When the railroads were built in the 19th century normal practice was to place stations every 7 to 9 miles. This was in large measure due to the fact that 7 to 9 miles is all the track that the laborers of a section gang can maintain using hand tools and push carts, but also because, then as now, a two hour drive to the station is about the limit of most passengers' tolerance...and horse-drawn wagons on dirt roads don't make very good time.

When the automobile was developed and raised the passenger tolerance radius from ten miles to a hundred miles or more, many of these smaller stations became redundant. In areas unfit for human habitation, such as most of West Texas (yes, I'm a Texan!), these stations were abandoned and now only exist as meet points or passing tracks. In other areas, though, small communities fiercely held on to their rail service...even if they really didn't use it that much. It proved difficult to get Interstate Commerce Commission approval to drop service to a station as long as it still held an active community.

The I.C.C. didn't mandate that every train stop at every station (although Texas did make that mistake in the 1870s!), so before long most railroads were running a schedule with several premium trains which might average a stop every hour or so, and one "catch-all" local train that stopped (or at least stopped on flag) at essentially every station. On Union Pacific it was No. 5/No. 6 on the line from Omaha and the Portland Rose between Kansas City and the Pacific Northwest. For Santa Fe, after the discontinuance of the California Limited, the "catch all" mantle fell to the Grand Canyon.

While the Grand Canyon may have been the red-headed stepchild of Santa Fe's fleet, it was not an orphan. It was included in Santa Fe's advertisements, and the equipment listing and schedule were perfectly respectable. Still, in an era when passengers were moving inexorably towards the new jet airliners and Interstates, its bread-and-butter was undoubtedly the head-end mail and express business it carried, as well as the TOFC flatcars which often ran with it as a second section or even as a mixed consist. 


