35 photos included after text.

Williams, AZ is a small town with a population of only about 3000 people and its primary business is the tourist trade.  The south rim of the Grand Canyon is only about 60 miles to the north and because of that, people come to this town since it has amenities for those visitors, although gas, food and lodging are on the somewhat expensive side.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The town is south of interstate 40 and is served by exits #161, 163 and 165.  Exits #161 and 165 are the exits for Business 40 at either end of town, and exit #163 is the main entrance to Williams called Grand Canyon Blvd, which goes southerly into downtown.  Hotels, gas and food are available at all exits with exit #163 the one with those amenities closest to the interstate.

There is an RV park with standard amenities (nothing fancy, but clean) on E Rodeo Drive that happens to be next to the Grand Canyon Railway tracks.  For the more adventureous and slightly more expensive, there is the Canyon Motel and RV Park located at the end of E Rodeo Drive 1/2 mile from the Grand Canyon Rwy grade crossing.  It is special because there you can stay in one of their two cabooses on the property.  For more information go to www.thecanyonmotel.com or call 1-800-482-3955.   

At over 6500 feet in elevation, the Williams area is breathtaking in its spendor, and quite a change from the desert climate and scenery just about 20 miles away to the west.  Forest land prevails with the refreashing smell of the countless Pine Trees that surround you.  These surroundings will continue through Flagstaff, AZ and about 20 miles to the east of Flagstaff, AZ.

Local inhabitants change slightly also.  Although still around, the snakes are not that much a concern but still be alert and safe.  What is really nice is the addition of the wild deer that can frequently be seen nearby.  On many occasions I have had a wild doe, or buck come within yards of me as I was sitting quietly in my car waiting for the next train.  Once I came within feet of having a buck eat popcorn out of my hand!

GRAND CANYON RAILWAY

The Grand Canyon Railway is a tourist train that takes passengers on a daily trip from its home in Williams, AZ to its destination, the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  The approximately 60 mile trip will be one riders will be talking about for years to come.  Entertainment is on the train itself in the form of strolling musicians and commentators, and there are also the "dangerous", although more entertaining, outlaws that might rob the train.

The cars were previously owned by various former railroads, and are mainly vintage streamlined passenger cars mixed in with some older "Heritage" cars.  Those "Heritage" style cars were cars the Grand Canyon Railway used in its begining.  The trains are usually 10 to 12 cars long and pulled by a couple of former C B and Q 2-8-0 steam engines.  They also own a couple of former Amtrak F40PH diesels and an A-B-A set of former VIA FA1 diesels. 

Frequently you will see a diesel behind a steam engine, or an all diesel consist but I have never seen a diesel in front of a steam engine.  NOTE: It has come to my attention that in the last year, the new owners of the railway have postponed the use of the steam engines siting finantial reasons.  We all hope that that is not permanent.

The train leaves the Williams depot at 09:00 a.m. and usually returns at 5:00 p.m.  Additional trains can be added during the peak season.  Their are various prices for seating with the higher priced seats having the more accommodations.  For more information, call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (843-8724), or go visit thier website at www.thetrain.com. 

AMTRAK

The BNSF Transcon approaches Williams from the northwest and continues east in a somewhat southeasterly direction to Williams Junction, and later Flagstaff, AZ about 30 miles away.  Interestingly, since the addition of the Crookton Cutoff, the Transcon no longer goes directly into Williams.  Now the stop for Amtraks Southwest Chief is located at Williams Junction, and is only a stop when requested.  The Southwest Chief will arrive as the west bound #3 at 11:46 p.m., and the east bound #4 at 02:03 a.m.

THE "PEAVINE"

The "Peavine" is the branch that takes trains to and from Pheonix, AZ.  It carries about 6 to 10 trains every day and its tracks go through Williams, AZ directly next to the depot for the Grand Canyon Railway.  After leaving Williams Junction which is located about 2.5 miles east from downtown Williams, the Peavine will continue west through Williams, and onto Ash Fork along the old grade before the Crookton Cutoff.  After Ash Fork, the track will make an abrupt southerly turn and continue its route to Pheonix, AZ.

WILLIAMS JUNCTION

Williams Junction is the best location in the "Williams Area" to get great photos of BNSF Transcon action and is rather easy to get to.  From downtown Williams, just follow E. Bill Williams Drive as it crosses over the track for the Peavine,  and then goes under the Transcon .9 miles later.  Only .2 miles past the railroad overpass, there will be a road to the right that will go to an Arizona DOT facility.  (This road is .4 miles south of interstate 40 at exit #165, which would be the exit if you came from the interstate.)

Turn onto this road and immediately there will be another road going to your left called Iron Mountain Trail (Road).  Turn onto this road and travel .3 miles to just before its end where you can turn right at a gate, and travel another 1.2 miles into the woods.

