Steam Locomotives and a Trans Continental

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Seaboard92

Engineer
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
4,698
Location
South Carolina
Well I've only had time to write parts of it. So I'll post it as I write it.

Planning

So after my good friend Malcolm and I heard the news that we were going to be on the Union Pacific Frontier Days Special from Denver to Cheyenne we started planning our trip. I want to hit all fifty states by rail in a year so we chose to take the AmBus to Raton then the Southwest Chief, City of Mew Orleans, and Crescent to get home. There was a good rate so I snagged it.

After that I priced what it would cost to take the Canadian in a sleeper across Canada Eastbound because we both get 75 percent off discounts for working with for a travel agency. But the stipulation is one must book within 21 days of the trip at the discounted rate. It was available so we grabbed it. Cost of the section was roughly $300 USD from Vancouver to Toronto. And the cost of Amtrak per person was $750 in the sleeper. So I quickly booked a flight from Denver to Portland to visit some friends followed by taking the Cascade to visit Charlie and the Cascade to Vancouver.

Day Zero: Packing late as always.

So I had planned to pack earlier than midnight like I intend to every time but that never happens. At two in the afternoon my coworker and girl I am now dating calls me to cover her shift. We just had her going away party and I texted her to ask if I had to be her for her own going away party because of how many shifts I've covered.

So I go in with no issue I love my job. Since Anderson and Gardner have placed moratoriums on private cars I've started working at a vet clinic as a kennel tech and vet tech apprentice. And honestly I miss the travel but I much prefer this. We're an eight person office and everyone gets along really well with each other. And we all care about each other a lot.

So when she asked me to cover I had to go in. I was also scheduled to do a video interview with United Airlines the same day. So after dinner, visiting my grandmother, and the United interview I finally got around to packing. At roughly 12:30 am.

Day 1: Flight to Denver and chasing a steam train

So I woke up at three AM after going to bed at one to have my dad drive me to the airport in Charlotte an hour and a half away for my 7 am flight. No large issues in driving this time thankfully. So made it there in about an hour and fifteen minutes with very light traffic. Again I had my usual stories from his military days. And instead of the same repeats I get a lot. I managed to get new ones for a change.

Got to the airport and checked my bag. Security at 5:45 had a massive line because they were only letting ten back at a time because they had a beautiful blood hound sniffing people. Eventually I get behind security, find my gate, then decide I should probably eat before flying. So I go to the airport Bojangles and pay way more than fair market value for a chicken biscuit.

Afterwards I board my flight on Frontier No. 199 to Denver on an A320. Easy quick flight to Denver where I attempted to sleep, or played risk on my phone. I had an aisle seat so nothing terribly exciting to look at. Arrived in Denver ahead of Malcolm who was supposed to arrive five minutes ahead of me but caught a bad headwind delaying him somewhat.

Went to the baggage carousel and waited forever for my bag to arrive. As soon as my bag arrived Malcolm and I took a bus to one of the exterior lots and got our rent a car from Truro(spelling) which was a Prius. I chose to let Malcolm drive the stress free trip north towards Wyoming opting to drive the much harder chase. As someone who has been around steam for a decade I'm used to the antics that go on. And felt it would be better if I drove that bit.

So we drove to just the other side of Greeley where we spotted the train and made a fast U Turn. We switched over at a McDonalds so he could use the restroom than continued south to find a good spot. Caught the train once then proceeded to attempt to get ahead of it.

Despite being a four lane road with a 65 mph speed limit and track speed being 60 mph I could not get ahead of it. This was simply due to the pacers whom block traffic so they can match the steam engine's pace perfectly with no regard to other people sharing the road. When the train slowed to thirty both lanes went to thirty making it really hard to get ahead.

The locomotive set off a detector so we were able to get ahead when it stopped. Afterwards we faced the same garbage the rest of the way in Denver. In total we caught the train four times I believe. And that's only due to stops. If you are going to chase please don't pace. Let others get their shots, and normal people on the road get where they are going.

