Grand Canyon Railway 4960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() GCRY No. 4960 idling at the Grand Canyon Village during its centenary celebration, on August 12, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grand Canyon Railway 4960 is a preserved O-1A class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive built in August 1923 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). It was used by the CB&Q to pull freight trains, until 1958, when the locomotive pulled its first excursion fantrip, as part of the railroad's steam excursion program.
No. 4960, along with 4-8-4 No. 5632, went on to pull several more trains for the steam program, including a train that was dedicated to the CB&Q's connection to Casper, Wyoming. In July 1966, the CB&Q discontinued their steam program, following a rise in insurance costs, a loss of experienced steam-age mechanics, and a change of management.
No. 4960 was subsequently donated to the Circus World Museum (CWM) of Baraboo, Wisconsin, who in turn donated it to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum (MCRM) of North Freedom, Wisconsin. In the early 1980s, the Bristol and North Western (B&NW) Railroad leased the locomotive for use on their tourist operation between Benhams and Bristol, Virginia. No. 4960's time on the B&NW was short-lived, and in 1985, the locomotive was moved to New Haven, Indiana for storage.
In 1989, the Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) purchased No. 4960 at an undisclosed cost, and a few years later, it was moved to the Railway's location in Williams, Arizona. At Williams, No. 4960 was extensively reconditioned with multiple modifications to improve its performance and cosmetics, abandoning its original CB&Q livery. It entered service for GCR in July 1996, and No. 4960 began pulling the Railway's passenger trains between Williams and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
In 2008, GCR's new owner, Xanterra, discontinued steam operations, but they resumed for limited service the following year, with No. 4960 being converted to burn waste vegetable oil. As of 2024, No. 4960 remains operational at GCR, and it serves as a stablemate to Ex-Lake Superior and Ishpeming (LS&I) 2-8-0 No. 29. Additionally, No. 4960 is the only ex-CB&Q steam locomotive in operation.
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