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Thanks for your insights, man! I think it's really cool that you have as much rail travel experience and wisdom as you do. As such, I printed out your tips page to make a travel guide for myself. I really appreciate your following along and offering most needed help and reassurance. I'm looking forward to this trip, and hope to make more in the future. I'll be taking lots of pictures, and if you want, I'll sendyou some. Thanks again, for everything!

I had just finished reading the article of the trip we went on together. I must say "I am impressed" now I know that I had the honor of partisipating in one of train destination and new tracks you needed to ride. Thank you again for the invite and one of the most exciting trips I've been on. I know soon you will reach that 2.4 million mark. P.S Congradulations on your sobriety. Keep it up.

Chris...thanks for the update. What a web site. You should be proud of ALL of your accomplishments. It was fun reading about all of your adventures. Keep me posted...

You seem to be posting new articles faster than I have a chance to read them. I just downloaded another eight of your great travelogues. Over thirty years, I have taken most of the trips you write about so your articles really resonate with me. I try to read about one a week. Keep up the good work. I love your viewpoints.

I am awed by your honesty and courage, and am very pleased you are succeeding in staying sober. Congratulations!

One thing I have learned in my life is that God (The Powers That Be, Allah, etc - whatever you choose to call That Which Is) will NEVER violate your free will. Never. You have to ASK for help - but once you do, it is there right away. I "yell for help" mentally when I need it, and it is always there, in subtle and quiet, but very helpful ways.

AA IS wonderful - I think it is GREAT, and I am not an alcoholic - but I DO have my own problems, and AA's ideas and models HAVE been a help to me.

"One day at a time" is VERY practical advice - and sometimes one HOUR at a time is all one can manage.

Thanks again for sharing part of your journey with us. It DOES help to see the victories others have over life's problems.

"Clear green" for a great time railfanning, etc.!

I've just spent several interesting days reading about all of your train trips. First I want to congratulate you on your 2605+ days of sobriety! PRAISE THE LORD! You are indeed special in God's eyes.

I found your site thru trainweb which came up on a search I made that had nothing to do with trains. I'm sure glad I found it. My dad was interested in trains and we do an occasional tourist train ride when we are on vacation.

The interesting thing is that you go by my house in Irvine everyday. I live in Irvine between Culver and Jeffrey, less than a block from the tracks. I'm sure I've seem your train go by many times.

Again, thank you for your interesting stories and I will be checking back again in the future as you continue riding the rails with you heading toward a million miles on the rails and heading toward 3000 and then 4000 days of sobriety.

A cup of coffee, a breakfast sandwich and CG's latest. More good writing, to the point I felt I was there myself!!!!

I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed viewing your website. My wife and I are train enthusiasts and we live near Savannah, GA. If you are ever traveling through, please do not hesitate to give me a call. We would like to say hello! We would be happy to give you a tour of the area.

I want to thank Chris Guenzler for the fantastic write-up he did on his web page on google.com about the Hoyt Lakes trip. I never picked up a program and have regretted that since I got home. Now I can print a detailed description of the trip and relive the best weekend of my summer over and over. Thanks for taking the time to do this Chris. It's going in my scrapbook.

I found your site looking for some information on the Trans-Siberian trip!. Not sure that there is much of a link, other than the distances involved. I read through your stuff, and it is great to see what you are doing. Should you ever make to Australia, be sure to ride some of the brilliant trains here. They are worth the trip. Good luck on the million plus!

My name is Olivier, I'm living in France Inner Paris. I'm very fond of American railroads since 1999's year. I mostly love modern railroading such as the BNSF and UP companies. I'm just saw your web site and this one is very fine.Yours differents trips along the way make me dream and recall me my last vacations inside your beautiful country. Three months ago, my wife and I went spending ours vacations in the New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. We have been from Clovis to Belen crossing by Mountainair and Vaughn. Each BNSF depot are very beautiful and go back me one step in the time. I was lucky as I got one inside the cab of the dash nine and I able to speak witth the crew who were very kind.

I would like to thank you about your web site, thank to you I can appease my hobby from France to the USA thougt the Atlantic Ocean. I have read your life about the demons liquor, your sobriety is a good evidence that alcoholic sick cured.I know about that matter because I'm nurse inside the emergency service from a large hospital in the center of Paris. Every days I nurse the alcohol demons damages. Your story is a evidence that takes alot of courage. In France the statistics studies show there are five millions alcoholics persons and this sick is a scourge.

