Canyon
Rails 2002 departed the Williams, AZ depot for the lastl time
at 8:30 am as the final event of this outstanding NRHS convention
got underway. The star of the convention, AT&SF #3751
was once again at the head of our train, which had the same
consist as the inbound trip.
On
departure from Williams, our train headed west on Burlington
Northern Santa Fe's (BNSF) Phoenix Sub. This line is better
known regionally as the Peavine. We passed through Ash Fork,
then turned substantially south as we crossed over Hell Canyon
on an impressive trestle, and meandered through endless reversing
curves. For most of the trip our train was headed down grade
with a gradual descent in altitude across rocky cactus strewn,
high mountain desert. At Mathie, after traveling about 150
miles, our train made a scheduled half-hour pause to water
and lube the engine; then our train turned East on the Arizona
and California (A&C) Railroad. It was 104 degrees outside,
in the shade. Fortunately, the train's air conditioning kept
the train cool and comfortable. A box lunch was passed out
about noon.
Passengers,
men, women, and children alike, riding in the vestibules enjoyed
their first-hand view of the beauty of the desert; the landscape,
dotted with stick cactus, appeared to have been taken right
out of a western movie; in some locations it looked like a
giant sandbox that had been frozen in time. the heat, while
not particularly oppressive, did feel like a hair dryer blowing
in your face and through your hair when the train was moving.
But for folks like Ed Miller of Aubrey, Texas (pictured
right), attending his first NRHS convention, riding
in the vestibule, taking photographs, and checking out the
vintage cars in the train were just part of a great week of
activity that "sounded like something fun to do."
At
milepost 50 on the A&C, the first of two stops was made
for photo-runbys. It was extremely hot in the desert, but
the high-bright sun and clear skies provided an excellent
opportunities for #3751 to show her stuff; it was the best
example of high smoke plumes yet! There were two runbys, at
this location, back to back. The fine powdery sand of the
desert, which permeated our shoes, provided an excellent contrast
in color for our black locomotive and multi-colored consist.
At
milepost 100 the final photo runbys of the convention took
place; and a grand finale it was; With the passengers/photographers
placed high on a hill above it, the railroad presented itself
in front of us in a sweeping inside curve in the middle a
high desert plain; the three best photo runbys of the convention
presented themselves; of such high quality was the location
that more than one photographer was heard to say "I'm
out of film" before the event was over. The location
was nearly inaccessible by any means other than our train.
We
continued west towards Parker, AZ where we arrived in the
A&C yards at 6:30 pm (a half hour early). The train was
serviced there. The passengers were overnighted in a nearby
hotel, the Bluewater Resort and Casino, which provided a relaxing
change of pace at the end of the day. Hotel accommodations,
dinner, breakfast, and bus transportation were included in
the train fare.
Train
Consist :
Train
consist for the inbound trip is provided here.
Additional
Photos :
*
All photos by J. Lilly, Dir. of Internet Services, NRHS
