With the first day of steam in the books, GCRY 29 shows it train out toward the wye to prepare the consist for tomorrow's trip to the Grand Canyon powered by GCRY 4960. As the little 2-8-0 shoves hard against its train while exiting the Williams depot, it passes GCRY 539 - a fine looking 2-8-2 Mikado built in 1917 for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Once a common resident at northwest locations such as Spokane or Portland, No. 539 eventually found it's way to Williams following a trade between that two of the GCRY's smaller locomotives, No. 18 and No. 20 that were shipped to the Mt. Hood Railway for operation there. No. 539 has never made a return to steam during its time with the GCRY...but rumors are beginning to swirl here in 2019 that the locomotive is not only moving toward a new home, but also a potential restoration to operation there.