I found your website about a week ago. I enjoy watching trains as well and I have been reading a little every night. It's been like taking a little vacation in my own home although your photos from Wyoming and Montana make me homesick! I read your website before the little spur train comes 2 blocks away from my house (RailAmerica) It comes between midnight and one and the crew knows me and lets me take photos, I am near the end of the line so I get them coming switching and going. I am learning to take night photos with a digital. My brother still drinks and my Dad has been in AA since 1989 and I don't have the words to tell you but pass on the spirit of encouragement that you keep going sober. Thanks again for such a great vacation everynight in my own home

Yes, I definitely have seen and read much of your web page! It is amazing how many train trips you have been on and it is a good reference that I have used often before leaving on a trip. I especially enjoy your stories about the sometimes crazy things that happened on your trips. I am excited as I am getting ready for a big month long trip with a North American Rail Pass during April and May. I will post reports and pictures on my website upon my return!

Thank you for the beautiful web-site. My son who is 3 1/2 years old loves looking at all the trains. He loves trains more then anything and your site is just what he needed.

I work for the railway in New South Wales, Australia. I’m employed as an area controller, sort of like a dispatcher and towerman combined.

I looked over you website and am impressed but I am most impressed with your personal struggle and how you had the courage and determination to turn your life around.

Congratulations and best wishes,

Hello, my name is Scott, I work for Union Pacific, you have an excellent website by the way, anyhow I was writing because I was looking at your photos from Pocatello and came across CNW 11170, and that number sounded familiar, and after investigation, I realized that this is the caboose that job 63 in Clinton IA uses when they go West to DeWitt, this caboose is still on the property although it is nowhere near as good of shape as in your photo, it is really bad, yellow has faded to near white, almost every window is broken, and rust has taken a strong hold, but shes still earning her keep every day! it was really cool to see the photo of her former glory, again great site.............Scott

Congratulations on your 3909 days of sobriety. I find your recovery story quite "sobering". I am a psychologist and have been dealing with A & D problems with individuals and families for years. Would you mind if I shared your struggle with alcohol with some of my patients? Maybe your struggle will be sobering to one of them. I have been reading the Amtrak railforum for many years and have posted only twice. I plan to make only my 2nd trip before years end.

Again, congratulations.

I've enjoyed a number of your trip reports. Your expression "Every trip is an adventure!" deserves a tshirt line. It would be fun to wear on board... on Amtrak every trip is an adventure, and has been since I started riding them in '71. Even on the capitol corridor [my only rides recently], things can and do happen [even with 90% on time rating]. Anyway, thanks for your reports.

Russell here from Sedona, AZ just 25 miles south of Flagstaff where I'm sure you've passed through on rail many times before.

Anyway, I came across your website through a model railroding page and was intrigued by your account of your latest trip to Post Katrina NO-LA. What initially caught my attention was your taste in music which is almost uncannily identical to my own (though you did mention of couple of more obscure artists whose work I am not familiar with.

Your affinity for trains of course was another though I've logged in but a small fraction of the miles you have. I've never made a long distance trip (yet!)

Lastly was your sobriety. I'll be drink and drug free for 15 years on April 21st which is also close in time to your own.

Anyway, I'm home with a cold today surfing through train websites and I just wanted to tell you what's contained above. I plan to read more about your adventures on the rails across America.

Take care and thanks for the entertainment.

On the Capitol Limited, the menu was the one with the New York Strip, which they didn't have. They also had three or four substitions or scratches, which I couldn't remember.

On the Southwest Chief, they had the menu with the flat iron steak. Everything was still available on that menu.

BTW, I've read many of your travelogues in the past. They are informative as well as inspirational. Congrats on your continued sobriety. I'm sure I'll be joining you one of these days

I just wanted to say that I just found your site this evening and have enjoyed it thoroughly. It brought back the pleasure of having come down to help Bart for a couple of days and get the opportunity to travel those rails. Thank you for the site.

Be well,

Chad C. Rogers
Family Readiness Group Liaison
A Company/320th/2nd Bde/80th Div(IT)/99th RRC

"If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself." GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.

