|
|
|
|
4/19/06 Up with a wake up call, I repacked before checking out. I walked the four blocks back to Penn Station and headed straight to Club Acela.
Club Acela Penn Station 4/19/06
Welcome to Club Acela Penn Station.
After taking the final picture in Club Acela, I relaxed with a Cinnamon Roll and Orange Juice. After that, I walked across the street to the Post Office to mail the pair of Post Cards.
On my way back to Penn Station, I stopped for a picture of New York with taxi cabs hurrying about during rush hour. Back inside Penn station I picked up some New Jersey Transit timetables then went down stairs to the Long Island Railroad for a set of their timetables. I returned to Club Acela, watched the Today Show and relaxed. At 9:11 AM they called for passengers for Train 51.
Cardinal 51 4/19/06since I wasn't pre boarded I had to go down the escalator with all the other passengers. Ny sleeping car was on the rear and we came down by the front coach so I decided to get the consist on the way to my sleeping car. We had electric engine HHP-8 664, Coaches 25034, 25101 and 25094, Horizon Dinette 53509 and Viewliner Sleeper 62030 Patriot View. I met my Sleeping Car Attendant M. Evans and stored my bags in my room.
I walked down for a picture of our train at Penn Station. Back in the room, I was the lone passenger in the car when we left New York. I set up my room prior to our on time departure from Penn Station. I went back to the rear door to start taking pictures but would have to deal with dirty windows.
Views of my Viewliner Sleeper.
Leaving Penn Station with a Long Island train in this view.
After exiting the Hudson River Tunnel into New Jersey.
Seacus Station in the New Jersey Meadowlands was built as a transfer station between their New York and Hoboken Rail Lines.
Trains near Hudson before we made our way to Newark. From here I just sat back and relaxed as the train sped down the Northeast Corridor. Later we sped through Princeton Jct before we paused briefly at Trenton for some unknown reason then headed to Philadelphia.
Crossing the Sckuykill River.
Zoo Tower from the low route before we pulled into 30th Street Station.
Leaving 30th Street Station before we ran to Wilmington.
Crossing the Susquehanna River at Havre de Grace. I went to the Dinette for lunch. Because of the cheese on all of the sandwiches I couldn't eat anything off the lunch menu. When I suggested something off the cafe menu they agreed to give it to me. I received Chicken Wings, Potato Chips and a Mug Root Beer.
I dressed up my plate and it turned out to be an excellent meal. Going 125 MPH during the meal really enhanced the Dinette experience. I showed the picture to the attendant who said if she every prepared this meal again she would set it up like I did. I walked out a happy and satisfied passenger as we neared Baltimore.
Exiting from the first Baltimore Tunnel before we arrived into Penn Station Baltimore.
The 3rd Tunnel.
The 4th Tunnel.
Just before Bowie we passed the noon Acela Express 2164 departure from Washington to Boston before we made our way to Washington Union Station.
Here the 664 was removed and replaced by the P-42DC 134.
While I was enjoying the fresh air, a Virginia Rail Express Train for Fredericksburg with ex Metra Bi-level Cars from Chicago came and went.
AME7 934 looked to good not to photograph during our layover. We departed on time and plunged into the Capitol Tunnel.
A few minutes later, we exited the tunnel out into a beautiful clear Spring afternoon.
The last of the planned pictures for this trip was when we crossed the Potomac River into Virginia. Thank God that CSX freight cleared the bridge in time for my pictures. Now I get to sit back and relax since I had documented this route in my "A Return to the New River Gorge" story. Travel tip, this route is best taken Eastbound when the light is perfect in the New River Gorge. Westbound you don't get to the Gorge until after dark. I put on Yes "The Endless Dream" as we arrived at Alexandria. South of here Spring has come with the trees showing their new leaves on our way down the Norfolk Southern to Manassas and Culpepper. I met Ronald Dick and his wife who is Vice President Coastal Region of the National Railway Historical Society heading to a national Meeting in Indianapolis. We reached Orange leaving the NS for the Buckingham Branch Railroad that we ride off to the CSX mainline. CSX has leased off this section of railroad to the Buckingham Branch Railroad which we took to Gordonsville. Once we were back on the CSX mainline we picked up speed to Charlottesville Station where we enjoyed a fresh air break.
The Cardinal at Charlottesville. The Charlottesville Station which serves both the Crescent on the NS and the Cardinal on the CSX.
Crossing the former Southern Mainline{NS} with the Charlottesville Station behind. Next musical selection was Led Zeppelin "How the West was Won".
At EE Ivy we held the mainline for the on time eastbound Cardinal.
The Staunton Station on this nice sunny Virginia afternoon. At 5 PM the Steward took my dinner order and I would eat at 5:30 PM. I was seated with Nancy and Eddie going to Wenatchee, Washington.
We all selected the Braised Beef which was good and had a Key Lime Pie for desert which I was enjoying as we left Clifton Forge. It was the beautiful evening as the Cardinal climbed the east slope of the Alleghenies as we went through Covington.
