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Celebrating National Train Day Part 2 5/11/2008



by Chris Guenzler



I woke up after the train had climbed the Cantara Loop. I got dressed before getting some Orange Juice then headed to the Lounge Car for some early AM pictures of Mount Shasta.





I saw Mount Shasta as we passed through its namesake city of Mount Shasta, California.





The train ran by Black Butte.







We were treated with many more views of Mount Shasta on a beautiful morning. At 6:30 AM we went to the Dining Car for breakfast with me having French Toast and sausage links. After breakfast I put on my CD of Meatloaf "Bat out of Hell". The Coast Starlight then headed into Oregon to an early arrival into Klamath Falls where I took a fresh air break on a rather pleasant cool sunny morning.





The Klamath Falls Station.





Two views of the Coast Starlight at Klamath Falls before we left on time. A few minutes later, the train ran along Upper Klamath Lake.





Upper Klamath Lake.





A beautiful Oregon volcanic peak on a magnificent morning. I put on my CD of Yes "Magnification" as the Coast Starlight headed towards Chemult. We left Chemult a couple minutes late and headed west for our crossing of the Cascades waiting for a UP freight to clear into the siding.





Logs from the Frazier Slide Area at Crescent Lake ready to be shipped to a lumber mill for processing.





Odell Lake as the Coast Starlight neared the tunnel at Cascade Summit.





My favorite bridge-tunnels area on the Cascade Line. About ten minutes later the Coast Starlight had reached the Frazier Slide Area.





Views of the uphill Frazier Slide Area.





Big machines wait for our train to pass through the Frazier Slide Area.





Two more views of the uphill Frazier Slide Area.





The rear of the Coast Starlight passing though the Frazier Slide Area.





Workers office at the west switch of Frazier. The train continued down to Fields before heading through the tunnel that reverses the train's direction as we drop off the mountain.





The old slide zone has been overgrown with trees since it last moved.





The Coast Starlight passed beneath the Frazier Slide Area.





Newly created slide chute.





At the Salt Creek Bridge the tracks reverse directions again so we will head northwest to Oakridge.





Just west of there, the Covered Bridge as we drop down the grade towards a full Lookout Point Reservoir and onto Eugene, our next fresh air stop. Yes "Open Your Eyes" assisted in getting me there. The Coast Starlight left Eugene only 13 minutes late. At Alford we took a couple minute delay due to signal problems.





The Willamette Valley as we headed for Albany.





Willamette and Western power in Albany before we made our station stop there. Now a quick tour of Deluxe Room B.





The in room vanity area with sink and mirror. Towels are stored down in the cabinet.





The room has a chair that can be swiveled.





A room length couch that makes into the lower bed with a fold down bed above it.





In room toilet and shower.





There is an overhead luggage shelf plus the room has a closet next to the hall door. A great room to ride in. The train did its station stop in Salem before heading towards Portland.





The shortline in Woodburn, Oregon. We made it to Coalca where we stopped for a none clearing UP freight and then the southbound Coast Starlight. The Coast Starlight took no more delays as Tom got to enjoy another in room Wine Tasting before we arrived into Portland Union Station seven minutes late because of a Union Pacific freight train blocking our path into the station. A special thank you to all of our crews aboard the Coast Starlight that made our trip to Portland so very special.

Portland 5/11/2008

As Tom and I entered Portland Union Station we found Richard Elgenson also a writer for Trainweb here. Out front Tom and I said goodbye until tomorrow morning with me heading to the Chinatown MAX Station. There the ticketing machine was not working so I hopped the first eastbound trolley to Rose Quarter and detrained finding a ticketing machine that worked. I called home to wish my Mother a Happy Mother's Day and Chris Parker before an Airport Trolley picked me up to take me to 82nd Street NE. There I checked in to the Days Inn for the night. I finished the story for today before calling Winston to proof read it. I watched the First Period of the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Eastern Conference Simi Final. I went to Elmers for dinner before returning for the rest of the game and relaxing the rest of the night.



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