SP5103 Wrote:
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> Grand Canyon had originally intended to run 90+
> passengers per car behind steam. When they
> discovered there was a market for first class
> service, the dome, lounge and parlor cars provided
> far fewer seats per car, increasing train size
> beyond what their steam engines could handle by
> themselves. The change to diesel was a necessity
> as much as a cost cutting measure, since many
> steam trains had to be double-headed.


I'll respectfully disagree with part of your statement...it wasn't so much a change to diesel
account of the longer and heavier consisits, but using a diesel (or two) to help the road
steam locomotive. I worked there a summer and that's how it was done. Train lengths were,
and may still be, limited to around 13 cars. That's all that will fit between Grand Canyon
Blvd. and the 7th Street derail in Williams. I have heard of 2 trains at the Canyon in one
day, both with 10 or more cars.
Over the years, it has been no big deal to add an Alco or two, MU'd behind the steam.