The first tunnel.
Ox Cabin as we climbed higher on the grade.
Tunnels before MP 303.
The Lewis Tunnel.
Passing through the Allegheny Tunnel and we are now in West Virginia.
The White Sulphur Springs Station was my last picture of the day as we were losing daylight. I would now be in relax mode the rest of the day. We stopped at the flag stop of Alderson before passing through the Great Bend Tunnel prior to reaching Hinton in the twilight of this great day.
We ran by Sandstone Falls. I made up my bed and just look out of my darken room to enjoy as much of the New River Gorge that I could before darkness took complete hold of the night. Once it was total darkness I called it a night.
4/20/06 After sleeping soundly and having a fantastic dream where I was the new Doctor Who who had to rescue five other Doctor Who by going back through time in a plot involving the Master, Daleks and Cebermen. It was quite a vivid and clear dream being one dream I won't forgot for a while. I awoke at Indianapolis and headed to the Dinette as the Cardinal left this town on time.
I enjoyed a French Toast, County Ham, Orange Juice and Tea. Rob was my wonderful server for all my meals on the Cardinal.
An Indiana sunrise. I took a shower and then sat back to enjoy the vistas of "Scenic Indiana" pass by outside my window. We stopped at Crawfordville and Lafayette with me listening to Chicago "If you leave me now." Styx "Live 2001" took me north to Rensselaer after we made a left turn at Monon.
Rolling down the former Monon Railroad towards Dyer. Next the Scorpions "Live Bites" got me close to Chicago.
We switched onto the ex Grand Trunk Western{CN} and passed a CN freight on the way to our Union Pacific connection at Thornton Jct.
At Thornton Jct a red signal greeted us to the Union Pacific Railroad as a stack train was passing going south.
A look back onto the CN. The UP kept delaying us with no apparent reasons before we got onto Metra Trackage for the final run to Chicago Union Station.
OSS 4297 switching stack cars before we neared Union Station. We got stopped first to let the Capitol Limited pass so it could be wyed before it arrived at Union Station. Next Metra 811 heading to 179th Street in Orland Park. We ran straight into Chicago Union Station arriving at 10:54 AM{10:40 AM}
My final picture of the Cardinal in Chicago.
Chicago 4/20/06I checked in at the Chicago Metropolatan Lounge and put my luggage into storage. I bought a Metra round trip ticket to Bensenville on Train 2215.
I visited Gold Coast for a pair of Char Dogs which tasted so good before heading to the north platforms to find my train to Bensenville.
Metra 2215 4/20/06
I had two other options today had we got in early. One was to ride to the new stations of La Fox and Elburn on the Union Pacific West Line. My second option was that Metra 811 that we gotten stopped by coming into Chicago going to Orland Park. When neither of those could be done I choose Bensenville. I came up with Bensenville with an hour layover between trains I thought I might catch some freight action. I took a picture of our train before we left on time. Since I had covered this line several times I would just sit back and enjoy the ride of Metra to Bensenville. Once we arrived I decided to take a walk. I remembered I had taken a picture of a steam engine on display in this town near the large water tower so I decided to walk down to find it. About a quarter mile down the road from the station there it was.
The whole display train on display.
Chicago Gravel Co. 0-6-0 18.
Milwaukee Road Mt. St. Helena.
Milwaukee Road Caboose 992114. Satisfied I walked back to the station to use the phone but found it broken. A few minutes the east crossing gates went down.
CEFX AC 4000 1017 which had pulled west with a cut of cars which it dropped off in the yard was now waiting for a signal to head east. While I was waiting for my Metra 2236 two units of the Bensenville Police and a Canadian Pacific Railroad Police Officer showed up to talk with two guys at the west end of the platform.
Metra 2217 showed up two minutes before my return train to Chicago.
Metra 2236 4/20/06
I was feeling really tired before my train arrived so this will be a kick back trip as well. Franklin Park will make a better place to watch trains as all transfers to other railroads would pass through here plus the restored Franklin Park Tower is a block away. I returned to Union Station, bought a pair of post cards and some Coca-Cola to keep Chris awake. I returned to the lounge, called Steve Grande of Trainweb.com to catch up on a few things and now we will take a look at the Chicago Metropolitan Lounge.
Once I had finished, I sat back and enjoyed my Coca-Cola and relaxed until they called my train.
Southwest Chief 3 4/20/06
The Red Cap gave me a ride out to the train again so I got most of the consist on the way to my sleeping car. Before I boarded I got the rest. We had P42DC's 89, 157 and 80, Baggage 1716, Transition 39026, Sleepers 32032 and 32059, diner 38004, Lounge 33012, Coaches 34045, 31028 and 34057 with a deadheading 38040. I was greeted by Sleeping Car Attendant Mary Coleman who welcomed me to Sleeping Car 32032 and I made my way to Room 5 which I set up for the trip home. We departed Chicago Union Station on time. I got a 5:15 PM Dinner Reservation and would relax until then. Bob{Robert Zunco} from Sullivan, Missouri is across the hall from my room. He has a steaming web site called railroadradio.com. We went to the Dining Car and were seated with Margie and Bob going to Albuquerque.
