(rshsdepot) Re: At Grand Canyon, No Way to Run a Railroad

[CoolGuy127_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 1/31/02 3:25:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
tomfassett_@_earthlink.net writes:

> Ah, hiking the canyon is a whole different animal...  Relatives of mine hike
> the canyon at least once a year.  As I said, park "insiders" who know the
> ropes do have their privileges (I just don't agree with it)...  Even then,
> the percentage of people hiking the canyon as opposed to just visiting is
> miniscule 

       That is undoubtedly true.  I know that this is slightly off-topic, but 
I'm one of those few who have hiked down to the bottom of the canyon.  
Indeed, if I recall correctly, I've hiked to the bottom seven times, 
including the South Kaibab, Bright Angel, Hermit and North Kaibab Trails.  
How many others on this list have done that?

       Mandatory railroad content:  Unfortunately, I've never taken the train 
to the canyon.  My first trip to the Canyon was in 1966, when the Santa Fe 
Railroad was still running a daily train to the canyon.  We traveled by train 
on that trip, but the one daily train from Williams to the Grand Canyon did 
not connect with The Chief, which we took, so we had to take a bus for the 
last leg of the journey to the canyon.  But I do remember seeing the Santa Fe 
train at the depot -- including an ancient heavyweight car which, I think, 
was attached just for the Williams-Grand Canyon run.

       On subsequent visits, I watched the trees grow where the tracks used 
to be.  Then, in the 1990s, I had the pleasure of seeing the Grand Canyon 
Railroad trains arrive.  In fact, on my 1997 trip, I arranged to meet 
neighbors of mine who were arriving by train when I was there.

       Maybe I'll finally have a chance to ride the Grand Canyon Railroad 
this summer, as I hope to attend the NRHS convention that is centered in 
Williams.

                   Daniel Chazin

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