Grand Canyon Railway welcomes and appreciates members of the media traveling to the Williams Depot to share the Railway experience firsthand with their readers/viewers. To help keep yourself and guests of the Railway safe and preserve the experience, we ask that you follow this guide.
Grand Canyon Railway transports as many as 2,000 people per day from Williams to the Grand Canyon aboard its historic trains. As such, the Railway requires the media give a minimum one week notice when planning visits and either live or taped segments. Providing this notice will not only help the Railway provide uninterrupted service to its guests, it will give GCR staff the opportunity to respond to any special requests associated with the story/segment.
Please complete Grand Canyon Railway’s General Release Form and send to Katie Dabbs at Percepture via e-mail prior to your arrival.
Grand Canyon Railway requires that media be escorted by a member of the Railway staff. This onsite contact will be present at all times during filming. If you have not received an onsite contact within 72 hours of a planned visit, contact Katie Dabbs at Percepture via e-mail.
Grand Canyon Railway’s public relations manager will coordinate interviews for members of the media. In order to preserve the guest experience, Grand Canyon Railway does not permit “Man on the Street” style interviews to take place onsite.
Grand Canyon Railway has two designated locations for media satellite trucks and SUVs – one east and another west of the historic Williams Depot.
EAST: The east location provides cameras with the best view of the Railway’s restored steam and diesel engines. Trucks will park on two Railroad ties leading to the platform and will be flanked by a Club Car to the West and (given the day) a caboose to the east. 50 feet of cable will allow crews to easily reach the engine as well as passenger cars displayed on the platform.
From this designated truck location, crews will need approximately 285 to 300 feet of cable or record/feedback capabilities to broadcast live from the main building/ticket window at Williams Depot.
WEST: The west location provides cameras with the best view of the Railway’s restored passenger cars and is located next to the Wild West Town where cowboys perform a shootout before each train departs for the Grand Canyon. 50 feet of cable will easily allow crews to reach the passenger cars traveling the Railway that day, as well as board one or two of them.
From this designated truck location, crews will need approximately 250 to 300 feet of cable or record/feedback capabilities to broadcast live from the main building/ticket window at Williams Depot.
NOTE: Due to underground tunnels installed when the Williams Depot was originally constructed, it is unsafe for trucks to park anywhere on the brick platform.
Grand Canyon Railway does have access to locations where crews can film the historic train en route to the Grand Canyon. The Railway asks that any requests to film en route be made at the time a filming or segment is confirmed, as special arrangements must be made.
Grand Canyon Railway does allow crews to film on the train while en route to the Grand Canyon, however, the Railway needs to make special arrangements to preserve its guest experience. As such, please provide at least one week’s notice so that the Railway can accommodate requests.
Please keep in mind that the larger the production, the more lead-time is required to make appropriate arrangements. Note that special requests, such as hotel rooms, food and Railway tickets are subject to availability. The more notice given, the better equipped the Railway is to make sure every request is met.
Katie Dabbs, Percepture
Phone: 720-206-7710
E-mail: [email protected]