Steam or Diesel

If you're a steam train buff who just can't wait to see and feel the steam experience on the Grand Canyon Railway, you need to make special plans for your vacation. The steam locomotives only run between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year. The rest of the time, classic diesel engines pull the train. The steam engines undergo maintenance and rest during the winter, which they need because of their age (they are all at least 80 years old or more). Weather can also be harsh during the winter, and the diesel locomotives handle the challenges of cold winter weather a little bit better. All of the locomotives on the Grand Canyon Railway are vintage, and so are the cars. They have all been restored by the railway's own shop and maintenance crews.