After our chase Malcolm wanted to ride the South Platte Valley Trolley in downtown Denver. Which if I'm right is a replica trolley that runs on a scenic industrial spur. It's an open air car so on a hot day it can be loads of fun. After that we decided we wanted to see Amtrak emerge from the Moffet Tunnel knowing the line might be endangered by Anderson and Gardner.

So we drove up to the tunnel and within minutes out popped the Eastbound California Zephyr. After that we drove back towards Denver and we managed to catch it defending the loops down the Front Range. We lost it at the Cold War Horse.

After that we drove back to the airport where our hotel was turned in the car. And ate over priced and rather crappy airport food for dinner. After that we checked into the Westin for $72 a night not bad for a $300 hotel usually.

Day 2: Narrow Gauge and Steam Bliss

So we woke up and claimed our new rent a car which was a Sabb and went back to the Cold War Horse deciding we should photograph the Zephyr again on its way out of town. So we followed the westbound Zephyr up the Front Range again where it looks like a model trainset against the larger mountains.

After a brief hour long chase up the front range we had planned to use a dirt road to get to the next stop of Black Hawk for casinos. Well the road had large boulders as its pavement and in our low Sabb proceeded to take ten minutes to go 200 ft before deciding we should turn back. Of course one side had a rather large drop off so I got out to navigate us on a three point turn.

No the process we managed to put one tire off of the cliff but kept three on so we changed direction crisis averted. Once I got back in the car the check engine light came on but we decided to get to civilization first. So off we giro Black Hawk the most gaudy town I've ever seen. We parked and photographed the steam engine they had before going across town to another steam engine.

I had read that one of the Casinos was doing a free hundred dollar promotion. So I thought I could easily waste $100 of their money and not mine. Turns out one must read the fine print. So we left town without playing a game and went to Idaho Springs down Two Brothers Road. Which was quite the harrowing experience. I believe we dropped down over 1,000 ft in elevation in a handful of miles down a steep dirt road. That had several small wash outs. Definitely a bonding experience.

Afterwards we walked around Idaho Springs had lunch at a local lunch counter. Visited another steam locomotive in this town before driving to the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Which I highly recommend as a unique place to visit. We pulled in right before the downhill train crossed the viaduct.

Malcolm purchased our tickets and I relaxed in the mountain air. Shortly thereafter we boarded a converted box car for our short three mile trip up the mountain. At the top I went to the head end to get a photo of our train taking water before Reboarding in a slight rain. On the way back we rode the last car a converted gondola and made our way back down the grade.

After we detrained we both waited around to get photos of the train departing with the raging river next to the station and crossing the viaduct.

Afterwards we drove to the Colorado Railroad Museum but arrived too late to go in so we photographed thru the fence before driving to a real relic. Lakeside Park in Denver is an old trolley park amusement park. It looks like it was last upgraded in 1965 with every ride or facade being before that.

Cameras are banned there but phones are not so I did get some photos to show you guys. We walked around the park initially just to take in the mid century ambiance. Honestly walking around it made me feel like I was walking around Pipyet in Ukraine somewhat as some parts looked completely abandoned and didn't have people.

We rode the one ride the Cyclone Roller Coaster which was built in 1940 and it had the most advanced form of restraints. A seat belt, not a lap bar, or over the shoulder, just a plain Jane seat belt. The ride had a decent amount of airtime too for a ride with just a seatbelt. If you are in Denver I highly recommend Lakeside Park because it's just plain cool.

After that we drove back across town has dinner and turned the rent a car in. By this time the check engine light had turned off so I guess we didn't mess the engine up.

Part two coming soon and photos.
 
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I understand your frustration with the pacers. More and more states are passing left lane restrictions that allow only for passing in the left lane; in Oklahoma, if you're caught cruising in the left lane, even at limit, your billfold gets lightened by $250 and a couple points drop onto your report. So ideally the pacers should line up in the right lane and leave the left lane for those wanting to pass (Earl, why are those people looking at the train! It's only a train!).
 