"Never imagine that such concepts as duty, honour, and love of country are outdated." Sir Winston Churchill

"Be an example to your men, in your duty and in private life. Never spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don't in your endurance of fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your subordinates to do the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide."- Field Marshall Erwin Rommel

"You should always do your duty. You cannot do more. You should never wish do less."-General Robert E. Lee

"A good leader can't get too far ahead of his followers."-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

What a treat to have run in to your site! I appreciate it. I do have a question but I'm afraid it's not a very impressive one.

I have a question about the Illinois Zephry #347. It says it has a snack car but in my limited riding experience I seem to remember that the "snack" part was downstairs and the lounge was above it. Is that the case on this train? I will be traveling from Chicago to Galesburg with small children. Just trying to get all the info I can.

I enjoyed your writing. Maybe see ya on the train sometime.

Hey Chris, I just learned about you by reading "Honk" in the Local section in the Orange County Register. Wow! What an interesting and exciting website you have! Did you take all those pictures yourself? Can I meet you sometime? Congrats on your sobriety and your miles!

Gus Fieldhouse in Anaheim

Hi Chris! My name is Melissa and I am a train freak! I just stumbled onto your trip from Santa Ana to Fillmore for the train to Piru. All those orange trees reminded me of childhood memories too in So Cal. I am beyond impressed with your train travel. I have ridden on all scenic trains in Cal except Yreka. I have ridden all scenic trains in Nevada. Heber in Utah, Durango and silverton, Cog railway in Colorado. I am not a huge fan of Amtrak. I follow the ATSF 3751 whenever is is out and about!!!

In a nutshell I just have a thing for trains. I am also in Torrance and when not working or bored I look for PHL trains in the Harbor area.

Once again... great great job on the Piru pictures and narrative!

Thanks for documenting the various trips you take ... I really enjoy reading about them (just finished reading about the Feather River Express). It's really cool to "catch" you out on the railroad ... I never know when I'm going to run into you!

You did a great job balancing the story and the photos...felt like I was riding right along with y'all. Some of my Bay Area pals were on the train, but did not see them in any of the pictures. They said it was a great trip too.

That was a very definite wall cloud that lowered in your storm shots...and looks like a funnel wanted to form, but I guess not enough shear. We've seen a few of those back here this spring.

I started my railroad career in 1979 dispatching the WP, and lots of chair time on the Third Sub. So it brings back lots of great memories. Just glad the slides held off in the usual locations (Poe, Cresta, Belden, Rich Bar) so the train made it thru.

Again, thanks for sharing the story (I caught your address off Trainorders.Com).

Thanks, Chris, for that. Shall have to have a look round Louisburg. Guess you have something special planned for your millionth mile. Best of luck, make it really cool, man. and congrats on your sobriety, I too was a whiskey freak years ago, but after being told my gut was rotting away, I just stopped. Now I get nagged at for drinking too much tea!!! Can't win 'em all. :)

Hi Chris. Saw that you posted your trip reports/stories from last week. I enjoyed reading them, as I do with all your stories, and it was nice to have first-hand knowledge of them! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the trips and thank you for inviting me (and Bob, although he couldn't make it) along for the Camp 6 visit. I had fun last Friday afternoon en route to and in Vader and it was a pity that there was only the steam engine on display in Battle Ground.

I'm picking up my photos (seven rolls and I get doubles made) on Saturday from Costco and have the unenviable task of labelling them all; I am always detailed in my labelling and give as much information as possible as to histories, location etc. Even though I made some notes of where the runbys were at, Bart's handouts and your captions will come in handy.

Take care,

Elizabeth

Chris

We chatted briefly in LTT chat. Thanks for clearing up my last two trips thru. NYC, in 2000 and 2002. Both times I was traveling from Boston to Hbg., with as very brief stop in NYC. As a child I have traveled by train to NYC since 1950, and arrived at Penn Station. I just assumed that the train I took from Bean town also passed through there. I was wondering why I didn't recognize the platforms when arriving in 2000 and 02. I guess I was in Hoboken and didn't know it. I just figured my lack of recognition was due to old age, lol. Great web site, would like to hear more of you on LTT, but its difficult trying to maintain a half serious conversation with larry, moe, and curly. But you have to take your train fix where you can get it. Thanks again to your devoted dedication of documenting train travel. I assure you that it will be researched and greatly appreciated by generations of future historians, in many fields.

