Modern day desert steam trains

[Joseph T]

What's the closest we have to being able to see or ride steam trains through desert landscapes as of now, especially somewhere like the Middle East and/or Sahara? Think Mauretania's iron ore trains but if they were steam-hauled.

 

[Gordon]

zero?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The Hejaz railway in Jordan?

The Hejaz railway in Wadi Rum, Jordan

This amazing train is straight out of the pages of history and seeing it in person is like a view to the past and being able to bear witness to the exploits of Laurence of Arabia

(Video shows a steam locomotive hauling a tourist train in Wadi Rum, Jordan.)

 

[stadler]

RZD operate occasional steam locomotive special trains. They have run ones between Volgograd and Astrakhan a few years back. That passed through part of the Ryn Desert along the way. I think the only examples you will find will be special trains and railtours.

 

[etr221]

Wondering what the posibilities are of/for steam special operations in the deserty parts of the American West (UP/SP/Santa Fe lines?), or of Australia? Both areas with (a) deserts and (b) operational steam locos.

But much closer to home, my understanding is that the Dungeness area is classified as a desert (although we may not think it so), so on the RHDR?

 

[edwin_m]

Wondering what the posibilities are of/for steam special operations in the deserty parts of the American West (UP/SP/Santa Fe lines?), or of Australia? Both areas with (a) deserts and (b) operational steam locos.

I think the Grand Canyon Railway still operates from Williams Arizona.

 

[Joseph T]

The Hejaz railway in Jordan?

(Video shows a steam locomotive hauling a tourist train in Wadi Rum, Jordan.)

I never knew they had live steam trains there. I have only ever seen the trains there on static display. Thanks for showing me.

 

[railfan99]

Wondering what the posibilities are of/for steam special operations in the deserty parts of the American West (UP/SP/Santa Fe lines?), or of Australia? Both areas with (a) deserts and (b) operational steam locos.

Although Australia is famous for the longest ever nonstop steam journey (by Flying Scotsman) between Parkes and Broken Hill, we don't "quite" think of the western part of that line as a desert, unlike the Nullarbor further west that qualifies.

Chances of steam operation on either these days are minimal. The NSW Rail Transport Museum doesn't seem motivated to run very long trips.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

I think the Grand Canyon Railway still operates from Williams Arizona.

Yes the Grand Canyon Railway still operates from Williams to the South Rim but thise trains are primarily operated with Diesel traction (usually former Amtrak F40s) with only occasional steam operation.

I was on one such special run in 2022 unfortunately the locomotive developed problems right out of the station at Williams. After unsuccessful attempts to repair it, they had to return to the station and substitute Diesel power.

One unique feature is an observation car at the end with an open rear platform, something that has been banished from other North American operations probably for liability reasons, so one can get an open air ride through the desert, although time is limited to allow others to experience it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 May 2026 ==

A clarification "Steam locomotives pull trains on special holidays and the first Saturday of the peak travel season (March through October)." (From Wikipedia)
The locomotive from my trip which was actually September 2021, #4960 former Chicago Burlington & Quincy