The Santa Fe Railway completed a spur line to Grand Canyon in 1901. The railroad partnered with the Fred Harvey Company to build and manage El Tovar, Hopi House, and other attractions, luring tourist services away from their original center near Grandview Point. Eventually, automobiles outpaced train travel, and the last train pulled out of Grand Canyon station in 1968.

For more than 20 years, the tracks were silent. They were on the verge of being torn up by a salvage company when a retired couple wound up with 20 miles of track as repayment for a bad debt. Against the advice of business consultants, they determined to restore train service to the canyon.

Today, Grand Canyon Railway (800/ 843-8724, 928/635-2461, or 928/773-0147, www.thetrain.com) offers five classes of passenger service from Williams to Grand Canyon’s South Rim, including package tours that combine the train ride with lodging and guided rim tours. All train travel is on refurbished vintage rail cars powered by steam or diesel, depending on the season. Trains depart from Williams in the morning and leave the South Rim depot in the afternoon. The route passes through ponderosa pine forest, piñon-juniper woodland, and open prairie.

You won’t get any canyon views from the train, but you might get Western-style skits or musical entertainment to break up the two-hour-plus ride. Ticket prices ($65–170 adults, $35–100 children) vary according to the style of railcar, service, and season. Package deals ($119–399 adults, $36–124 children) include a range of lodging, dining, and tour options. Group rates are available, and the railway offers seasonal discounts and specials.

Special seasonal events include the Polar Express ($26 for adults, $14 for children), a nighttime train ride through the forest complete with hot chocolate, cookies, and a visit to Santa’s workshop. Advance reservations are strongly recommended for this excursion, which is wildly popular with the younger set. Polar Express packages (starting at $289 for two adults and two children) include dining and lodging.

The adults-only Sunset Limited package ($179–349 per person) features gourmet hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and live jazz en route to the canyon, with dinner and stargazing on the return.