I am also in recovery for the past 23 years and I appreciate your efforts and hard work on your web site. I enjoy reading your entrys. You have a most impressive log of your travels. I would like to learn how to afford such voyages as well as how you move from place to place and find the excursions you get on......very interesting and good reading. Keep up the good work and keep putting your entrys on the web. Newell

I "rode" along with you (MY first) as you rode a SurfLiner from Orange County -- something about a new "bridge" over an Orange County station-stop -- then "back home" to where-ever you got off the train -- "at home".

(WOW! What a LOUSY description I gave, compare to the great story YOU told.) It was the first time I ever read one of you trip-tales.

The "NRHS 2006" story was EXCELLENT. (My 2nd). You do a great job telling of your travels. I look forward to more of them.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Thanks for all of the reports you have posted. I've read several of them. I get to ride every now and then... about 13,000 miles in the past two years.

Just wanted to congratulate you on your sobriety and let you know that it's a powerful statement when you post it with so many of your articles. I don't drink. Never have. Don't have any interest in doing so. I've seen a few lives really messed up by booze... people that lost their jobs, family, and a few that nearly lost their life.

Hang in there.

Louisville, Ky., over 100 miles to the nearest Amtrak station. BRING BACK THE KENTUCKY CARDINAL!!!

What a terrific web site, chronology, hobby and success story. I stumbled onto your site looking for information on Sherman Hill, between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wy. I do picture framing and have lately been interested in the Union Pacific Bigboy, or "King of the Road" as painted by Robert West (copy attached). Your trip and pictures in "UP #3985 Over Sherman Hill" were an interesting and helpful account of this area. Neat pictures on the runbys! I live in Denver,CO, and used to ride Amtrak regularly between here and Burlington, IA, to visit my parents. With the train history in that town (Burlington route), the Union Pacific through the Midwest and the narrow-gauge history here in the mountain country, I'm somewhat of a train buff myself especially when it comes to pictorial history. I ended up reading much of your website and congratulate you on your wonderful achievements and in sharing it with everyone in narrative and picture format. Wishing you continued success . . . - Tom DeRosear, Denver,CO.

My name is Keith Johns and I reside in the Southern California Desert City of Indio. I am a avid Railroad Fan and have been since as long as I can remember. I grew up in the State of Iowa and lived about 1 mile from The Old Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Tracks. So I was hooked from a very young age. I have become friends with some Engineer's and Conductor's that work for Union Pacific on their mainline that runs through here. So that is always a plus in helping to get extra information. I am amazed as to all the train riding that you have done over the years. It is truly an amazing accomplishment. I have ridden a few trains like the Southwest Chief from San Bernardino, Ca to Ft. Madison, Ia. and back. Also many trips on the Pacific Surfliner up from San Diego. I have only read a few of your trips, but have enjoyed reading them very much. I am also very impressed by reading your story regarding your past problems regarding alcohol! I am very proud of you and your story is a big help to others who also battle this problem. Keep up the good work! So do you have any special trips planned for the 2008 year? You are very knowledgeable regarding railroad information along with your many photographs. Where do you get all the time to take the pictures and record the information? And also the time to go on all your trips? You must be part magician! I like your site very much and keep up the good work.

I sure enjoyed reading your story. I wish more people could and would do what you did to overcome the "bottle."

I'm 65. I grew up knowing the big steam trains of the late 1940s and 1950s. I was always fascinated with them. Believe it or not, but I've only ridden on a train, maybe five times in my whole life--the last one being the old Desert Wind in 1983. I read that it's demise came about in May 1997. Because of the Internet I've educated myself about many of the old trains and many of the "new" Amtrak trains. As I have read about you and many others who have spent much time riding trains and then writing about the experience, I have decided that that's what I want to do.

I've got a few questions, though, and I hope you can give me some good answers. When you're on a cross-country trip, do you always get a car with sleeping accommodations, or do you sometimes just sleep in the coach car? Again, do you eat most of your meals in the diner, or do you sometimes eat at different stops along the way? Do you ever stop along the way and take a few days to tour around, then re-board to continue your journey? Have you ever boarded a train and not gotten off till the train reached its destination? If you're taking a long trip across country, what do you do when you reach that destination? Do you just stay on the train while it gets itself turned around for the return trip? Or do you stay there a while before returning?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

It was good to see you and Chris at the NRHS Convention in Chattanooga.

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your report on the Convention. Very well done. Also, thank you for all of the stories you've shared during the year. I enjoyed reading them all.

Hope to see you at the NRHS Convention in Fort Worth, Texas next year. The Washington Chapter is planning to bring the Dover Harbor next year. I'll have to decide if I'll go as a paying passenger or volunteer as the steward/porter and go for free.

