Rails to the Rim

On Grand Canyon Railway

Photos and text by Carl@TrainWeb.com

Text in italics from Grand Canyon Railway.

The following day, we called for our luggage pickup before 11 a.m. and took the Shuttle again. This time we boarded at the Maswik Lodge and, since it was now daylight, we took the 13 stops back to the Train Depot to watch the arrival of this day's GCR arrival from Williams. During the 3 hr. layover, we spent time walking the Rim farther east, going to the Hopi House, and having Lunch in the El Tovar Dining Room.

Grand Canyon Santa Fe Train Depot

The northern terminus of the line resides in Grand Canyon National Park. Constructed in 1909-1910, Grand Canyon DepotGrand Canyon Depot is part of the Grand Canyon National Park Historic District and is a National Historic Landmark. Designed by architect Francis W. Wilson of Santa Barbara, Calif., the log and wood-frame structure is two stories high. Originally, the downstairs was designated for station facilities and the upstairs was inhabited by the station agent’s family. Today, the first floor is used for railway passenger services. The building is one of approximately 14 log depots known to have been constructed in the United States, and one of only three remaining. Of the three, the Grand Canyon Depot is the only one in which logs were used as the primary structural material and which still serves an operating railroad. The Depot’s logs are squared on three sides creating bearing surfaces, flat interior surfaces and a rustic exterior appearance. Just beyond the depot is the El Tovar Hotel, built in 1905 by the railroad. The El Tovar is the signature hotel along the rim. The railroad built the depot five years after the hotel and placed it conveniently close for the rail passengers.


	After the train arrives in the morning, this is a good time to take pictures of the cars as they are pushed to the Station in two cuts.


It is hard not taking more pictures from the South Rim.	El Tovar Hotel with lightning rods.

	I found the view from inside the small windows upstairs in the art gallery of the Hopi House interesting.

Time for Lunch at the El Tovar Dining Room

We enjoyed the Navajo Taco and Southwest quesadilla with wine and soft drinks. The dessert tray as you entered was too tempting so we had a chocolate taco.
The Lodge and Dining Room runs perpendicular to the Canyon. The south end of the hall has a fireplace.	The North end faces the Canyon

View from the tables at the north end of the dining room.
The aforementioned dessert tray.	From the mezzanine, the north side of the Lobby.

From the mezzanine, the south side of the Lobby.

From the mezzanine, the center of the Lobby, with the buffalo head.

After Lunch, I decided to take one more walk along the Rim, east of El Tovar.

On my walk, I noticed one of the entertainers from the train. As Eric "Red" Zecchin and I chatted, I learned that he was a general contractor in Williams and he owns the FireLight Bed and Breakfast. On our way out of town the next day, we stopped by to take a look at the elegant Bed and Breakfast.
This painter's boots first caught my eye.


	It was about time for the "All Aboard" so I walked back past the Hopi House and down to the Depot. I can see why this is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

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Next: The Grand Canyon Railway Ride back to Williams.

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