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This trip like the last one to Portland is just to get me more miles towards my millionth rail mile in late April. One trip on the Union Pacific was enough as my next two long distance trips would be over the BNSF Railroad. Fast track equals fast rail miles for me. I worked that short week, coached at the All City Santa Ana Intermediate Track Meet on Wednesday and still had plenty of time to pack light for this trip to Lamy. On Friday I drove down to the Santa Ana Train Station, parked in the northeast parking lot but detoured into the station before crossing that bridge to reach the east platform to wait for my train to Los Angeles.
Metrolink 610 came from Oceanside heading to LAUPT on what turned out to be a very cold and windy late February afternoon.
Surfliner 583 2/23/07
The Surfliner train came into Santa Ana with Cab Car 6903, Coaches 6412 and 6414, Coach/Cafe 6303 and Pacific Business Class 6806 with engine 461. I took a seat upstairs in the cab car.
At CP Lincoln we waited for Surfliner 582. I enjoyed the realigned tracks north of Santiago Creek for the future double tracking project. We made our way to Anaheim, known as the "Mouse's House!" then onto Fullerton.
Later at DT Junction we slowed for track work and I took this picture of the San Gabriel Mountains before we arrived into Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal on time. I walked down, over and up to Track 12 just as Southwest Chief Train 4 backed into LAUPT.
Southwest Chief 4 2/23/07The train backed into the station with engines 68 and 45, Baggage 1255, Sleepers 32047, 32093 Missouri and 32076 Delaware, Diner 38016, Lounge 33014, Coaches 34016 and 31042. I have Room 2 in the Delaware for this trip to Lamy. I settled into my room and put on "Queen I" on my CD player. I got a 7:15 PM Dinner Reservation. At Fullerton I stepped off for a minute just to say hello to a few railfans who hang out there to see the eastbound Southwest Chief go through. I went to the Dining Car and was seated with Carol and John going to Indiana. I was then asked to come to my sleeping car door and the train then started to move. I saw Chris Parker and waved to him just as we left Fullerton. Back into the Dining Car I went to enjoy the Pork Chop and Delicious Chocolate Cake. I walked back to the coaches after dinner finding two of my favorite people: Conductor Rosie and Car Attendant Gingi. We caught up with each other until our fresh air stop at San Bernardino.
The San Bernardino Station during the fresh air stop there. We departed on time and enjoyed the crossing of Cajon Pass from my darkened room listening to CD 1 of Led Zeppelin "How the West Was Won." Right before Victorville, I made up my room and called it a night.
2/24/07
I woke up east of Winslow after an excellent night of sleep. I
went to the Dining Car and was seated with Martha and Freida who are sisters who are traveling
to Albuquerque. I ordered the French Toast and sausage patties. Back in my room, I read the
Arizona Daily Sun and listened to CD 2 of that Led Zeppelin set as we headed towards New
Mexico. CD 3 took me over the Continental Divide.
Looking back at the Red Mesas. Next up was Blue Oyster Cult "Curse of the Hidden Mirror". At Suwanee we got stopped by a BNSF westbound stack train before we crossed over to take the south track to continue east. My next musical selection was Rush "Vapor Trails". We arrived into Albuquerque 15 minutes early. I detrained into a cold windy 36 degree afternoon and called Lets Talk Trains, the Internet Radio Show 10-1 Pacific Time or 24/7 in the archives. I learned that my westbound train was delayed by a dust storm and wouldn't arrive into Albuquerque until 7:30 tonight. No need to worry about making my connections in Lamy. I visited Cold Stone Creamery and then talked to Gingi on the platform before returning to the warmth of the train. It was frigid with that strong north wind blowing. We left Albuquerque on time with U2 "Pop" on my CD player for the trip to Lamy. We arrived in Lamy on time and I detrained.
The Southwest Chief left Lamy for points east. I learned that my westbound Southwest Chief had been stuck in Lamar having to wait for a new crew but the crew had a major task getting to their train due to closed roads from snow drifts and blowing snow.
The nice and warm Lamy Station my headquarters for my extended stay in Lamy.
I walked over to the Talladega, that railroad car now a part time restaurant for a pair of soft drinks. I called home to let my loved ones now that I'm alive and well but delayed in Lamy. Now is my time to say "Remember Every Trip is an Adventure!" Cheap Trick "Music for Hangovers" was the first of my delay music. The train had left La Junta 6 hours 17 minutes late. Later we learned that our train got recrewed at Las Vegas at 7:08 PM. ABBA "Rarities and Demos" was next. ETA into Lamy was now 8:15 PM. If that time happens, I might still get dinner on my train. I talked with Sandy, the wonderful Amtrak agent here in Lamy. I called Steve Grande of Trainweb.com and we discussed the trips so far. I went outside in the late afternoon light for a few pictures.
Looking west down the rails.
Looking east down the rails.
Ex Santa Fe wooden box car minus its trucks.
The Atlantic Coast Line Talladega now a restaurant. I went back inside to warm up before taking some more pictures.
Sunset in Lamy looking down the Santa Fe Southern tracks.
The old Lamy Church as the sun had set on this extremely cold and windy evening. Back in the warmth of the Lamy Station it became time for Queen "Sheer Heart Attack." I had finished reading Trains Magazine and switched to the new Passenger Train Journal. Besides reading, I did my Sukodu puzzles that really helped pass time on trains and during delays. Next up for me was Jethro Tull "Broadsword and the Beast".
The Lamy Station at night. Next musical choice was more Jethro Tull, but this time is was "Benefit".
