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Heading East to get to the 2006 NRHS Convention

Every year at the NRHS Convention, like last year in Portland, I sign up and pay the ten dollar pre registration fee. This insures me the first chance at getting my Convention Registration Brochure for the NRHS Buckeye Rails 2006 Convention in New Philadelphia, Ohio early. Once you get it, you pick your events and mail it off the same day. In this case, I got everything I paid for which was "The American", "Cuyahoga Valley Classic", "The Cincinnati Limited", "Social Hour and Banquet", "The Buckeye" and the "Morgan Run Shop Tour". Later, once they announced a train ride was included I signed up the "Optional Return via the Minerva Steam Museum". Chris Parker also decided to go and he would fly back and get the rental car due to time constraints. As always I would take the train but to where, Cleveland or Pittsburgh? I checked the arrival times into both cities. Cleveland had times of 12:36 AM for Train 30 for the Capitol Limited or 4:02 AM for Train 48 the Lake Shore Limited. Pittsburgh only had one choice. 4:00 AM on the Capitol Limited. Since there were other railroads I wanted to ride east of Pittsburgh it won out. Steve Grande assisted me in getting my tickets for this trip. Once I knew I got what I wanted at the convention, we then got my Amtrak tickets Santa Ana to Pittsburgh and return. I planned to get to Pittsburgh on July 14th, so now I could work on arranging some pre convention trips. I contacted the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and that was a go. Sand Patch Grade could be done after we ride this railroad. Next, I contacted the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad and that was a go. After that trip the Horseshoe Curve could be done. The East Broad Top Railroad would be done with a stay that night at the Tunnel Inn in Cresson, PA. On the way to New Philadelphia a stop at Washington, PA at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Hotels were then all taken care of and I was all set. After the convention, a round trip on the Pennsylvanian to Altoona would be done before heading home. It should be a great trip.

For once on a day that one of my trips started, I got to relax at home before being driven down to the Santa Ana Train Station to take a ten minutes late running Surfliner 583.

The new northbound canopies at Santa Ana had all been tiled.

The bridge towers are still being worked on. Metrolink 686 for Irvine came in that was to be followed by Surfliner 583. They told us to wait on the middle platform.

Surfliner 582 came in first so it was weird standing in the middle. I found some shade under the new bridge they are still building at this point since I was riding Pacific Business Class.

The train pulled into Santa Ana about ten minutes late and I took downstairs seat #1 in Car 6807. This push train had Cab Car 6800, Coaches 6408 and 6812, Coach/Cafe 6803, Pacific Business Class 6807 with engine 464. I enjoyed a Coca-Cola as the train made its way to Anaheim and Fullerton with me doing Major League Sukodu Puzzles. The train made its way to Los Angeles Union Station after seeing one of the Sounder trainsets head east for San Bernardino.

The Southwest Chief was already on Track 12 and we came in on Track 10. I found a luggage cart before doing the down under over and up to the right track. This track had P-42DC's 74, 99 and 69, Baggage 1755, Transition 39045, Sleepers 32030 and 32047, Diner 38011, Lounge 32032 and Coaches 34085, 34065 and 34056. No express cars on the rear, yeah!

I boarded the 32047 and had Room 6 with Efren as my sleeping car attendant. I relaxed in my room reading the USA Today until an on time departure. The book for this trip was "A Life on the Road" by Charles Kuralt. We paused at Bandini to let Metrolink 706 cruise by west before we entered the south track for Fullerton.

At Fullerton for the first time ever we used the South Platform.

A view looking back at the Fullerton Station where we usually stop. I had received a 7:45 PM Dinner Reservation and was seated with George and Linda heading to Buffalo then onto Woodstock, Ontario. Also dining with me was Robert going to Cincinnati then onto DC and Danville. I had a Pork Chop and Chocolate Bundt. Dinner Conversations were excellent. Later I took a fresh air break at San Bernardino. As I was enjoying the climb over Cajon Pass Conductor Dave Arthur stopped by for a catch up visit before I called it a night.

7/12/06 I woke up just before we crossed Canyon Diablo. At 6:30 AM I went to the Dining Car and had breakfast with Tom and Annette both heading to Chicago. I had French Toast and sausage which hit the spot. As the Chief passed though Hollbrook I started listening to both CD's of "Carl Palmer Band Working Live" as I enjoyed the first Coca-Cola of the morning. I read a chapter of my book then did a Sudoku Puzzle then alternated as the train rolled out of Arizona and headed into New Mexico. We paused in Gallup and later walked back to the rear door of our train. On the way back to my room, I stopped to talk with Gingi, one of the excellent coach attendants on the Southwest Chief. Back in the room, the Scorpions "Blackout" was the next musical selection that was followed by Metallica "Master of Puppets". Efren came by passing out both lunch and dinner reservations with me selecting only a 5 PM Dinner evening meal seating. We arrived into Albuquerque over an hour early.

The Southwest Chief at rest at Albuquerque.

Work on the new New Mexico Railrunner platform. They added Expresstrak 74064 to the rear of our train so no semaphores pictures on this trip. It was a hot day in Albuquerque so I waited outside in the shade during our layover. After a southbound New Mexico Railrunner came in and discharged its passengers, the Southwest Chief departed Albuquerque on time. I continued the book and Sudoku Puzzles listening to Billy Squire "Greatest Hits". Lamy and Apache Canyon passed by with me listening to the "Eyes of Alice Cooper" enjoying the USA Today. Next the Moody Blues "Greatest Hits" as we stopped in Las Vegas and continued eastward. In Shoemaker Canyon we encountered a rain shower that gave the area an eerie look.

On the way to Raton the clouds parted as we sped across the high plains. At 5 PM I went to the Dining Car and was seated with Rodney going to a Bridge Tournament along with Donnas and Joe going to Columbus, Indiana.

