its streamlined cars.
The Grand Canyon train lost its name in early 1968 when the railway petitioned the ICC to drop service to Grand Canyon National Park; the train would continue as Trains 23 and 24 until the May 1, 1971, handover of all passenger service to Amtrak. While the Santa Fe had been willing to continue operating its famed Chiefs and the San Diegan, the prospect of having to operate its less successful routes until at least 1976 led it to hand its passenger routes to Amtrak. The Grand Canyon had been an anachronism for some time. It remained a mostly whistle stop train long after the automobile made such scheduling obsolete for passenger service. Despite this, the Santa Fe continued this scheduling model in order to more efficiently deliver mail parcels. However, when the Post Office abruptly pulled its mail contracts in 1967, the Grand Canyon became a particularly large albatross around the Santa Fe's neck, especially when the ICC turned down requests to withdraw the train.
The Santa Fe's Grand Canyon Limited at Joliet, Illinois in August of 1963. The train is led by EMD F7 No. 39C. Click to enlarge.
(Lawrence and David Barera, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Timeline
September 17, 1901: The Santa Fe inaugurates service on the 64-mile (103 km) Grand Canyon Railway, running between Williams, Arizona, and the South Rim of Grand Canyon.
January 1905: The Santa Fe-built El Tovar Hotel opens its doors. The luxurious destination resort is situated just 20 feet (6.1 m) from the canyon rim.
June 29, 1929: The Grand Canyon Limited enters service; schedule 66 hours each way between Chicago and Los Angeles.
June 4, 1938: the Grand Canyon Limited is rerouted over the Belen Cutoff through Amarillo, Texas. Transit time is reduced to 60 hr 15 min westward and 58 hr 35 min eastward.
June 2, 1946: The Grand Canyon Limited begins running via Riverside-Fullerton) instead of Pasadena.
June 8, 1947: The train receives its first diesel locomotives and stainless-steel lightweight passenger cars. The train is broken into two sections and the name is shortened to the Grand Canyon; the schedule is reduced to 48 hours, 45 minutes.
July 1968: The Santa Fe discontinues all passenger service to the Grand Canyon National Park although the tracks are retained for freight service; the Grand Canyon train is stripped of its name becoming simply Trains 23 and 24.
May 1, 1971: Amtrak takes over passenger service from the Santa Fe; the Southwest Chief begins service over much of the route.
May 2, 1971: The final Train 24 that left Los Angeles on April 30 arrives at Dearborn Station in Chicago, ending Santa Fe revenue passenger service.
1974: The Santa Fe abandons the Grand Canyon Railway.
September 17, 1989: Passenger service on the Grand Canyon Railway resumes after being purchased by private owners, independent from the Santa Fe in 1988.
2002: Santa Fe 3751, a preserved steam locomotive, runs on the line as part of the 2002 NRHS Convention. It briefly operated over the Grand Canyon Railway alongside the railroad's steam locomotives 18 and 4960.
May 16, 2012: As part of the State of Arizona's centennial celebration, a 5-day journey to the Grand Canyon took place on a special excursion train of the same name. Santa Fe 3751 and Grand Canyon Railway 4960 pulled the train with the help of an Amtrak heritage unit over the Grand Canyon Railway route.
ATSF F7A 309L with Train No. 23, The Grand Canyon at Trinidad, Colorado on August 19, 1967. Click to enlarge. (Photo by Roger Puta, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Window washing on ATSF F7A 309L on No. 23 the Grand Canyon at La Junta, Colorado on August 19, 1967. Click to enlarge. (Photo by Roger Puta, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
ATSF F7A 309L with Train No. 23, The Grand Canyon on the siding at Glorietta, New Mexico in Glorieta Pass, August 19, 1967. Click to enlarge. (Photo by Roger Puta, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Equipment used
A variety of steam- and diesel-powered locomotives pulled the Grand Canyon Limited.
The original rolling stock delivered for the second-class Grand Canyon Limited was heavyweight cars built by Pullman-Standard.
One baggage-dormitory-buffet smoking car
Two "chair" cars (coaches)
One dining car
Three compartment and drawing-room sleepers
One full open-end observation / parlor car
Train length varied; the train often ran in two or three sections during the summer months.
Near the end of its career, in 1968, a typical consist from Chicago to Kansas City was:
Two ALCO PAs
One streamline baggage car
Two coaches
An ink blotter ad from the 1950s. Click image to download a 382 KB PDF file.
(AT&SF, courtesy StreamlinerMemories.info)
Notable incidents
July 7, 1945: Combined train No. 2 (The Scout) and No. 24, powered by locomotive No. 3733, strikes a "Caterpillar" shovel. The locomotive's pilot, headlight, and cylinders are damaged.
December 27, 1949: Train No. 23 collides with an automobile at a grade crossing in Highland Park, California, which flattens the wheels on the locomotives.
May 31, 1951: Combined train is sideswiped by train No. 123 in Chandler, Arizona, derailing cars No. RSX 287, express No. 2558, baggage No. 1634, and "chair" cars No. 3108 and No. 3070. No. 123 cars baggage No. 1791 and No. 1601, "chair" cars No.3087, No. 3158, and No. 1169, diner No. 1461, lounge No. 136, and sleepers L.S. Hungerford, Tonelea, Toreva, and Centgate also sustain damage.
April 5, 1964: Train No. 123 with five diesel locomotives and 16 cars hits a rockslide at 81 miles per hour (130 km/h) near Doublea, Arizona, which derails the locomotives, ten baggage cars, and a passenger car.
Route - May 2, 1966
Illinois
Chicago
Joliet
Streator
Chillicothe
Galesburg
Iowa
Fort Madison
Shopton
Missouri
La Plata
Marceline
Carrollton
Henrietta
Kansas City
Kansas
Ottawa
Emporia
Newton
Hutchinson
Kinsley
Dodge City
Garden City
Lakin
Syracuse
Colorado
Lamar
Las Animas
La Junta
Trinidad
New Mexico
Raton
Springer
Las Vegas
Lamy
Albuquerque
Grants
Gallup
Arizona
Holbrook
Winslow
Flagstaff
Williams Junction
Grand Canyon
Seligman
Kingman
California
Needles
Barstow
Victorville
San Bernardino
Riverside
Corona (Norco)
Fullerton
Los Angeles
Overview
Service type: Inter-city rail
Status: Discontinued
Locale: Midwestern and Southwestern United States
First service: June 29, 1929
Last service: May 1, 1971
Former operator: AT&SF
Route Termini: Chicago / Los Angeles
Average journey time: 51 hours, 10 minutes (westbound), 48 hours (eastbound)
Service frequency: Daily
Train number: 23 and 24
Lines used: Grand Canyon Railway, Southern Transcon
On-board services
Seating arrangements: Chair cars, Dormitory lounge car
Sleeping arrangements: Roomettes, Double bedrooms
Catering facilities: Dining car
Baggage facilities: Baggage car
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed: 43.7 mph (70.3 km/h) (westbound), 46.6 mph (75.0 km/h) (eastbound)