From the pages of the Official Guide, July 1966

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. herald

The Grand Canyon

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry.
May 2, 1966

23 Train Number 24
Daily Miles Services Daily
11 00A Dp 0.0 Chicago, IL (Dearborn Sta.) (CT) C R Ar 3 15P
F 12.8 McCook, IL 2 37P
F 17.4 Willow Springs, IL F 2 30P
F 25.1 Lemont, IL C F
F 29.3 Romeo, IL
F 32.7 Lockport, IL F
11 55A 37.5 Joliet, IL C R 2 00P
F 48.2 Drummond, IL
F 52.7 Lorenzo, IL
F 58.1 Coal City, IL C 1 34P
F 66.0 Mazon, IL F
F 70.7 Verona, IL F 1 18P
F 74.7 Kinsman, IL F
F 79.7 Ransom, IL F
F 84.3 Kernan, IL F
12 50P 89.5 Streator, IL C 12 50P
F 93.9 Moon, IL
F 95.7 Ancona, IL F12 39P
F 102.1 Leeds, IL
F 109.8 Toluca, IL C 12 26P
F 115.8 La Rose, IL F
F 120.7 Wilbern, IL F
1 30P 129.8 Chillicothe, IL C R 12 01P
F 137.8 Edelstein, IL F11 47A
F 144.4 Princeville, IL C F
F 148.0 Monica, IL F11 34A
F 153.2 Laura, IL F
F 158.1 Williamsfield, IL F11 21A
F 163.0 Dahinda, IL F
F 165.7 Appleton, IL F
2 20P 177.2 Galesburg, IL C R 11 00A
F 185.7 Cameron, IL F
F 189.9 Nemo, IL F
F 191.6 Ormonde, IL F10 37A
F 196.8 Ponemah, IL F
F 201.2 Smithshire, IL F10 26A
F 204.3 Media, IL F
F 208.6 Stronghurst, IL C F10 17A
F 212.5 Decorra, IL
F 218.6 Lomax, IL F10 05A
F 224.5 Dallas City, IL C F
F 230.6 East Fort Madison, IL F 9 53A
3 30P 232.4 Fort Madison, IA C 9 50A
3 35P Ar 234.1 Shopton, IA Dp 9 45A
3 40P Dp Ar 9 40A
F 3 55P 247.3 Argyle, IA
F 4 09P 255.3 Revere, MO
F 4 17P 261.9 Medill, MO F 9 05A
F 4 29P 270.9 Wyaconda, MO C F 8 55A
F 4 36P 276.2 Gorin, MO F 8 48A
F 4 43P 281.1 Rutledge, MO F
F 4 55P 289.2 Baring, MO C F 8 32A
F 5 07P 298.5 Hurdland, MO
F 304.9 Gibbs, MO
5 25P 311.1 La Plata, MO C 8 10A
F 5 38P 321.2 Elmer, MO C F 7 55A
F 5 47P 327.9 Ethel, MO F 7 48A
F 6 03P 339.7 Bucklin, MO C F 7 33A
6 15P 345.6 Marceline, MO C 7 25A
F 6 22P 352.8 Rothville, MO F
F 6 30P 358.9 Mendon, MO F 7 05A
F 366.3 Dean Lake, MO
F 6 43P 372.5 Bosworth, MO F 6 50A
7 00P 384.7 Carrollton, MO C 6 36A
F 394.9 Norborne, MO C F
F 7 24P 403.7 Hardin, MO C F 6 12A
7 33P 409.6 Henrietta, MO C 6 05A
F 7 53P 425.0 Sibley, MO
432.2 Atherton, MO F
8 50P Ar 449.4 Kansas City, MO C R Dp 5 15A
9 30P Dp Ar 4 45A
F10 00P 475.0 Olathe, KS C F 3 50A
10 30P 506.2 Ottawa, KS C 3 15A
11 45P Ar 561.6 Emporia, KS C 2 25A
11 50P Dp
572.9 Saffordville, KS F
581.2 Strong City, KS C F
587.8 Elmdale, KS F
595.1 Clements, KS F
600.2 Cedar Point, KS F
606.4 Florence, KS C F
617.8 Peabody, KS C F
627.8 Walton, KS F
1 10A Ar 634.6 Newton, KS C R Dp 1 15A
1 25A Dp Ar 1 05A
F 1 35A 644.1 Halstead, KS C F12 28A
F 653.6 Burrton, KS
2 10A 667.5 Hutchinson, KS C R 12 05A
F 678.4 Partridge, KS F
F 684.6 Abbyville, KS F
F 690.2 Plevna, KS F
F 695.9 Sylvia, KS F
F 700.6 Zenith, KS F
F 2 46A 706.5 Stafford, KS C F11 20P
F 2 57A 715.5 St. John, KS C F11 10P
F 3 06A 727.1 Macksville, KS F
F 734.4 Belpre, KS F
3 38A 751.9 Kinsley, KS C 10 40P
F 759.9 Offerle, KS F
F 771.3 Spearville, KS F10 19P
F 779.9 Wright, KS F
4 45A Ar 787.7 Dodge City, KS (CT) C R Dp 10 05P
3 55A Dp Dodge City, KS (MT) Ar 8 55P
F 796.7 Howell, KS F
F 4 15A 806.4 Cimarron, KS F 8 34P
F 812.5 Ingalls, KS F
F 819.2 Charleston, KS F
F 825.3 Pierceville, KS F
4 50A 837.6 Garden City, KS C R 8 05P
F 852.2 Deerfield, KS F
5 13A 859.5 Lakin, KS F 7 42P
F 877.4 Kendall, KS F
5 44A 889.1 Syracuse, KS C 7 16P