I wish you health and happiness in 2008.

Sincerely,

Congratulations on the million Amtrak miles! You do not realize how much your work of sharing your travels are enjoyed by folks like me. I really enjoyed meeting you and Chris Parker last August. It is neat, when you meet your favorite celeberties, and they turn out to be as cool in person as they are on the net! Sorry for rambling. Here is some info about the Memphis station problem from the other day.

Take care,

Chris, congratulations for all that you do in your daily choice of remaining sober. What an inspiration you are to so many people. I have family members who have not been able to succeed as yet but I will pass on your inspiring articles. My upcoming train trip starts on June 10 and I will travel on a 9000 mile one way trip that will take me on the Capitol Limited from D.C. to Chicago; the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland, next is the Coast Starlight from Portland to Sacramento then to Chicago on the California Zephyr, back on the Capitol Limited to D.C. I then get back on a Regional that will take me back to Philadelphia. After that it's a car over the bridge into New Jersey and home. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your articles a nd have learned so much. This trip is my trip of my lifetime. I am 61 and a grandmother of 3. I have wanted to do this for so long and now I will finally be able to make my train travel scrapbook. I will not be getting off any trains to get a hotel room or renting a car. My hotel is a roomette on each train. There are no hotels that offer the views I will be seeing out of my windows. No rental cars, no hefty prices for gasoline, no expensive meals in any overrated eateries. Just being able to see this beautiful country that I am proud to live in. Thanks again for coming into the homes of so many people with your writings and your positive attitude. Kathy Thompson

Chris, I just finished reading your record of your round-the-country 1990 trip and want to say thank you for a great record and vicarious experience! I’m a National Limited veteran of sorts, but that discussion will have to be off the company e-mail. If interested in talking trains (duh!) email me. I’d love to ask you questions and share my own excitement about riding, though I’m practically a virgin at it.

Hope this finds you well. And I was happy after reading the screwdriver-fueled history of 1990 to see you’re clean and sober on your web site. Good man!

Just read your latest story and it sounds like a great time!!! Just wondering what the summer holds for you on Amtrak and else where in the rail world.Looking forward to reading about your summer adventures. All the best Chris. My youngest sister has joined AA and is trying to kick the habit to... Its been a trying time for my family and hers to.I guess some of us have the Genes the let us drink and not become addicted to alcohol and others are not so lucky!!! Keep up the train riding and your sobriety Chris!!! :):)

I just read your report on the APPRCO trip. Holy smokes, I missed a lot of stuff along the way. I thought I was paying attention, but you caught about 10 times the stuff that I did. Very cool.

That was a fun trip, but it was VERY long. I ended up spending a few hours in the Tolani trying to sleep. When I first got in there, it was just me and 2 other people. When I woke up, it was full! Steve, Barbara, Tom, Kelly, and Chris Parker were all in there sleeping. I was exhausted by the time I got to my hotel at 3AM.

See you on the next trip--

PS: Congrats on day number 5,000.

I just wanted to write you a note, to thank you for posting your stories about Amtrak, on your website. I would particularly like to thank you for your photos of "The Desert Wind", the train I took to Los Angeles with my brother, and aunt, in 1982. We boarded the Amtrak train at Chicago Union Station, but I'm not sure if this was The Desert Wind or if we actually joined it at Ogden, during a lengthy stop late at night. It was my first visit to the U.S, and I was overwhelmed by the welcoming attitude and friendliness of the people we met, both on the train, and as we travelled to our various destinations. I remember the changing scenery as we travelled across the country. The staff on the train were so nice. I made friends with one, called Joseph, he sang, and was a songwriter. The time came to disembark at San Bernadino. I waved goodbye to Joseph, and met our relatives, and continued our holiday. The years have passed, and many of the relatives I met are sadly no longer here. But when I saw your photos, my memories came flooding back, as if it were yesterday. I was sad to read that The Desert Wind was discontinued, that train was important to me! Thank you again for the pictures,and stories, which are so interesting to read. I hope to be a passenger on one of these great trains again one day.

Best Wishes,

I wanted to share how much I enjoy your travelogues on trainweb.com. I do a couple of LD train trips per year, but no further west than Chicago.

I also am grateful for your testimony on your sobriety. It has been very helpful to me in my own recovery.

Blessings always!!

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