Grand Canyon Railway 29

Grand Canyon Railway 29
GCRY No. 29 on display at the Williams, Arizona Depot, on September 23, 2013
Type and origin
References:[1][2]
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company (Pittsburgh works)
Serial number39637
Build dateMay 1906
RebuilderLake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad
Rebuild date1925
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-8-0
 • UIC1'D'h
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.New: 50 in (1,270 mm)
Now: 56 in (1,422 mm)
Loco weightNew: 209,000 lb (95,000 kg)
Now: 227,000 lb (103,000 kg)
Fuel typeNew: coal
Now: Recycled vegetable oil
Fuel capacityCoal: 24,000 lb (11,000 kg)
Vegetable oil: 2,600 US gal (9,800 L)
Water cap.9,700 US gal (37,000 L)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1,400 kPa)
Feedwater heaterWorthington type SA
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size23 in × 30 in (580 mm × 760 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Tractive effort48,500 lbf (215.7 kN)
With Booster: 59,825 lbf (266.1 kN)
Career
OperatorsLake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad
Grand Canyon Railway
ClassNew: B-4
Now: SC-3
Numbers
  • LS&I 14
  • LS&I 29
  • GCRY 29
Retired1956 (revenue service)
1995 (excursion service)
RestoredApril 26, 1990 (1st restoration)
2004 (2nd restoration)
Current ownerGrand Canyon Railway
DispositionUndergoing boiler inspection

Grand Canyon Railway No. 29 is an SC-3 class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive, built by ALCO's Pittsburgh Works in 1906 for the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad (LS&I) in Upper Michigan. The sole member of the LS&I's SC-3 class, it was originally numbered 14, but was renumbered to 29 in 1924. Having gone through two major rebuilds to upgrade its performance, No. 29 served the LS&I in pulling freight and iron ore trains until being retired in 1956.

In 1963, No. 29 was sold to the Marquette and Huron Mountain tourist railroad, where it spent several years in storage alongside other LS&I steam locomotives. In 1985, No. 29 was sold to a private owner, who in turn sold it to the Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) four years later. GCR returned No. 29 to service in April 1990, and the locomotive pulled the railway's passenger trains between Williams, Arizona and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. As of 2024, No. 29 is out of service, undergoing a boiler inspection.