Grand Canyon Railway

Williams, AZ, 3K population, is one of many southwest towns that capitalize on Route 66 themes.  This is where you turn off of I-40 to access the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, 65 miles north.  The Grand Canyon Railway is based here.  It’s a period piece tourist train that makes daily round trips to the Canyon; we spent 3 nights here to do the train ride and hang out.

On the Rim with Bright Angel Trail in center background.  The Trail goes to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon.  The Ranch has dormitories and a restaurant.  My brother Pat, his son Bill, and I, stayed there when we did the rim to rim hike several years ago. 

Hopi dancer with traditional footwear - at South Rim

Choreographed by our car waitress, passengers throw up their hands in dismay upon hearing the train is being robbed.

One of the 4 train robbers.  His gang and the sheriff had a shootout prior to train boarding; the sheriff gunned them all down but those doggone outlaws are tough: 7 hours later they’re back doing dastardly deeds, none the worse for wear.