[?]

The Trip Home From the NRHS 2006 Convention via Altoona.

Chris Parker got up and left right before 5 AM for the Pittsburgh Airport for his 8:30 AM Flight to Los Angeles and home. I slept in getting out of bed at 8:00 AM had my last breakfast at the Knights Inn then paid the bill. At 9:00 AM I left the room and walked across the street to the Holiday Inn for the bus to the Amtrak Station in Pittsburgh. At 9:05 AM the bus pulled up and we loaded all the luggage under the bus: one bin for Amtrak and the other bin for the airport. At 9:30 AM the bus left the Holiday Inn parking lot for Pittsburgh. The bus took US 250 east to US 22 east near Cadiz.

East of Stubenville we crossed the Ohio River into West Virginia.

The Ohio River. About six miles of West Virginia took us in to Pennsylvania. We took PA 60 north to the Airport. This route was the exact same route I told Chris to take to the airport. The bus did this trip to the airport in one hour and forty-two minutes. The bus dropped three of our passengers off at the airport before we headed to Amtrak. We took PA 60 south towards downtown.

The bus went under a trestle labeled "Norfolk Western Railway Company". The bus dropped down the hill and we went through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.

The bus came out of the tunnel and downtown Pittsburgh appeared as we crossed the Monongahela River. The bus arrived at the back of the Amtrak Pittsburgh Station at 11:44 AM. The bus was stopped at a gate at the back of the station. Our Bus Host and our driver went to find someone to open the gate. About ten minutes later, the Amtrak Agent opened the gate and I helped unload the luggage from the bus. The agent said we could wait at the end of the platform for the Pennsylvanian to load after 1:00 PM. I decided to look around.

Observation Car Eaton 800174.

Ohio Central Sugar Creek 800003.

The Private Cars on the right and my Pennsylvanian for Altoona on the left. I talked with several of our convention passengers before we all boarded the train after our crew had arrived.

As I boarded this train I told both train crew members that I was making the "Altoona Turn" so they would be aware of it. This train had P42DC 129, Coaches 82091, 25106, 25102, 25050 and Cafe/Business 25050 in this long distance Amfleet train. I took a seat in the 25050 which still had its TV Monitors in the luggage racks. This round trip that I took this afternoon was on to relax and ride around the Horseshoe Curve both ways again after visiting it on the ground. I read an Arrive Magazine, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor publication, before our time of departure at 1:20 PM which we did on time. On the way out of Pittsburgh, we passed the large US Steel Plant. I enjoyed some Chicken Wings for lunch as we rolled east to Greensburg. My train crew told me that my westbound was already twenty minutes down out of Harrisburg. We stopped at Latrobe to detrain 5 passengers at this flag stop and boarded 7 more passengers. I really enjoyed our fast eastbound trip up the curvy ex Pennsy mainline.

After we left Johnstown I spotted the Incline there. After that my train climbed the western flank of the Alleghenies. We passed through Cresson and at MO Tower I passed the 942,000.0 rail mileage mark. We took Track 1 though Gallitzan so I missed going by the Tunnel Inn on my eastbound trip. The train went through the South Allegheny Tunnel before we started down the eastern flank. A few minutes later we neared the Horseshoe Curve.

A trip around the Horseshoe Curve. After all that the train made its way down to Altoona. We had to do a double stop as they brought the train in on the wrong track at the Altoona Station. I detrained and put my bags on the platform to wait for my westbound train.

The eastbound Pennsylvanian leaves Altoona for New York City and I settled in to wait in Altoona.

A westbound freight came by as my train was waiting so all I got was the helpers.

NS 658265 Railroaders Memorial Museum Horseshoe Curve Bridging the Gap for 150 Years.

Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 4913.

My bags wait for their ride to Pittsburgh to arrive. I walked over the Expressway into the station just as another westbound blasted by the platform. After adding that station to the ones I visited the inside of, I walked back to the platform as our train got later and later.

A NS stack train came through next westbound.

