Grand Canyon Railway 4960

Grand Canyon Railway 4960
GCRY No. 4960 idling at the Grand Canyon Village during its centenary celebration, on August 12, 2023
Type and origin Reference:[1] Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 56809 Build date August 1923
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1'D1 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 33 in (0.838 m) Driver dia. 64 in (1.626 m) Trailing dia. 42+1⁄2 in (1.080 m) Tender wheels 33 in (0.838 m) Wheelbase 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) ​  • Engine 33 ft 9+1⁄2 in (10.30 m)  • Drivers 15 ft 21 in (5.11 m) Height 15 ft 10+1⁄2 in (4.84 m) Adhesive weight 233,850 lb (106,070 kg) Loco weight 310,780 lb (140,970 kg) Tender weight 195,300 lb (88,600 kg) Total weight 506,080 lb (229,550 kg) Fuel type Recycled vegetable oil, originally coal Fuel capacity Old tender: 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) New tender: 3,800 US gal (14,000 L; 3,200 imp gal) Water cap. Old tender: 10,000 US gal (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal) New tender: 18,000 US gal (68,000 L; 15,000 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 59 sq ft (5.5 m2) Boiler: ​  • Small tubes 2+1⁄4 in (57 mm)  • Large tubes 5+1⁄2 in (140 mm) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,400 kPa) Feedwater heater Worthington Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 254.00 sq ft (23.597 m2)  • Tubes 2,179.00 sq ft (202.436 m2)  • Arch tubes 33.00 sq ft (3.066 m2)  • Flues 905.00 sq ft (84.077 m2)  • Tubes and flues 3,409.00 sq ft (316.706 m2)  • Total surface 4,178.00 sq ft (388.149 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 769.00 sq ft (71.442 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (690 mm × 760 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 58,090 lbf (258.40 kN) Factor of adh. 3.85
Career Operators Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bristol and North Western Railroad Grand Canyon Railway Class CB&Q O-1A Numbers 4960 Nicknames The Great Teacher (When hauling school trains) Tenshodo Mikado (When painted brass) The Green Machine Retired July 17, 1966 (1st excursion service) March 1985 (2nd excursion service) Restored March 1, 1981 (2nd excursion service) July 27, 1996 (3rd excursion service) Current owner Grand Canyon Railway Disposition Operational

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.