Beat the Phoenix heat: Grand Canyon Railway offers steam-powered rides

• The train ride takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• Williams — a neat Route 66 town worth exploring before or after the ride — and Grand Canyon Village see typical summer highs in the low-to-mid 80s.

The intrigue: The train takes passengers back to Arizona's wilder days, with western musicians and rabble-rousing cowboys roaming the cars.

Zoom in: The Railway will offer steam-powered excursions to the canyon on six dates this summer.

• Steam locomotives were the norm throughout much of the 20th century in America, but the Grand Canyon Railway shifted to an all-diesel fleet in 2008 because of environmental concerns.
• Yes, but: It's since converted its two vintage steam locomotives to burn nearly carbon-neutral waste vegetable oil, and brings them out on select days throughout the year. The steam experience is available June 1, July 6, Aug. 3, Aug. 12, Sept. 7 and Sep. 12.