Helpers on the rear end of that westbound.

Another westbound came through Altoona.

An eastbound NS train rolled through Altoona.

Later as my train was now over an hour late, I decided to photograph the twin Pennsy Diner and Observation Car.

The Observation Car.

The Diner.

Eastbound NS Triple Crown Roadrailer train went though Altoona next.

Roadrailers rolling east.

The single truck between each trailer. The station agent then made an announcement of the train's ETA being 6:30 PM. I went back across to the station to find out why. It turned out that one track near Lewistown was out of service for track work and the open track had a freight train break down on it. This was good news for me for two reasons. One, it cut down my waiting time in Pittsburgh and two, it allowed me to take all these pictures in Altoona instead of what should have been a less that twenty minute wait here.

Eastbound helpers return to Altoona.

Another NS stack train rolled east through Altoona.

The eastbound met a local that would turn off the mainline just west of the station.

The local pulled by the station.

NS GP-38-3 5813

A green signal meant our train might be coming. Around a curve a headlight appeared and my westbound train came into Altoona and my stay here was over.

The westbound train finally pulled into the station at 6:30 PM {4:06 PM}. There would be no picture of the Horseshoe Curve westbound as we were on Track 3 and had a triple meet with two eastbounds on the curve on Tracks 1 and 2. Being on Track 3 was good news as I got to do both routing through Gallitzan and would go by the Tunnel Inn. Between the curve and tunnel two more eastbounds had gone by us. When we reached the Tunnel Inn, no one was out to look at our train passing by. This train consisted of P42DC 42, Coaches 21211, 25040, 25060 and 26020 with Cafe/Business 48154. I got that by walking back through the train to get a Hot Dog for dinner. Once finished I just sat back and relaxed listening to Dio "Greatest Hits" starting my musical journey home. With a crying kid behind me, the volume was turned up all the way. The train arrived into Pittsburgh at 8:56 PM {7:05 PM}. I let all the other passengers off the train as I had nothing but time to kill.

The Pennsylvanian after it had arrived into Pittsburgh. I called Chris Parker to see if he got home alright but left a message. I met Rolf from Santa Cruz who was taking the California Zephyr out of Chicago tomorrow. He had an adventure when he came to the convention. His CZ was four hours late into Chicago then had to take Greyhound to Pittsburgh, a trip from Hell, but made it to the NRHS Bus to the Convention. We chatted in the station before we went up to the platform to wait for our train to Chicago to arrive.

The Capitol Limited pulled into Pittsburgh and I made my way through the crowd to Sleeping Car 32025 where I was met by Nathan Bryan, my sleeping car attendant. I had Room 5 for this trip. I walked back outside to get the rest of the consist. This train had P42DC 179 and 190, Baggage 1221, Transition 39016, Sleepers 32025 and 32029, Diner 38016, Lounge 33011, Coaches 34097, 34000 and 34072. Nathan had already made my room up and in the correct sleeping direction. At that point, after we had left ten minutes late, a tired Chris called it a night.

7/24/06 I was awoken at 6:15 AM EDT with an announcement of breakfast in the dining car. I was seated with Ray and Bob, both Catholic Priests. I had French Toast and sausage patties as the train ran west this early morning.

I awoke to a view of scenic Indiana in the early morning light. Poison "The Best of Poison" started my day musical and a Coca-Cola assisted in starting my day off right.

A graveyard east of Maple City, Indiana before freight train congestion stopped us before our Elkhart stop.

Elkhart Station and we then head west to South Bend.

The South Bend Platform with the old South Shore Line in front of it. Back on the move and now on Central Time it was Metallica "Master of Puppets" would take me most of the way to Chicago.

Indiana Dunes State Park.

Switchers performing their duties this morning.

Lake Michigan along the industrial landscape. We stopped and went on our way to Union Station. One delay was the UP 5011 East.

After yet another stop, we crossed the Chicago Expressway and Orange Line.

The Chicago river before he train was wyed.

Amtrak units wait their next assignments.

