Day 2: After a good night's sleep and a buffet breakfast, the busses departed the hotel for the trip back to Needles, CA at 10:00 am. Upon arrival, passengers were given the opportunity to photograph the locomotive as it was being serviced. A windy morning was kicking up dust all over the yard in the hot morning sun.

Shortly after 11:10 am, the Engineer gave four short blasts of the #3751's steam whistle, giving warning to any straggler's that it was time the board the train for departure. After a brief mechanical delay, our train of vintage coaches, first class, and dome cars headed out onto the BNSF main line. The car shown at the right, the DOVER HARBOR, is a heavyweight 1923 Pullman that ran in regular revenue service for over 40 years. It is now owned and operated by the Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS and is the only Pullman heavyweight revenue car operating unrestricted on Amtrak.

Our train pounded east through the desert on the former ATSF mainline towards Kingman, AZ. We passed numerous BNSF TOFC, Autorack, and double-stack freights along the way, their horns blaring in a doppler, fading shrill scream as they rushed by.

Aboard the train passengers settled back into their seats, and the crew was soon handing out refreshments. Charlotte & Johanna of Lewis Center, Ohio, were spotted in the Colonial Crafts playing the card game Uno. The two sisters, along with their parents were enjoying the trip as part of a family vacation to the West that had included a stop at Disneyland. Box lunches were served at a leisurely pace.

After climbing a significant but short grade, our train stopped in Kingman, AZ at about 13:20 to take on water for the engine. After a 15 minute stop, our train continued its journey westward towards Williams, AZ. Looking to the North, we could see numerous dust storms on the open, barren desert.

Crack passenger trains, such as the Santa Fe's famed Super Chief which ran over this route between Chicago and Los Angeles, often offered the greattest of services and conveniences to the traveler such that they could arrive at their destination relaxed, clean and refreshed. One such service was "reborn" for our trip, the on-board barbershop. An on-board barbershop often had a showerstall, wash basin, and a toilet, in addition to the barber's chair. A passenger could pay a nominal fee for a shave, shower, shoe-shine, clothes press, or haircut.

When the Overland Express was built in 1949 for the Southern Pacific's Oakland to Chicago train Overland, was built, a barber shop was included. The current owner has painstakingly restored this area of his car to include an authentic chair and iron of the type originally installed on the car. Serving on-board today as a barber was Mr. Earl J. Nickles, the Railroad Barber, from Costa Mesa, CA. For a nominal donation, Mr. Nickles would cut your hair. There were many takers throughout the day, such as Mr. Joe Williams. The 55-gallon drum like1949 Koken Barber Chair and a steady pair of hands made for a smooth, clean cut haircut. The Overland is the only operating car in the United States with a working Barber shop.

As our train continued eastward, the landscapes became more scenic and the tracks seemed to curve endlessly from left to right. Our train stopped again at 14:45. This time is was to lubricate the drive rods. After our departure at 15:20 pm, our train headed on east for Williams. At about 18:45 our train arrived at Williams Junction. After a brief stop to allow a BNSF freight to pass, our train was then backed down the Santa Fe secondary to Phoenix (once the mainline), and then pulled forward over onto the Grand Canyon Railway's tracks at about 19:15 pm. stopping directly in from of their depot, just after sunset.

Train Consist :

Train consist for the inbound trip is provided here.

* All photos by J. Lilly, Dir. of Internet Services, NRHS