For my Spring 2006 trip I wanted to use my Amtrak Guest Reward Points one way and wanted to get the most for the points. I checked Baseball schedules hoping to catch at least one game along the way. I wanted to return to Philadelphia as SEPTA had routes I hadn't done yet. The River Line could be worked in and that would mean a trip on PATCO that I hadn't ridden. That Princeton Line on New Jersey Transit could be worked in and then in New York I would have my choice of new lines to ride. I called Guest Rewards and learned the passenger doesn't get to choose the routing only the computer does. That meant one Southwest Chief Trip for sure. The computer then had me on the Lake Shore limited until I asked if there was another departure time from New York I could take. She said 9:25 AM and I took it. A Viewliner Sleeper on the Cardinal and a Superliner Roomette on the Southwest Chief would be my westbound choices. That meant a Wednesday departure for New York City would allow a New York Mets Game Tuesday night. With the westbound leg done, I went to Santa Ana where my excellent night time Amtrak agent Marty booked me coach with a great fare which I paid for on the spot. She then booked my Sleeping Car space on the Southwest Chief and Capitol Limited with a Corridor Train getting me to Philadelphia. A pair of Keystone Trains would get me to New York City on that Tuesday. I would use my usual Herald Square Hotel in the Big Apple but needed to find a new hotel for Philadelphia. After searching On-line for about an hour I found the Holiday Inn Express in downtown to be perfect for what I needed to do. Simplified Dining was announced meaning my last steak dinner would be on the Southwest Chief on April 13th as it was schedule to be switched over April 15th. Over the next months I paid for the Sleeping Car rooms and did the other trips on the web site before that big day arrived.

To say that I was ready for this trip would have been an under statement. My Mother drove me down to the Santa Ana Train Station and I talked with Marty my outstanding night agent at Santa Ana before I walked out onto the balcony overlooking the tracks.

Metrolink Train 686 came into Santa Ana heading to Irvine.

Minutes later, Surfliner 583 came in to take me to Los Angeles. I took a seat in a Superliner Coach and then found Pablo who shared a seat with me to LAUPT. The train stopped in Anaheim and Fullerton before making its way to Los Angeles Union Station early. I planted myself on a bench and waited for the Southwest Chief to back into LAUPT.

I went to the Dining Car to ask for a reservation and when I said I came off the Surfliner and never went inside the station she gave me a table to sit at. I learned the Dinner Reservations are given out by Customer Service in LA when passengers show there tickets and IDs to check in. I was seated with Donna going to Kansas City and Rodney going to Phoenix. I ordered a Pork Chop, Baked Potato and no veggies. The plates are plastic but look like the regular dining car china. The glasses are plastic but we do have silverware. So now was my first Simplified Dining meal on Amtrak?

The Pork Chop was surprisingly delicious.

The Chocolate Cake hit the spot. Good conversation was had during the meal and overall it was just like eating in the dining car on any other trip. I returned to my room to listen to some music in this case Jeff Beck "Wired". The train stopped in Fullerton during dinner and later did Riverside and San Bernardino where I took a fresh air stop. I called it a night as the train climbed Cajon Pass as I made up my bed and climbed in.

4/14/06
I slept really well the first night and woke up east of Flagstaff. I returned the room to day configuration and enjoyed the train as it traveled through the transition zone from forest to desert. After Canyon Diablo they announced breakfast over the PA system instead of you just walking in. That announcement should wake up the entire train. I was seated with Jim and Maylene from Phoenix heading to Michigan and Beth going to Lansing, Michigan.

I had French Toast and Turkey Sausage Links. The links were not as good as when they are cooked on a grill. More interesting conversations including a discussion of Jackie Chan. I returned to my room for John Wetton "Chasing the Dragon". As we arrived into Gallup a BNSF train crew using remote control derailed three cars across the yard tracks.

Gallup, New Mexico before I walked back and talked with Pablo who had a good night sleep in coach. We crossed the Continental Divide with me in my room listening to Deep Purple "Come Hell or High Water". I was enjoying the scenery as I read my May 2006 Railfan and Railroading Magazine. The Southwest Chief went around four eastbound BNSF freights before Grants where two westbounds were waiting our passage.

I napped and then later had a freight train delay before we left the BNSF mainline and later crossed the Rio Grande River. We arrived into Albuquerque at 12:24 PM.

New Mexico Railrunner will be a future commuter service between Belen, Albuquerque and Bernalillo that will start this summer.

I walked into town for a six pack of Coca-Cola to keep me well stocked for this trip.

Back at trackside, the Indian Vendors were hard at work selling their goods.

