While attending college, I was fortunate enough to attend several steam excursions on the Grand Canyon Railway. Their main workhorse, Mikado No. 4960, has always been special to me. I grew up watching the Pentrex program on this railroad, and the 4960 always stuck with me. I am grateful that I was able to visit this steamer so frequently over the last few years. The railroad recently announced the return of their second steamer, Consolidation No. 29. The 29 and 4960 are slated to doublehead the regular Williams Flyer train on September 19 in honor of the 125th anniversary of trains reaching the canyon. Enjoy these photos of the 4969 under steam. All were taken on my last visit in April 2025. They are not at the quality I now expect of myself, but I am nonetheless very happy with how they came out.

Union Pacific 559 crosses the steel trestle at Manresa at La Selva Beach, California on its way back to Watsonville Junction. June 2007.

Canon D60
Canon EF 17-40mm ƒ4L
ASA 100.

Got to see a small coke train pull out onto a small bridge. Very friendly crew on this one too.

Love when the express and local reach the station at the same time. This shot is okay but I’ll show a better one once I find them.

Who knows what sort of deisel this is?