F 904.0 Coolidge, KS F
F 910.1 Holly, CO C 6 56P
F 920.5 Granada, CO F
6 30A 937.5 Lamar, CO C 6 30P
F 945.6 Prowers, CO F
F 956.7 Caddoa, CO F
7 04A 971.2 Las Animas, CO C 5 57P
7 25A Ar 990.1 La Junta, CO
(Denver, Colorado Springs via bus)
C R Dp 5 35P
7 55A Dp Ar 5 15P
F 1035.1 Thatcher, CO F
9 37A 1071.5 Trinidad, CO C 3 58P
10 35A Ar 1094.3 Raton, NM C R Dp 3 00P
10 45A Dp Ar 2 55P
F11 10A 1120.5 Maxwell, NM F
11 28A 1133.9 Springer, NM F 2 14P
F11 57A 1160.0 Wagon Mound, NM F
12 55P Ar 1204.1 Las Vegas, NM C R Dp 12 55P
1 10P Dp Ar 12 47P
F 1233.2 Ribera, NM F
F 1249.4 Rowe, NM F
F 1258.6 Glorieta, NM F
3 15P 1268.3 Lamy, NM (Santa Fe via motor coach) C R 11 10A
F 3 40P 1285.1 Los Cerrillos, NM F10 46A
F 1298.7 Domingo, NM F
F 1319.2 Bernalillo, NM F
4 45P Ar 1335.5 Albuquerque, NM C R Dp 10 00A
13 Connecting Train Number
6 00P Dp 0.0 Albuquerque, NM (MT) C R
6 40P Ar 30.2 Belen, NM C R
10 35P Ar 210.1 Las Cruces, NM C R
11 40P Ar 252.8 El Paso, TX (MT) C
5 00P Dp 1335.5 Albuquerque, NM C R Ar 9 50A
F 6 05P 1406.2 Laguna, NM F 8 32A
6 33P 1433.6 Grants, NM C R 8 02A
1463.8 Thoreau, NM F 7 35A
7 40P Ar 1495.8 Gallup, NM C R Dp 7 03A
7 45P Dp Ar 7 00A
9 01P 1590.7 Holbrook, AZ C 5 40A
9 45P Ar 1623.0 Winslow, AZ C Dp 5 10A
10 05P Dp Ar 4 40A
11 25P 1681.5 Flagstaff, AZ C 3 19A
12 30A Ar 1711.8 Williams Junction, AZ C R Dp 2 37A
15 Connecting Train Number (Through Sept. 24 [1966]) 14
4 45A Dp 0.0 Williams Junction, AZ (MT) C R Ar 9 00P
7 30A Ar 67.9 Grand Canyon, AZ (MT) C Dp 6 30P
47 Connecting Train Number 42
1 30A Dp 0.0 Williams Junction, AZ (MT) C R Ar 8 45P
F 2 00A Ar 3.6 Williams, AZ C Dp F 8 27P
2 52A Ar 29.9 Ash Fork, AZ C Dp 7 45P
8 00A Ar 209.2 Phoenix, AZ (MT) C Dp 3 15P
12 30A Dp 1711.8 Williams Junction, AZ C R Ar 2 37A
1 38A Ar 1765.5 Seligman, AZ C Dp 1 25A
1 40A Dp Ar 1 23A
3 19A 1853.1 Kingman, AZ (MT) C 11 40P
3 35A Ar 1914.2 Needles, CA (PT) C Dp 9 20P
3 40A Dp Ar 9 15P
M 7 00A Ar 2081.8 Barstow, CA C M Dp M 6 10P
Through Cars Dallas/Houston-Los Angeles
12-77 Connecting Train Number 78-11
8 30P Dp 0.0 Dallas, TX (Union Station) (CT) C R Ar 7 45A
9 40P Dp 31.0 Fort Worth, TX C R Ar 5 45A
1 25A Ar 173.3 Brownwood, TX C Dp 1 00A
66-75 Connecting Train Number 76-65
6 45P Dp 0.0 Houston, TX (Union Station) (CT) C R Ar 8 15A
10 40P Dp 188.1 Temple, TX C R Ar 3 15A
1 10A Ar 318.3 Brownwood, TX C Dp 12 50A
75 Connecting Train Number 76
2 00A Dp 173.3 Brownwood, TX C Ar 12 25A
7 30A Dp 403.7 Lubbock, TX (CT) C R Ar 7 00P
9 30A Ar 502.5 Clovis, NM (MT) C R Dp 3 40P
1 Connecting Train Number 2
12 01P Dp 502.5 Clovis, NM C R Ar 2 50P
4 30P Dp 743.1 Belen, NM C R Ar 10 15A
8 40P Dp 1014.2 Winslow, AZ (MT) C Dp 6 05A
4 05A Ar 1473.1 Barstow, CA (PT) C M
23 Continuing Train Number 24
M 7 45A Dp 2081.8 Barstow, CA C M Ar M 5 20P
F 8 25A 2118.3 Victorville, CA C 4 41P
9 55A Ar 2162.7 San Bernardino, CA C R Dp 3 18P
10 00A Dp Ar 3 10P
10 25A 2173.2 Riverside, CA 2 45P
F10 45A 2187.5 Corona, CA (Norco) 2 25P
11 15A Ar 2209.3 Fullerton, CA C Dp 2 00P
76 Connecting Train Number 75
11 00A Dp 0.0 Los Angeles, CA (Union Psgr. Tml.) (PT) C R Ar 2 25P
11 40A Dp 25.5 Fullerton, CA C Ar 1 42P
F11 45A Ar 28.2 Anaheim, CA C Dp F 1 35P
1 55P Ar 127.5 San Diego, CA (PT) C R Dp 11 30A
11 15A Dp 2209.3 Fullerton, CA C Ar 2 00P
12 10P Ar 2234.8 Los Angeles, CA (Union Psgr. Tml.) (PT) C R Dp 1 15P