A picture of the Southwset Chief at Albuquerque. I returned to my room to read ESPN Magazine and listening to Ozzy Osbourne "Tribute". We had to wait for the BNSF 5281 West to pulled into ABQ before we could leave which we did at 1:30 PM and set forth off to Lamy. After Lamy it was time for Ian Anderson "Secret Language of Birds". A red signal at the west end of Canyoncito stopped us briefly before we went into the siding to met the westbound nine car Southwest Chief. We climbed the rest of the Gloreita Pass grade then dropped to the Pecos River. Next musical was Prince "The Hits 1"."

The Southwest Chief took the "S" curves at Chapple". I got a 5:15 PM Dinner Reservation but instead of giving you a slip they now call you name over the PA System. I think the old way with slips would make for a more peaceful train.

The La Castenda at Las Vegas during our station stop there. At 5:15 PM they called us in and was seated with Beth again, Amy going to Raton and Aubery going to New York City.

There was no Braised Beef selection tonight so I had the Pork Chop again with Chocolate Cake which was another full filling meal as we closed in on Raton. "Tales of the Crystal Flute" was my next musical number for this early evening.

The Raton Sign high above the town. We climbed the Raton Pass, passed through the Raton Tunnel then by the state line marker into Colorado. We dropped down the grade to Trinidad where six people were kicked off the train. I walked back to give Pablo the ESPN magazine.

East of Trinidad the western sky got interesting. We made our way to La Junta, a fresh air stop before I made up my bed for the night.

4/15/06 I woke up just before Holiday, Kansas and was in the Dining Car when we stopped at the Argentine fuel Pads. I was seated with Bob from Portland, Carol from Naperville and Jay going to Washington, DC.

French Toast and Sausage Patties this morning before we arrived into Kansas City where I detrained.

Anne Rutledge Train 314.

Views of the Southern Pacific 745 and train on display.

Views of Kansas City Union Station.

View of the Southern Pacific 745.

The Southwest Chief Train 4 at Kansas City. I returned to my room for a well deserved rest after all that exercise. We departed Kansas City on time and I slept all the way through to La Plata, Missouri. I took a shower before sitting in the lounge car while my room was being made up. The train crossed the rolling hills of Missouri into Iowa to Fort Madison. Fort Madison, a fresh air stop. We crossed the Mississippi River and entered Illinois. ABBA "Live" continued me onto Galesburg. I called Lets Talk Trains, the Internet Radio Show, every Saturday 10-12 AM PDT or today for me 12 to 2 PM CDT or 24/7 in the achieves and told them about the "Simplified Dining Car Experience" that I have so far on this trip.

During our station stop at Galesburg, the CB&Q 4-6-4 3006 on display there. The train made its way to Princeton and Mendota. Before Aurora a minor mechanical problem which was an air leak which really was taken care of quickly. We stopped in Naperville. A special thank you to Simon, the wonderful Sleeping Car Attendant, Jennie, the Dining Car Steward and Gwen our fantastic server plus our great chef Daryl who prepared all those meals by himself. We slowly made our way into Chicago due to red signals and pulled straight into Chicago Union Station at 3:48 PM.

I checked into the Metropolitan Lounge and checked my bags in before heading to the Food Court.

At Gold Coast I ordered a Char Dog that really hit the spot. Next I went by Metra to pick up a set of current timetables for all lines.

I wandered over to the Grand Hall to get these pictures. On the way back to the lounge, I stopped off at the Ticket Counter to get a National Timetable so I would know my options in DC tomorrow. Back in the lounge I relaxed until it was time to claim my luggage and they called my train.

At 4:54 PM a Red Cap asked me if I wanted help with my bags to the train and since no one else took him up on it I did. We rode out to the train and I got most of the consist of my train on Track 20. At the door of Car 32110 I met John Fox, my Sleeping Car Attendant for this trip to Washington, DC. We had P42DC's 155 and 82, Baggage 1164, Transition 39030, Sleepers 32090 Michigan and 32110 Tennessee, Diner 38016, Lounge 33003, Coaches 34048, 34041 and 34020 with Express Trak 74089 on the rear end. I had room 3 and then introduced myself to our conductor for the first part of this trip. We departed Chicago Union Station on time and headed out of town with me listening to Mick Jagger "Goddess in the Doorway". I got a 7 PM Dinner Reservation on Chicago Time as we entered Indiana and passed the steel mills of Gary with its forlorn Gary Station now just a shell of its former glory. The music was switched to Alice Cooper "Dirty Diamonds". Near Pine Junction we ran into the first freight train congestion of this trip. At 7 PM I was joined by Bob and Mary Ellen heading to Pittsburgh but they live in Wheeling, West Virginia.

I had the Braised Beef.

Mary Ellen ordered the chicken.

Bob had the Pork Chop.

I had the Chocolate Cake for my desert. While we ate I learned a lot from Bob and Mary Ellen about Wheeling. During the meal with stopped at South Bend and I was back in my darken room by Elkhart where I called it a night.

4/16/06 I awoke at Pittsburgh and decided to step off for a picture before we departed at 6:28 AM.

