Canyon Rails 2002 departed the yards of the Arizona & California (A&C) Railroad in Parker, Arizona depot at 8:30 am as the second and final day of this final event of the convention got underway. The star of the convention, AT&SF #3751 was once again at the head of our train.

A member of the train crew confers with a convention attendee.

On departure from Parker, our train headed east over the A&C towards Cadiz. We crossed the Colorado river and rolled back into California. A box lunch was distributed at noon. Upon arrival in Cadiz, where the temperature was 114 degrees, #3751 was watered and the locomotive was serviced, including lubrication of the bearings and the drive rods.

There were no photo runbys on this last day of the convention, but there was a flyby as two F-14s buzzed the train as we left Cadiz.

The A&C pilot was then dropped and we headed west, again back on the former Santa Fe mainline where our trip had begun. At Barstow another scheduled stop was made to service the locomotive and to pick up a relief crew. We then highballed for Los Angeles union Station, arriving at 9:27 pm.

 

Thus we ended our 2002 convention experience where we had begun, just a week ago. New friendships had been forged and and old ones renewed. The intervening week had been an exceptional odyssey of steam, steel, natural beauty, history, hospitality, new friendships, and travel, by rail.

 

 

 

Meg & Tom from Landsdale, PA "enjoying the trip."

Train Consist :

Train consist for the inbound trip is provided here.

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