The Chicago Skyline.

Backing into Union Station arriving at 9:53 AM {8:30 AM} ending this segment of my train home.

I was first off and first into the Metropolitan Lounge where I checked my bags in for my stay in Chicago. I walked down the North Platforms of Union station to Madison Street and made my way quickly to the Ogilive Transportation Center. There I bought a round trip ticket to Elburn as from Geneva to Elburn would be new mileage for me. I stopped at Auntie Anne's for a pretzel and a newsstand for a Coca-Cola before walking out to the train.

I walked down for a picture of the train before I boarded. We departed on time with me sitting back and relaxing as far as Geneva. We left Geneva and headed first to La Fox passing plenty of new homes and a large Baptist Church before we crossed a huge corn field. The train stopped at La fox then west of there continued across the rolling countryside passing a stopped eastbound UP coal train. Before Elburn we passed the new overnight layover facility for the Metra Trains on this line. Moments later we pulled into the new station at Elburn. I detrained for a few pictures.

Westbound train after it had arrived at Elburn.

Waiting to depart eastbound for Chicago.

The Elburn Station area is still under construction. I reboarded the train for the trip back to Chicago.

Right on time, we departed for Chicago.

A corn field between Elburn and La Fox.

The Fox River after our Geneva stop. I did a few more Major League Sudoku Puzzles which made the return trip go by faster. The train arrived back into Chicago and I walked back to Union Station. I went upstairs to Gold Coast for the usual Char Dogs and bought another Coca-Cola to make sure I would have plenty to get me home. I reclaimed my luggage and waited in the Metropolitan Lounge for my next train towards home. The Red Cap offered me a ride out to my sleeping car and when i saw the train it looked very familiar from this morning.

The consist of this train was P42DC 22, 179 and 190, Baggage 1221, Transition 39016, Sleepers 32025 and 32029, Diner 38016, Lounge 33011, Coaches 34097, 34000 and 34072 and Expresstrak 74067, 74070, 74100 and 74102. The same train as the Capitol Limited except that the P42DC 22 and Expresstrak Cars are new. The other new thing is on this train I'm riding in Sleeper 32025 Room 13 downstairs with Richard Ruiz as my Sleeping Car Attendant. Motley Crue "20th Century Masters" was put on before we departed on time. Before Aurora I had switched to Gun's N' Roses "Appetite for Destruction". Near MP 46 we came to a stop then started to back up through the crossover at MP 45.76. After the switch was thrown we took off on the South Track. We had to do that because a local was on the North Track.

A field in Illinois. I heard a familiar voice over the PA and when I to the lounge car I found Shirley Robinson who is the excellent LSA in the lounge car. I got a 5:45 PM Dinner Reservation but this crew is calling you in by name. Since someone else used Chris, I had to be Mr. Guenzler. Lets see if that name gets butchered. At 5:55 PM I went in and was seated with Annette who had eaten with me going east and her daughter Sarah and another passenger named Jo. We are all heading home and are all very happy to be doing that. I had Pork Shanks and Chocolate Bundt. After dinner I returned to my room.

Mississippi River bottom land as we neared our crossing of the Mississippi River.

We got stopped by a red signal as the drawbridge was up for a river barge. Remember river traffic always has the right away over trains. Once the bridge closed we got a green signal and we started across.

The Mississippi River looking north.

The Mississippi River looking south. After we had entered Iowa, we stopped for a fresh air stop at Fort Madison and a crew change. On the move again, I took a nice hot shower before I relaxed for the rest of the evening.

The Southwest Chief crossed the southeast corner of Iowa then entered Missouri. A tired Chris then made up his room and called it a night.

7/25/06 I awoke at 7:20 AM and discovered my watch had stopped and was dead as a door nail. I went to the Dining Car and was seated across from a passenger who was definitely in need a shower or good hosing. My French Toast was eaten much quicker than normal in order to get out of there.

Kansas this early morning west of Garden City.

More of western Kansas before we went into Colorado.

