Grand Canyon Railway Co. - 1907 dated Railway Stock Certificate - Branch Line of the Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Railway

Stock printed by American Bank Note Co. New York, Litho.

The Grand Canyon Railway Company traces its origins back to September 17, 1901, when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway completed a 64-mile steel track extending north from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim. Initially established in the late 1800s to transport copper ore from local mines, the railroad swiftly shifted its focus to passenger travel as the American West gained popularity as a leisure destination. Collaborating with the Fred Harvey Company, the railway played a pivotal role in developing the tourism infrastructure of the area, transporting building materials to construct renowned historic landmarks such as the El Tovar Hotel. Prominent early 20th-century figures, including President Theodore Roosevelt, relied on this train line to visit the canyon. However, the post-war rise of the American road trip and the expansion of the interstate highway system resulted in a significant decline in ridership, leading to the cessation of regular passenger service in July 1968.

The historic rail line was saved from permanent closure when entrepreneurs Max and Thelma Biegert acquired the property in 1988. Through an extensive restoration of the tracks and historic depots, they successfully reopened the Grand Canyon Railway for passenger service on September 17, 1989, marking the 88th anniversary of its original inaugural run. In 2006, the operation was acquired by the Xanterra Travel Collection, a park-management company that continues to operate vintage diesel and restored steam locomotives throughout the year. Today, the heritage railway departs daily from the historic Williams Depot, allowing over 225,000 annual passengers to experience the golden age of rail travel while contributing to the preservation of Grand Canyon National Park by reducing the number of cars entering the park each year.