Great report...Any word from UAL?
Unfortunately they have turned me down. But Frontier Airlines has shown interest. However I had to turn down the in person interview date because my clinic lost two workers going to school. And the third one went on vacation. Which put us in a bind and I care more about my workplace than trying to better my career. By far the clinic is the best place I've worked (and I put it up with every PV I've worked). So I couldn't put them in a bind.

I understand your frustration with the pacers. More and more states are passing left lane restrictions that allow only for passing in the left lane; in Oklahoma, if you're caught cruising in the left lane, even at limit, your billfold gets lightened by $250 and a couple points drop onto your report. So ideally the pacers should line up in the right lane and leave the left lane for those wanting to pass (Earl, why are those people looking at the train! It's only a train!).
That is a fantastic idea. But to do that you would need a large amount of police officers out. But after Saturday maybe we need more police out for steam excursions.
 
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UP 844 north of Greeley where we spotted it.

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UP 844 south of Greeley.

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Now that's what a passenger train should look like.

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My favorite picture of 844 in a field.

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Stopped in North Adams.

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Passing a large silo in Denver.

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The California Zephyr emerging from the Moffet Tunnel.

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The California Zephyr in the Rockies.

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Descending the Front Range.

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The California Zephyr winding down the mountains.

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There is Denver down there.

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The eastbound passing the Cold War Horse.

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The westbound departing the plains.

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Heading into the mountains.

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The California Zephyr looks like a model train in the front range.

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It looks like my dream HO scale railroad. If I had time, money, and talent.

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Surrounded by large mountains.

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There goes the westbound Zephyr.
 
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Downtown Denver.

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The South Platte Valley Trolley. Five dollar rides.

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Elitch Gardens.

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Downtown Denver from the trolley.

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Narrow gauge steam in a gaudy casino town.

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The gaudy casino town.

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C&S No. 71 outside a casino.

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A mid century looking town high up in the Rockies.

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Two Brothers Road. This was a tame spot on the road.

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Idaho Springs.

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Another steam locomotive in Idaho Springs.

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The A train at sunset.
 
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The Georgetown Loop descending the grade.

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The Georgetown Loop over the parking lot.

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Running around the train at the end of the line.

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The sound was out of this world. It's definitely worth coming to listen.

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Taking water in Silver Plume.

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Silver Plume shop with a shay outside of it.

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Departing the bottom of the grade. The sights and sounds make it worth it.

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Georgetown Loop crossing high above the valley.

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Colorado Railroad Museum.

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Colorado Railroad Museum.

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A Burlington Hudson.

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Lakeside Park.

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1960s marquis

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Lakeside Park

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Lakeside Park.

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Sunset over the lake.

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One of the many two roller coasters I saw operating.
 
Day 3: Steam, Embarrassment, and Tragedy

So the day I had been looking forward to for months had finally come. Malcolm and I stirred around four am and took the A train from our airport hotel down to downtown Denver in order to meet an Uber to take us to the rail yard where the 844 would board. Quick easy uber ride to where the train boards where they then load us into a VIP transport van to take us further into the yard.

I walk around taking pictures for you guys to see for about thirty minutes and walk down to my car the Sunshine Special to board.

I noticed an elderly couple having trouble boarding with the large first two foot step into the train. So I take my camera off and start to assist them and any other passengers. Meanwhile our car host K(I forget her name) was ten feet away surfing the Internet on her cell phone. I helped board probably twenty passengers before she came to me with an attitude asking what I was doing.

I calmly Said, "Good morning. It's nice to meet you. I'm a professional private railcar steward and I work on trains and railcars year long for my career (before Anderson and Gardner) and I am more than happy to help you with anything during the day. I have my coach keys should anything mechanical become an issue and I'm qualified on cars of this make and model. And that in the event of an emergency I am trained in first aid, and more than happy to be of service." I'm a career person this is what I do. Even when I'm off duty I like to introduce myself to the crew so they know there is a resource there to use in case.