Early morning in Pittsburgh. Soon after departure I went to the dining Car for breakfast as the train headed east into a colorful sunrise. I was joined by Jay going to DC and Mary going to Silver Springs, Florida.

I enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties before returning to my room for additional sleep until near Connersville.

Connersville.

Connersville.

CSX at Connellsville.

The Youghiogenhy River. It was a very beautiful and peaceful trip through the canyon. The old Western Maryland bridge and grade came into view before we proceeded to Confluence.

Confluence, Pennsylvania. Our route has now been following the Casselman River.

The Capitol Limited along the Casselman River.

Windmill on a hill.

Capitol Limited took a curve.

Former Western Maryland trestle.

Former Western Maryland bridge as we neared Sand Patch.

The Summit of the Alleghenies Mountain Sign.

The Sand Patch Summit Tunnels before we passed through it.

Capitol Limited descending the east flank of Sand Patch. At Fairhope the fisherman were out in force.

Hyndman, PA. Coming into Cumberland I saw the Western Maryland Scenic tracks that I will be riding on July 14th. Join me on that day if you want to meet me in person.

CSX freight in Cumberland.

CSX power at Cumberland. The toilets went out in our car after leaving Cumberland so I would have to go to the next sleeper to conduct my business. Someone had stuffed paper towels down the toilets and one being out affects the whole plumbing system of the car.

A B&O Tunnel.

Ever been in a tunnel that is in another state than you are on the train? I have! The tunnel portals are both in West Virginia but inside in the dark you are in Maryland.

MARC commuter power lays over the Easter Weekend.

The Martinsburg old B&O Roundhouse. We then headed towards Harper Ferry. Since the Dining Car wasn't doing lunch I went to the lounge car for a Hot Dog. We then arrived into Harpers Ferry and I looked for the Hilltop House where I had stayed on my first cross country train ride.

Looking across the Potomac River at Maryland.

The etching on the rocks.

Looking back west at West Virginia, the Potomac River and the Hilltop House.

B&O Canal.

Point of Rocks Station. We made our way to Rockville then made the final miles into Washington Union Station arriving there at 2:06 PM{11:30 AM}.

Washington Union Station-Club Acela 4/16/06

I was first off the Capitol Limited trying to get on Regional 156 but the conductor told me to go exchange my ticket. I went to the ticket counter but learned the 156 was sold out. I had forgotten it was Easter Sunday. I headed to Club Acela. Once I had checked in, I tried both of their computers but neither of them worked. With time to kill. I will give you a photo tour of Club Acela in Washington Union Station.

The front counter at Club Acela.

Views around Club Acela.

The self serve beverage area. I relaxed until my boarding time for my train to Philadelphia. I called Steve Grande of Trainweb.com to report on this trip so far. I talked to the Club Attendent and showed him my web site which he enjoyed looking at. I left him as he was enjoying my Tribute to Amtrak on my home page. I sat down and just mentally prepared myself for my last train ride to Philadelphia.

Regional Train 168 4/16/06

I walked out the west door of Club Acela at 3:06 PM and made my way out to track 10 boarding Amfleet Coach 21704. This train consisted of AME7 921, Business Coach 44706, Cafe 43352, Coaches 21150, 21704, 82524, 82523. 82541 and 44279 bringing up the markers. I was looking forward to this trip being aboard Amfleet again after a few years to Philadelphia. We departed Washington Union Station on time and sped to New Carrolton followed shortly by BWI Airport where passengers detraining had to be in the front five cars. On the way to Baltimore a motor scooter had been placed between the rails in our path but when we got there a young man and women were standing off of the tracks with it. We entered the First and Second Baltimore Tunnels where work was taking place on the east track before we stopped at Baltimore. Since this is Easter Sunday with heavy passenger boarding our conductor said to throw the timetable out the window and we would get there when we get there. It was a beautiful Spring afternoon as we crossed the arms of Chesapeake Bay along our route. The train ran non stop to Wilmington, Delaware then made the sprint to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia where I detrained very happy to be there.

Philadelphia-Club Acela 4/16/06

I went up into the 30th Street station and found the entrance to Club Acela up on the 2nd Floor. I used my Guest Reward Select Plus Card to gain entry and once inside decide to have a look around Club Acela.

There are several computer terminals passengers can use.

Very nice comfortable chairs await travelers in Club Acela.

The room overlooks the station like the Club Acela in Boston. I used the computer and checked my E-mail. This Club Acela has plenty of room and is well stocked for passengers use. I went to the SEPTA Ticket Window told their agent what I wanted to do in Philadelphia. She sold me Day Passes which I bought two of for my two day visit to Philadelphia. I took a SEPTA Train over to Market East then walked to the Holiday Inn Express where I checked in and put my stuff in the room before going out to ride SEPTA.

Part 2 Riding SEPTA, River Line and PATCO.



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