At 8:10 PM we finally got a green signal.
I got bored, the moon.
Sandy, the friendly Amtrak agent in Lamy who kept us all well informed. I went outside and waited for a headlight to show up in the darkness from the east as that cold wind continued to howl.
Southwest Chief 3 2/24/07
A late train is always better than no train. I was tried as the Southwest Chief pulled into Lamy at 8:50 PM. I boarded this train that had a consist of engines 11 and 173, Baggage 1245, Transition 32045, Sleepers 32048 and 32068, Diner 38060, Lounge 33040 and Coaches 34109 and 34048. I boarded the 32068, a rebuilt sleeper and headed straight to the Dining Car as we left Lamy at 8:53 PM {2:24 PM}. The only thing they had left to eat was one Baked Chicken which was the one I guessed that no other passenger wanted. The chicken though was decent. I was then offered a Chocolate Bundt Cake for dessert but they were out of it as well. Paul Wilson was my Sleeping Car Attendant for this trip home. I took a shower before calling it a night before we reached Albuquerque at 9:53 PM and departed at 10:38 PM {4:45 PM}.
2/25/07
I woke up just short of Needles and got dressed.
The Needles Station, El Graces. We left Needles at 6:34 AM {12:49 AM} and started our morning trip across the Mojave Desert. I went to the Dining Car and was seated with Bob, Jill and Celia going from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Anaheim.
The Colorado River Valley with Arizona across the river. I enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties.
Climbing out of the Colorado River Valley to our first summit at Goffs.
Mountains to the north of Goffs. I visited with Conductor Rosie in the rear of the Dining Car.
Interesting rock strata to be seen in this land usually traveled through at night.
Between Cadiz and Amboy.
Looking south at the same location.
Amboy Crater and lava flow as we sped west towards Ash Hill.
Looking south a few minutes later.
Old volcanic crater east of Siberia. Now a trip over Ash hill.
Ash Hill is one of my favorite pieces of railroading.
Looking north just east of Ludlow where we crossed over to the south track.
A peak to the south as we climbed out of Ludlow.
Reaching the top of this grade just short of Lavic.
Looking south down another desert valley.
Pisgah Crater.
Hector Dry Lake.
Newberry Springs
Coolwater Solar Collection System.
Daggett, where the UP joins the BNSF for the trip over Cajon Pass. This was also the route of the former Desert Wind.
Marine Corps Logistics Base train engines just east of Barstow.
Santa Fe FP45 95 at the railroad museum at Barstow.
During a cold and windy fresh air stop at Barstow, the Casa Del Desierto. We departed Barstow at 9:08 AM {3:39 AM} and I decided to relisten to Jethro Tull "Benefit" as we headed to Victorville 9:48 AM {4:18 AM}.
The Upper Mojave Narrows.
The Frost Flyover as we started the climb over Cajon Pass.
Crossing over at Lugo.
Joshua Trees in the Summit Valley.
BNSF westbound in the Summit Hold Track.
A UP eastbound waited at the red signal at Summit for us to clear.
We dropped from the bright sunshine into the dark clouds.
Our train took the 3% South Track down a cloudy Cajon Pass. I put on the Young Dubliners "With All due Respect" as we headed for San Bernardino for another fresh air break.
The Metrolink Fleet at rest waiting for the Monday Morning Commuter Rush including a leased Sounder train set.
The San Bernardino Station.
A station scene as the checked baggage for the San Joaquin Bus that would be connecting with the Coast Starlight in Northern California. We departed San Bernardino at 11:11 AM {5:32 AM}.
The Miller Honey Caboose at Rana.
Former Union Pacific Station at Colton.
Crossing the former Southern Pacific Sunset Route. I put on Guns N' Roses "Appetite For Destruction". We departed Riverside at 11:29 AM {5:53 AM}.
Passing through Corona with houses reaching the boundary of the Cleveland National Forest on the Santa Ana Mountains.
Crossing the Santa Ana River Bridge in Santa Ana Canyon.
Signal Bridge in the canyon.
The Santa Ana River in Santa Ana Canyon.
Rounding the Horseshoe Bend in Santa Ana Canyon before we reached Fullerton.
I shot this picture of the Fullerton Station as I talked with my good and dear friend Chris Parker who came to see me come through. We departed Fullerton at 12:17 PM {6:34 AM} as the Southwest Chief made its final sprint into Los Angeles Union Passenger Station. Now we get to see just how much padding is in this schedule going into LAUPT. The Spice Girls "Spiceworld" took me the rest of the way to LAUPT.
Crossing the Flyover before we arrived into LAUPT at 12:49 PM {8:15 AM} or 4 hours and 34 minutes late. Padding was over an hour in the schedule to make this train a little bit less late. This ends a very interesting trip aboard the Southwest Chief.
The Southwest Chief at final rest at LAUPT. I walked over to Track 7 to wait to board a Metrolink Train for home.
Metrolink 656 2/25/07
Using my Amtrak Monthly Pass, I boarded this Weekend Orange County Line Service for home instead of waiting for Surfliner 578 at 2:00 PM. We departed LAUPT on time at 1:30 PM and headed south.
Union Pacific freight along the Los Angeles River.
Amtrak Turntable with the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 under the tarp.
The Los Angeles River from the Flyover.
Railpower Green Goat at the BNSF Commerce Fueling Facility. We stopped at Norwalk, passed through the future Buena Park Station, Fullerton, Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana where I detrained ending another very interesting train trip.
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