So I then got on the train went to my seat for a few minutes to eat the boxed breakfast before visiting the vestibule for the next four hours. We had a great group of people in the vestibule. I can't remember their names however. Maybe five of us crammed in the vestibule the whole ride and we're just having a great time.

The carhost K then called the trainmaster on me to say my arm was way outside the train. Now I've been working around trains since 2009 so almost a decade. I've ridden in many a vestibule on the steps with the trap popped, and regular Dutch door riding. I have never and will never stick my arm out of a vestibule. I showed the trainmaster my RPCA and AAPRCO badges and asked if he thought I would be the kind to do that. Of which he said "out of everyone here you are the least likely to do that because you're from this environment." And then he walked off. And to further prove my point when an engineer on a passing freight that was slow was leaning down for high fives I passed it up because I know not to do that.

I continued riding with my new friends from Colorado and we spotted different animals like antelope, deer, birds, and others along the track. It was a great time and very enjoyable. The only issue is that I forgot to wear sunscreen and I was on the sunny side. So I got quite the burn.

About five miles from Cheyenne our lovely (sarcasm) host came in and told everyone vestibule closes in two minutes and I better not catch anyone out here after it directly looking at me. The way she phrased it is what really perturbed me here because I have to ask people to leave vestibules prior to station arrivals. But I'm very nice about it. Usually will make a joke, talk to them, and they always leave the vestibule. And if a photo they really want say is on a curve into the station usually I'll let them take it because I understand.

So I returned to my seat with plenty of time to spare because I didn't want to be any further on her bad side than I already was. So go sit down no problem then she demands everyone put the window blinds down to save her some work so she can get to the rodeo faster.

Now again I found another fault because crew should never have to ask passengers to do that. Yes it's a minor thing but it irked me because I would never ask any of my passengers to do something that was my job. And the task save her time was all of a minute job.

My partner Malcolm wanted to look out the window all the way into the arrival because he's a Milage collector which is understandable (me I don't care one way or the other). So while everyone complied with her he chose to wait till arrival. So she yelled at our row in particular in front of everyone making everyone look our way. I had never felt more embarrassed in my life to be called out in from of 50 strangers.

I was tempted to just open all of the blinds after she walked away to make her have to do work. But I chose to be mature about it and not do anything. The last thing I would have needed was to get stuck in Cheyenne.

So we detrain walk thru the station building and go onto the overpass to watch them back the steam engine past the station. Afterwards we go to a local bar (biggest in town I think) right at the station.

I had to charge my camera batteries and phone so they most generously allowed us to charge our devices while we ate. The food was fantastic and I really rather enjoyed it. Good company, good vibe, and the owner of the place just sat and talked about life in Wyoming with us. All in all a great place.

Afterwards instead of going to the rodeo we chose to walk around town to see a community that is often hard to get to by rail. While walking we were beckoned in to a theater for a tour or one of the oldest theaters I've ever seen.

The person showing us around was very proud of his little theater and it's 1800s era painted curtain that he hopes to restore. It's made with asbestos so it'll be a bit difficult to restore but I wish him luck. He was such a nice person.

After that we went to a woman's rights museum celebrating pioneer women. It's amazing how much of that history is left out of the textbooks. Did you know Wyoming is one of the first states to grant women suffrage? Fantastic museum that I think everyone should visit. Honestly I think we need a Women's History Museum in DC.

Afterwards we walked up to the statehouse which was under renovation before ducking into the Wyoming State Museum. A very small museum with free admission. Very clean and very interesting. While we were inside a fast moving Midwestern supercell passed over us spouting a tornado further east. After the museum we took the long walk to the worlds largest steam engine the Big Boy on the outskirts of town in a park.

On the way back we thought another supercell was coming so we hailed an uber and had an interesting experience. A retired guy driving for uber with free soda for riding with him. Such a nice guy and a very good host. Malcolm and I then walked up to the engine to take advantage of the storm lighting for photography and met his boss Jim Wrinn.

It started to rain so we ran into the depot museum where we explored while our train was delayed due to storms. Nice little museum. Afterwards we boarded the train from the closest door and walked down the consist to our seats.