Train 23 (Chicago-Los Angeles): 70 stops; 51:10; 43.7 MPHTrain 24 (Los Angeles-Chicago): 78 stops; 48:00; 46.6 MPH



Santa Fe

CHICAGO, KANSAS CITY AND CALIFORNIA.


WEST—VIA LA JUNTA AND ALBUQUERQUE.EAST—VIA ALBUQUERQUE AND LA JUNTA.
EQUIPMENT
No. 23 Daily. The Grand Canyon.
Pullman and Chair Car Service.

Dormitory Lounge Car...Chicago to Winslow.

Chair Cars...Chicago to Los Angeles.

Dallas to Los Angeles (on No. 12-77-75-1 Dallas to Barstow). (Reserved Seats.) (Car 770.)

Houston to Los Angeles (to September 10 [1966]). (On No. 66-75 Houston to Clovis; on No. 1-23 Clovis to Los Angeles.) (Car TX-17.) [See Note]

Sleeping Cars...Chicago to Los Angeles—6-Sections, 6 Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms. (Car 237.)

Dallas to Los Angeles—10 Roomettes, 3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Compartments. (On No. 12-77-75-1 Dallas to Barstow.) (Car 231.)

Dining Car...Chicago to Winslow. (Fred Harvey Service.) (Passengers on this train have breakfast at restaurant in station at Barstow.)

No. 24 Daily. The Grand Canyon.
Pullman and Chair Car Service.

Dormitory Lounge Car...Winslow to Chicago.

Chair Cars...Los Angeles to Chicago.

Los Angeles to Dallas (on No. 2-76-78-11 Winslow to Dallas). (Reserved Seats.) (Car 780.)

Los Angeles to Houston (to September 10 [1966]). (On No. 23-2 Los Angeles to Clovis; on No. 76-65 Clovis to Houston.) (Car TX-18.) [See Note]

Sleeping Cars...Los Angeles to Chicago—6-Sections, 6 Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms. (Car 247.)

Los Angeles to Dallas—10 Roomettes, 3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Compartments. (On No. 2-76-78-11 from Winslow.) (Car 241.)

Dining Car...Winslow to Chicago. (Fred Harvey Service.) (Passengers on this train have dinner at restaurant in station at Barstow.)

NOTE for Houston-Los Angeles through coaches: The listings for these cars do not appear on the equipment page for the Grand Canyon, but they do appear on the equipment pages for the California Special and the San Francisco Chief. The listings as shown here are from the equipment page for the San Francisco Chief on page 604.