I had Pork Shanks for dinner which was excellent.
A Chocolate Bundt for desert which took us back all the way onto the old Santa Fe. This Sleeping Car 32032 is having the same smell problem that I had on my trip to New Orleans. That story can be found on my trip page at "A Winter Trip on the Sunset Limited" with an unexpected stopover in New Orleans giving me a chance to ride all the streetcar lines including the new Canal Street Line. Two years ago was that trip. Was this the same sleeping car? No! That Sleeping Car was the 32073, the California.
The Southwest Chief left Illinois crossing the Mississippi River just east of Fort Madison our fresh air stop.
I enjoyed the rolling hills of Missouri into the night, made up my bed and called it a day.
4/21/06 I woke up just as we pulled into Garden City and headed to the Dining Car for Breakfast. After playing which meal ticket is the right one for a sleeping car passenger. I was joined Diane going to Lamy then the shuttle to Santa Fe. I saw the Garden City Western engine in the low light of morning twilight.
The meal was good but I was growing tired of the same thing every morning. I took a nap through Lamar but was woken up by three groups of passengers complaining about not getting breakfast right away. We made our way to La Junta which we arrived at 8 AM. I detrained going to Loves for some snacks but they no longer have post cards. I looked for a USA Today so I walked all the way to Safeway but had no luck. Maybe ABQ will have some left. We left La Junta on time but met BNSF 776 at Timpas on the way to Trinidad. We climbed up and over Raton Pass then onto Raton a fresh air stop.
Between Springer and Wagon Mound a few of the last semaphore signals on this route. As I traveled this early afternoon I was making plans to finish up New Jersey Transit on a future trip back there. Plenty of Antelopes were out running about this early afternoon.
We made our way to Las Vegas after we stopped at MP 759 to receive additional track warrants.
Mary has a unique service area complete with little candies that she keeps restocked at all times. The train climbed Glorieta Pass, descended through Apache Canyon, met the eastbound Southwest Chief at Canyoncito then arrived into Lamy. I got a 5:15 PM Dinner Reservation before the Southwest Chief made the final sprint arriving into Albuquerque at 3:37 PM{3:55 PM}. On the platform I was met by Randy and his wife who brought me a six pack of 8 ounce cans of Coca-Cola to keep me going. Randy had ridden with me on several Milwaukee Road 261 Trips and most recently on the Feather River Express last month. They drove me up and over the bridge so I could get some pictures of the future New Mexico Railrunner commuter equipment.
Railrunner 103 and train set.
Railrunner 102 and train set. I walked back over the bridge stopping off at Greyhound for some post cards before returning to the train. I asked what happened to Cheryl's Bus that had always been here before but had been absent on my last few trips. I learned that Cheryl had retired from the business. Too bad as she always took good care of me anytime I had come through Albuquerque. Our engineer then asked me how many more miles until I reach the million rail mile mark? I told him about a year or 18 months God willing. We left ABQ on time and eighteen minutes later we crossed the Rio Grande River. At 5:15 PM we went to the Dining Car with Bob and was seated with Steve and Susie going to Flagstaff.
I enjoyed the Pork Shank with the Chocolate Bundt. The meal took us west to Grants. I took a shower, washed my hair and that put me into a total relax mode while I listened to the Rolling Stones before I called it a night in Arizona.
4/22/06 Wide awake and on time as we arrived into Victorville. I got dressed then headed to an almost empty lounge car for our trip up and over a predawn Cajon Pass. At 5 AM as we passed Kennebrook I went to the Dining Car for my final meal of this trip. Charles and Mary from Winslow joined Bob and me for this morning meal.
I had my last French Toast and sausage patties.
Bob had a Quiche Lorraine. While we ate, we stopped at San Bernardino and Riverside. We made our way through Corona, Santa Ana Canyon and on into Fullerton right on time. The train made its final sprint into Los Angeles Union Station as I gave Bob a railfan tour along the route. The Southwest Chief arrived into LAUPT at 7:06 AM{8:15 AM} or one hour nine minutes early. What a trip it had been aboard the Southwest Chief! I walked over to Track 9 to wait for my Surfliner train home to Santa Ana.
Surfliner 564 4/22/06
I boarded 564 after it backed in then got a picture of my train home. I spotted Chris Parker who was going to San Luis Obispo and Ken Ruben who was headed to Santa Barbara. Once on the move, I talked with engineer Doug Bussler who has deadheading to San Diego this morning to catch a job there. We retraced my morning routing to Fullerton then stopped at Anaheim and onto Santa Ana where I detrained. A Taxi Cab took me home ending another excellent Amtrak adventure plus a surprisingly positive experience with Simplified Dining plus all the other new routes I rode on this trip. What a trip!
