Grand Canyon Railway running steam-powered excursions on select dates in 2024
Steam locomotives were a widely used means of transportation in 19th-century America, but we've mostly moved on to more efficient (and less sooty) ways to get from one place to another.
Of the more than 30,000 steam engines that were built in the U.S., fewer than 200 still exist today. Even fewer are still in operation as passenger trains.
Related: How to plan your 1st visit to a national park
One of the last places in the U.S. where you can experience a classic, leisurely ride on a train pulled by a steam locomotive is onboard the Grand Canyon Railway.
On Feb. 23, the Grand Canyon Railway announced that it will once again run its 1923 steam engine for the 2024 season. No longer fueled by coal, steam engine GCR No. 4690 is now powered by nearly carbon-neutral waste vegetable oil and snowmelt. The railway even sometimes refers to No. 4690 as the "French Fry Express."
Steam locomotive excursions are planned for the first Saturday of the month between March and October on what is called Steam Saturdays. The steam engine will pull only the 9:30 a.m. train on each of these dates. The full schedule for the 2024 season is as follows:
- March 2
- April 6
- April 20
- May 4
- June 1
- July 6
- August 3
- August 12
- September 7
- September 21
- October 5
The Grand Canyon Railway is celebrating some special milestones on several dates. No. 4960's birthday is Aug. 12, and the anniversary of the Grand Canyon Railway is Sept. 21.
There is no additional cost to ride the train when the steam locomotive is in service. Ticket prices start at around $70 round trip for adults and $36 round trip for children ages 2 through 15. Discounts are available for guests with a National Park Service Park Pass and AAA members. Vacation packages that include a Grand Canyon Railway Hotel stay are also available.
The Grand Canyon Railway takes riders on a full-day journey to the Grand Canyon and back. The train leaves Williams, Arizona, at 9:30 a.m. and arrives at the Historic Village on the Grand Canyon's South Rim around 11:45 a.m.
From there, you'll have about three hours to explore the Grand Canyon before the train departs at 3:30 p.m. You'll return to Williams at 5:45 p.m. If you want to spend a few nights in the Grand Canyon before returning to Williams, you can book different departure and return dates.
Related: 4 great scenic train rides across the US
If you love scenic train rides or you are looking for a unique way to see the Grand Canyon, take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway.
If you want to secure your spot on a real, working steam train journey, you can reserve your tickets online or by calling 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app