The 64-mile steam train service from Williams to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim began in 1901, when a ticket cost $3.95 — a bargain compared to the eight-hour $15 stagecoach ride along bumpy dirt roads.

In 2008, Grand Canyon Railway announced they were running their vintage steam locomotives on the line for the last time. Each round trip consumed 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel and 12,000 gallons of water.

Happily, the following year they found a way to restart a more environmentally friendly service. A small amount of diesel is still needed to fire up the boiler. But both their vintage locos can run on any type of liquid fuel.

Once at running temperature, the steam locos now run on waste vegetable oil, which comes from the kitchen at the Grand Canyon Railway’s restaurant, and a supplier w

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