Sunset Limited, Entering The 1950's
A Weekend Visit To The Grand Canyon And Sedona
Part Two: Williams, Arizona
Gateway to the Grand Canyon
Wild and wooly
Located in the largest stand of Ponderosa pine trees in the world, at an elevation of 6700 feet above sea level, Williams offers clear, crisp air and provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.
We checked in at the Hotel, located across from the train depot. The facility is a three-star hotel! That's perfect, after-all, we are in the wild west!
That evening, we had dinner at the Restaurant. The restaurant is located across from the hotel next to the depot. We enjoyed the evening in rustic Williams. We strolled down Route 66, just two blocks south of the depot. It was cool as we were at 6,800 feet elevation in October!
The next morning, we woke up, and had a great breakfast at the Restaurant. The gang of gunfighters held up the resturant that morning. After breakfast, it's time for an old-fashioned showdown between the gang and the Marshal. We checked out the entertainment to the east of the train depot.
All aboard! The train departs Williams for the Grand Canyon. We traveled the same 65-mile rail line that passengers first did more than a century ago. We enjoyed the scenery as the elevation changes during the 2 hour and 15 minute trip. Now, we are at the South Rim.
Destination Achieved, Williams Arizona
Entering Williams after six hours on the road!
Click to seethe Williams map; Notice how I-40 bypassed the city
Main street (Highway 66) was bypassed in September 1984. It contained the
last stop light between Los Angeles and Chicago.
3,500 population as of 2008; Downtown is mostly eateries for the visitors
First stop the depot to pick up of train tickets!
Magnificent! So was the locomotive
Paul and the train depot are almost the same age! The depot was built in
1902!
The Iron Horse
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco - "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th century to distinguish between mobile and stationary steam engines.
Yes, we were actually there together!
Although standing still, one can almost feel the power of this machine!
The drive wheels are as tall as Sue
One of the Sunset Limited cars was at the depot
We spent five hours in this car listening to music and dancing the night away!
We stood on the platform watching the
Earth move under our feet
The Railway founders restaurant served the train passengers
Our Hotel Was Just A Few Steps From The Depot!
Sue is checking in and Paul is looking for the bar!
Paul indeed found the bar... and what a bar!
Paul tested the bar, it works!
The bar was hand carved in England by a guy who said he would give it
away as long as he could always drink freely when he came into the
establishment! He lived for 40+ years after finishing his work.
The bar was bought for $35,000 in Louisiana by the railway owners and
brought to the hotel. Spencer's is the proud home for this
magnificent piece of work!
Everybody took turns getting their picture taken by the bar
The hand carving was beautiful
Details everywhere!
One last drink and get ready for tomorrow's train adventure!
Trains are like puppies; you just got to love them!
