Re-live the story of the Old West aboard 5 distinct classes of service, including restored 1923 Harriman coach cars. The historic 1908 depot which includes: Steam locomotive display, gift shop, a Wild West show held daily. Open all year.
The History
The Railroad was originally built to transport ore in the Wild West from the Anita mines, 45 miles north of Williams in the late 1800s. The main line west was built from Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through Williams. On September 17, 1901 the first passengers arrived at the Grand Canyon South Rim aboard the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona. When the train first arrived, tent camps were found along the rim. If the railroad was going to start bringing people in large numbers to gaze upon what Teddy Roosevelt said "every American should see”, they knew they had to have a way to accommodate and feed them! In 1908, the historic Fray Marcos Hotel and Williams Depot were built and opened for service March 10th. The Williams downtown district, including the historic hotel and depot, is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The train was the primary mode of transportation to the canyon until the 1920s when Henry Ford’s Model T’s rolled off the assembly line. The Grand Canyon Railway barely held on until it stopped service to the Grand Canyon in 1968 after ridership declined due to the rise in popularity of automobile travel. The Interstate highway system had been completed and people had fallen in love with "the road trip." But despite these new developments, Grand Canyon Railway and Williams Depot reopened for passenger service September 17, 1989; exactly eighty-eight years to the day of the first passenger train to the Grand Canyon. Today, passengers of the Grand Canyon Railway enjoy an entertaining and historic journey to the Canyon with the help of authentic western characters who bring the Old West to life.
Address
Williams Depot
233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. Williams, Arizona
phone: 1-800-THE-TRAIN (843-8724)
fax: 303-297-3175