I enjoyed the Roast Chicken with no veggies and another Chocolate Bundt.

Climbing Raton Pass we passed a BNSF freight. After that picture, I put on Blackmore's Night "Shadow of the Moon" as we plunged into the Raton Tunnel, entered Colorado and descended to Trinidad.

BNSF 4306 East waited for us to pass, then would follow us east to La Junta. Next up to listen to was Blackmore's Night "The Village Lantern" which took me east to La Junta our next fresh air stop. At La Junta I walked over to Safeway for more Coca-Cola while a smoker who cussed out our assistant conductor then refused to show his ID or ticket receipt was removed by the local police. He had outstanding warrants. He was going from San Diego to New York but would be spending some time in La Junta. The Southwest Chief left La Junta and headed east out into the night. About twenty minutes east of La Junta we came to a sudden stop and the Head End Power {HEP} went out. At 8:55 PM we started moving again. The problem was a broken air hose which our new crew fixed very quickly. Any time you work under the train you always turn off the HEP. With that done, I called it a night.

7/13/06 I got up at 6:30 AM and went to the Dining Car for breakfast with Annette, George and Jeanne. I had my usual French Toast and sausage patties. We were held at Holiday before we went through the BNSF Argentine Yard on the north side.

The BNSF Glacier View and other BNSF cars were added to our train while our engines were refueled.

A Ferromax engine went west as we rolled towards Kansas City.

A BNSF freight waited to follow us east.

The rear of our train at Santa Fe Junction, Kansas. We arrived at Kansas City and I took a walk on that very hot humid morning to get all those BNSF car numbers. BNSF 77 {HEP Car} 800665, BNSF 66 Cajon Pass 800663, BNSF 7 Santa Fe 800637 and BNSF 30 Glacier View 800675. I returned to the coolness of my room to enjoy a Coca-Cola. We departed Kansas City at 8:46 AM {7:45 AM}.

We left the KC Metro area behind us and at Sibley, our train takes a big curve before we crossed the Missouri River.

Crossing the Missouri River. After that, I put on the two CD's of Keith Emerson "Hammer It Out" as the train crossed Missouri. I finished the book just west of La Plata where Trainweb.com and Trainparty.com will be moving in the near future. In fact I spotted the building as we passed through town. Later we did a fresh air stop at Madison, Iowa.

The Mississippi River.

Crossing the Mississippi River.

Looking north at America's Great River.

Later at Cameron, a BNSF freight waited for us to enter the old CB&Q mainline to run into Galesburg. The freight would follow us into town.

Emerson lasted until we had departed Galesburg so next up was the two CD's of Cheap Trick "Live at Budakon" which should get me near Chicago.

Myself right before we crossed of the former C&NW line to St Louis.

At Princeton, the CB&Q Caboose 13593 is on display east of the station. I went to the lounge car until they closed it at Naperville.

The table end of the Sightseer Lounge Car.

The viewing area of the car with a group who didn't follow the directions to leave.

New tables with the Amtrak emblem on it and cup holder. We pulled straight into Chicago Union Station arriving at 3:50 PM {3:20 PM} ending an excellent restful Amtrak trip to Chicago.

I checked into the Metropolitan Lounge and stored my bags. I went upstairs to the Food Court to Gold Coast for a Char Dog. That was followed by a stop at Metra to get a Union Pacific West Line Schedule for the trip out to Elburn on my return visit to Chicago on my return trip. I reclaimed my bags, had an orange juice and waited for Train 30 to board.

We all walked out the back door of the lounge to Platform 20 where I boarded the Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh. I detrained for a picture of our train then walked the length of the train to get the consist. This edition had P-42DC's 199 and 193, Baggage 1127, Transition 39018 {rooms sold}, Sleepers 32050 and 32031, Diner 38055, Lounge 33014 with Coaches 34063, 34117 and 31043. My Sleeping Car Attendant is Mr. Kinney and I have Room 2. At 5:30 PM they called me in for dinner. I enjoyed a Pork Chop and Sweet Temptation Chocolate Cake. For this meal I was joined by Paul and Lillian.

A damaged cabbaged unit in Chicago.

Lake Michigan.

Steel plant engine.

Another steel plant engine coming out of the building.

EJ&E engines in their Gary Yard. I settled into my room listening to Prince "The Hits". The train would sped up then slowed down losing time so it will be interesting to see how much time we lose to South Bend.

My sleeper is a rebuilt so here are some views of the upstairs bathroom. A South Shore Train zoomed by westbound as we neared South Bend. We arrived into South Bend at 9:17 PM {8:03 PM} and I made up my room for the night. We had a medical emergency onboard in the second coach which delayed our departure. I went to bed wondering what time I would be getting to Pittsburgh?

7/14/06 Mr. Kinney woke me up at 5:10 AM, twenty minutes out of Pittsburgh as the train made up some time during the night. I packed up, took my stuff downstairs and enjoyed an orange juice before we arrived into Pittsburgh at 5:33 AM {4:00 AM}. I detrained then walked out in front of the station to wait for Chris Parker to arrive to pick me up.

At 6:45 AM Chris pulled up to the Amtrak Station in a Chevy HRR and we loaded my stuff up. We then made our escape from Pittsburgh. We were delayed because there is a no left hand turn sign at the station exit and by not being able to make a left that would have taken us easily to the freeway out of town, we had to find another longer way out of town . The good news we did get to see a lot of Pittsburgh on the way to the US 22 Freeway. We took the Pennsylvanian Turnpike for $5.50 to Bedford.

The view of the road east before we stopped at a Sheetz Gas Station for some snacks. Once off the turnpike, we turned south on US 220 to Cumberland for our first new train trip of this journey, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

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