The wind turbine blade in Lamar now blocks the good view of the steam engine that had been on display there for years. "The Eyes of Alice Cooper" started this day off musically. Later we arrived into a very hot La Junta at 8:20 AM where I detrained for some fresh air during our crew change.

My Sleeping Car Attendant Richard Ruiz.

The gang from our sleeping car.

Leaving La Junta.

Santa Fe 1024 as we sped out of La Junta. My next bit of music was "The Final Temptation of Alice Cooper" as I read the Pueblo Chieftain.

The small hill on the way to Trinidad. Feeling tired I decided to take a nap. I slept past Raton.

The view looking west south of Wagon Mound.

Clouds building in the west.

Lone tree hill. Cheap Trick "Live at Budakon" was the next musical selection. Once that was done, I walked the train and said hello to a few coach passengers I knew. I read my new "The Buckeye Route - the Ohio Central Story" as I listened to the Scorpions "Blackout" which took us to Canyoncito where we met the eastbound Southwest Chief.

We dropped through Apache Canyon to Lamy. Prince "The Hits" took me all the way to hot Albuquerque and on the way there I got a 6 PM Dinner Reservation.

With over an hour to kill, after a picture of our train, I walked to a busy Cold Stone for a well deserved ice cream. On the way back I went by a long line of passengers waiting for the New Mexico Railrunner to take them home. I knew a train would have to come from their yard so I went passed our head end and waited.

The New Mexico Railrunner came in from its storage area towards the north end of the station where it will load and take people home north of Albuquerque. It was 99 degrees as we prepared to leave Albuquerque on time with me listening to Rob Quist and Jack Gladstone "Odyssey West." We reached Dalies, with one westbound waiting, an eastbound stopped beyond the junction east and another eastbound stopped west of the junction. We took the South Track and passed seven more eastbound trains stopped waiting to head east to Belen. Since the power had been off in Albuquerque, dinner times were delayed.

A view east of Grants, New Mexico. With it now being an hour after my dinner time, I asked Richard to bring my dinner to my room.

Some pre dinner pictures of the Red Mesas of New Mexico. We came to a stop at Thoreau at MP 128 for an eastbound stack train. I ate in my dinner during a rain shower enjoying Chicken Fried Steak which was excellent and a Chocolate Bundt. We next lost Head End Power {HEP} and I learned it was a cable between the Baggage Car and Transition Car. It happened just as I gotten in the shower which didn't work after the power was restored. I went back to my room and put on Blackmore's Night "The Village Lantern". By the third song we were back on the move west again. We then made our stop later at Gallup.

A few minutes later we entered Arizona and soon after I called it a night.

7/26/06 I woke up before Victorville, dressed and headed to the dining car. I was seated with Graham Blackburn, Edward and Eileen of the Great Rail Journey Group. I enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties.

Sunrise on the east side of Cajon Pass before I put on Blackmore's Night "Shadow of the Moon" for the trip down Cajon Pass from Summit to San Bernardino.

Metrolink train waits at San Bernardino during our last fresh air stop of this trip. The Moody Blues "Greatest Hits" took through Riverside and on towards Fullerton.

Curving into Esperanza in Santa Ana Canyon. With me going to miss a good connection in Los Angeles to a Surfliner, I decided to detrain at Fullerton in order to be home sooner. The Southwest Chief arrived into Fullerton at 8:05 AM {6:24 AM}.

I crossed over the bridge to Track 2 on the south side and found the phone didn't work. I recrossed to Track 1, used the phone then bought a Metrolink Ticket before crossing that bridge for the third time this morning and waited for Metrolink 800 which arrived into Fullerton five minutes early. We stopped at Anaheim and Orange prior to reaching Santa Ana where I had started this whole incredible rail experience from.

One last picture before I waited for my Mother to pick me up and we went to Main Photo to drop off the film before going home ending a great trip. I love it when a plan comes together.

[?]

Create your own free Rail Blog or Website! Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Sign up for our Newsletter