Organizers were told by the railroads that this excursion operating on the very busy transcontinental route could very well be the last high speed mainline steam pulled trains allowed.
The excursion will be expected to arrive in Parker at around 9 p.m. on Monday, May 14th. Passengers will spend the night in area hotels/resorts, and Pullman passengers will stay aboard the train in their sleepers. The following morning (May 15th), the Santa Fe 3751 will leave Parker for Williams around 9:30 a.m. The return trip will stop for the night in Parker on Friday (May 19th) and leave early on Saturday, May 20th.
Check out the video on the restoration and history behind Steam Engine Santa Fe 3751.
ITINERARY:
Saturday May 12:
National Train Day. Our charter train and the Santa Fe 3751 will be on display at Los Angeles Union Station for all to view and photograph.
Sunday May 13:
Layover day to stock and service our Grand Canyon Limited. No passengers can board until Monday morning.
Day 1 Monday May 14:
Los Angeles to Parker, Arizona via Cajon Pass on the BNSF mainline. This will be a very long day covering 337 Miles. We will depart from Los Angeles 9:00AM with an estimated arrival in Parker at 9:00PM. After departing Barstow we cross the Mojave Desert on the BNSF mainline as far as Cadiz. Here our train will switch off to the Arizona and California Railroad for the run to Parker. Non Pullman passengers will be transferred transferred to nearby lodging and Pullman passengers will stay onboard.
Day 2 Tuesday May 15:
Parker to Williams 256 Miles. First leg will be Parker to Matthie on the Arizona and California Railroad. Second leg will be Matthie to Williams on the BNSF Peavine line. At Williams non Pullman passengers will transfer to local hotels and Pullman passengers will stay onboard. Depart Parker 9:30AM, depart Congress 3:30PM, and arrive Williams 7:00PM. A special option is available to pick up additional passengers at Congress, Arizona which is 7 miles north of Wickenburg. This option also includes a charter motor coach transfer from both Phoenix and Wickenburg to Congress to board the train for the ride north to Williams. Upon arrival in William motor coach transfers back to Wickenburg and Phoenix. Also if there is enough demand we will provide a motor coach from Phoenix-Wickenburg to Parker to arrive in time to board our train.
Day 3 Wednesday May 16:
Williams to Grand Canyon Round Trip 127 Miles. Doublehead with the CB&Q 4960 on the Grand Canyon Railroad . Option to for passengers to stay overnight at the South Rim and then ride the Grand Canyon's regular excursion train back to Williams on May 16 . Our train will depart Williams at 8:15AM arriving at the South Rim at 11:15AM. We then depart the Grand Canyon at 4:00PM and return to Williams at 7:00PM. Non Pullman passengers transfer to local hotels and Pullman passengers are offered the option to stay onboard in Williams.
Day 4 Wednesday Thursday May 17:
Layover day in Williams to service the steam locomotive and train. Pullman passengers with eastbound one-way tickets will detrain this morning. Those Pullman passengers with roundtrip tickets may spend the night onboard if you choose or transfer to local lodging for one night, at your own expense. Pullman passengers with westbound one-way tickets may board the train in the afternoon, after it is serviced and cleaned. Three Sightseeing options are available today.
Day 5 Friday May 18:
Williams to Parker on the BNSF and Arizona & California Railroads, a total of 256 miles. A special option is available for local and Wickenburg folks to board our charter motor coaches for the ride up to Williams and ride our train southbound to Congress which is 7 miles north of Wickenburg , then return to your starting point in Phoenix on our buses. The train will Depart Williams 10:00AM, depart Congress 2:45PM and arrive Parker at 7:30PM. Non Pullman passengers will transfer to nearby lodging and Pullman passengers will stay onboard.
Day 6 Saturday May 19:
Parker to Los Angeles running on the Arizona & California and BNSF railroads for a total of 337 miles. Depart Parker 8:00AM arrive Los Angeles about 7:00 PM.
For prices, options, and additional details, please visit:
For more information visit the official site of the Santa Fe 3751, San Bernadino Railroad Historical Society http://www.sbrhs.org/index.html