At this point there will be a fork in the road.  Veer right and continue another .6 miles until you come to another gate which is usually open.  After going through that gate you will be on BNSF property and this area is a very security sensitive area with the Peavine joining the mainline, and the set of complimentary crossovers to go with it.  Please act accordingly.  Be safe.

There is a grade crossing east of Williams Junction, .2 miles to the left and the actual Williams Junction is only .3 miles to the right from the gate.  Follow along the dirt road/path up a small hill to your right, and it will continue to the junction.  Travel to the left, to the grade crossing, you could follow another dirt road/path on the south side of the tracks to the junction.

You could photograph all day around Williams Junction.  Just follow the sun and work your angles.  The angle of the tracks is a little wierd for photography though.  In the early mornings in summer, you can take fantastic photos from the north side of the tracks of east bounds as they climb out of the forest, but in winter, the early morning sun is straight down the tracks.  So I recomend in the morning in winter wait till mid morning and be on the south side of the tracks.

Conversly, late afternoon in summer the sun is directly down the tracks so winter is better then.

GARLAND PRAIRIE ROAD

After that grade crossing east of Williams Junction, the dirt road will continue about 1.4 miles to the east, to another grade crossing for Garland Prairie Road, which happens to be exit #167 from interstate 40 1.5 miles to the north.  You can take great photos of trains in both directions for this grade crossing.  Eastbound trains favor an early morning in winter sun and westbound trains are best in a mid afternoon sun in the summer. 

SUPAI SUMMIT

From the grade crossing, turn right onto Grand Prairie Road and go less than .1 miles to a dirt road going to your left.  Take that road and go .4 miles to a gate in the fencing.  Close this gate behind you, and follow this access road to the right as it continues along the tracks for 1.4 miles.  Here you can get fantastic photos of east bound trains as they enter the west end of the Supai Summit area and work up a small hill.

This is where you want to be in the early morning of winter for a great angle.  Do not travel on this road if there is snow on the ground, or if it very wet, and you do not have a 4x4. 

You could walk, or drive about another mile to where the actual Supai Summit is, although I have not done that yet.  There are a couple of great curves near the summit which I'm sure would provide splendid photos.  (Add that to my ever-growing list of places to go in the near future).

CHALENDER

This is the east end of the Sumpai Summit and that road you were on might go all the way to here.  I don't know yet but will let you know as soon as I know for sure.  In the mean time, you can get there by the interstate.  Continue east from Williams, AZ to exit #171.  Turn right onto Cool Pines Road and follow it for 1.3 miles to a stop sign.  After a couple curves,it will begin to travel straight east, and will change its name to E. Pittman Valley Road, and travel to another stop sign.

The second stop sign is for Sherwood Access Road.  Turn right again, and travel another 1.6 miles to the tracks.  I've gotten great photos at this grade crossing in the late afternoon of summer, but like I said, I haven't explored any of the dirt roads that are on both sides of the tracks in both directions yet.  Stay tuned.

MAINE

Get back onto the interstate and travel east another 7 miles to exit #178.  Turn again right and follow this road just .1 miles to the tracks.  Good photos are possible here at the grade crossing in the early morning and in the late afternoons,of both summer or winter.  I recomend turning left on a dirt road just before the tracks and following it .7 miles to a place you can park just before the road goes down a steep hill.  The tracks before you are in a great curve exiting the trees and this photo of west bound trains is spectacular in the late afternoons in summer only. 

BELLEMONT

This location is another 7 miles east on the interstate from Maine, and is at exit #185.  Along the way though, you will probably notice a couple of spots between Maine, and milemarker 181 that you could get a good photo at, from the interstate.  I do not recomend this because I found out the hard way that in Arizona, it is against the law to stop and park on an interstate for a "non-emergency" reason.  Well...ok, get your early morning in summer photo of an east bound train if you know one is coming.  Then quickly get back into your vehicle.  Just don't sit there and wait for one.

From exit #185 turn right onto Hughes Ave and go 1 block to the intersection of E Bellemont Road which is aka Historic Route 66.  Just ahead of you is the sign announcing the location of the Camp Navajo Army Depot that is a little farther south.  There is a bridge over the tracks .2 mile away, but I have been asked to leave there every time I have been there.  (You are on their road only yards from the main entrance guardhouse).

I recomend turning onto Historic Route 66 back at that intersection and going east for 2.3 miles to the end of the road.  Park so that you will be out of a picture from the top of the embankment for the interstate.  Here you could climb up to the guardrail and get a couple of photos of east bound trains in a sweeping curve.  NOTE:  The photos I got were the photos that I took once when I parked on the interstate at the top of the nearby hill near mile post 187.  The Arizona Highway Patrol saw me, and I had to explain why I was there in between the travel lanes illegally.  Great photos, but costly.