Months of speculation over the fates of the Grand Canyon Railway’s steam power came to a close yesterday as the Western Group, owners of the Arizona Central Railroad and the Verde Canyon Railroad excursion operation, announced an agreement to purchase two steam locomotives from the Grand Canyon Railroad.

The two steam locomotives, ex-CB&Q 2-8-2 4960 and ex-LS&I 2-8-0 29, are intended to operate on the Verde Canyon Railroad excursion operation over the Arizona Central Railroad between Clarkdale and Perkinsville, Arizona to supplement the two ex-Alaska RR FP7 diesels used for the operation. Also reportedly included in the purchase were three ex-SP “Harriman” open-window cars, though a rumored deal for one of the Grand Canyon’s dome cars apparently fell through. [Although no details were announced, it is believed the Verde Canyon will acquire some steam shop and maintenance equipment from the Grand Canyon RR as well.]

Dave Durbano, chief executive of the Western Group and owner of the railroad and excursion operation, was pleased with his company’s acquisition. “We are delighted at the opportunity to add more history and heritage to our already excellent tourist operation,” said Durbano in a press release. “Though I harbor no ill will towards the Grand Canyon folks, their loss is certainly our gain.”

Arrangements were being made as of press time to hopefully transport the locomotives and cars under steam from Williams to Clarkdale by rail, involving a fast, doubleheaded run from Williams to Ash Fork over the former ex-Santa Fe transcontinental main line (led by a diesel for signaling purposes), and then south over the ex-Santa Fe “Peavine” to the Arizona Central junction at Drake, where a new yard is being constructed for a new quarry in the final stages of construction.

The Verde Canyon operation initially plans to operate the locomotives as the oil-burners they came as, but is supposedly given serious consideration to converting the locomotives back to burning coal, as the railroad has a readily available supply arriving for use at the cement plant in Clarkdale. Plans are also under way to rebuild the trackage at the company’s historic Clarkdale roundhouse to accommodate the steamers. Consideration is being given, pending measurements and engineering work to confirm a fit, to rebuilding the Clarkdale roundhouse complete with turntable, using either as a pattern or as the actual turntable the turntable bridge from the original Santa Fe roundhouse at nearby Prescott, currently in use on the Verde Canyon/Arizona Central as a trestle span girder at the so-called “S.O.B. Trestle” just north of Clarkdale.

Still unsettled at this point is the fate of Spokane, Portland & Seattle 539, the 2-8-2 acquired by the company in trade for ex-LS&I 18 and 20 shortly before the decision to terminate steam operations in 2008.

The Verde Canyon’s press release is at:
http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/VCR_PressR ... _Fool!.htm