I attempted to eat the box dinner but the only redeeming thing from it was the cookie brownie (so good). After We started moving I went back to my vestibule and rode the other side than the side I rode up. The trip was going great I further befriended the car host from the neighboring car and recruited her to work my cars one day in the future. A first time car host who truly was a good host.

Somewhere along I had another great group of people mostly elderly women who were having a great time and I looked forward and saw someone way too close to the track. Seconds after that I heard the pop noise that's made when the brakes air dumps and emergency brakes are applied. Knowing it was going to be a rough stop I put both of my arms up to stabilize them before they fell.

You always prepare daily for this day so you react the right way in front of the passengers. And I believe I did the right thing. But afterwards everyone dispersed and I went to sit in the lounge (part of the restroom in older cars) of the next car to collect my thoughts after witnessing that.

This was also where the catering company had all of their excess supplies and their crew so I spent time eating those amazing brownies and trying to calm down the catering company crew that had seen the accident as well. And again I had more of those amazing brownies.

So after About thirty minutes Malcolm texts me that K our host is searching frantically for me that I need to come back. And I replied "no I'm honestly good trying to cope with what I saw in private. I'm on board, I'm safe, and I'm well fed. And I'm in the process of calming down."

Five minutes later K is standing outside the curtain to where I was laying low telling the car host that knew I was there "you need to find that Jonathan guy he just doesn't look trustful" and then five minutes of why I wasn't trustful. And I'm thinking "if you had half the brain you thought you had you would have looked behind this curtain." At this point I almost popped out of the curtain to surprise her after her rant but she went away before I could get up.

The friendly car host came in and told me they were looking for me but that I was safe to spend as much time as I wanted to in her car that she would keep me out of the other car as I had told her previously that that host and I didn't get along and why. So she had no problem with me hanging out there. But twenty minutes later my host and the trainmaster finally looked behind the curtain (first place a normal person looks FYI) and tell me I have to go back to my seat and of course she said it in quite the tone.

And I'm like "can't I just sit here where I'm not bothering anybody just eating brownies, drinking soda, and not causing any trouble trying to process what I've seen without being around fifty strangers. To which the trainmaster said "you've already caused enough trouble by not returning to your car after hearing she was looking for you so just go back there where she can see you. So she stops redirecting resources to find you."

So apparently while there was an active investigation going on that needed railroad staff she had them instead trying to locate me who wasn't even doing anything remotely dangerous or wrong which really humiliated me in front of the UP steam team. So he walks me back to my seat and tells me "under no circumstances are you allowed to leave this seat till I get you."

By this point I'm beyond fuming, upset from seeing a fatality, upset from being professionally embarrassed, and from having my name trashed by our car host K. I told our host "You know it's never a good idea to talk about someone behind their back because you never know when they might be listening."

So for the next hour and a half I felt like I was being held prisoner next to my friend who was desperately trying to calm me down to no real effort. I was trying to text my ex Julia to calm me down as she's a psychologist but she wasn't answering. So I was just texting Maddy my coworker and she was sending me photos of her dogs, her vacation, and things like that.

Maddy does not curse and does not like cursing so I tried really hard to refrain from cursing when texting her despite having a desperate need to use the bathroom with no permission to go. And I'm honestly probably midway into a meltdown from all the emotions just running wildly without control.

I had regained some composure by the time they finally came to get us to bus out. And Malcolm was very mad if not furious at the way we were treated specifically me who has spent nine years working various excursions, working various cars, and working my way up bit by bit to be humiliated. So on the way out as I'm gathering my things I'm like "I would like to speak to you about the way you have treated us" (Passengers in general) and she says to a police officer. "That is the one I told you about make sure he gets off this train.

So I was led off by the police and I honestly didn't even do anything at all which was a total embarrassment. There was a hold up getting off a few cars away and I ask the cop "you know I haven't actually been trouble." To which he says "I don't know, I just know she doesn't like you and you need to get off."

I reply "she hasn't let me use the toilet in an hour and a half and I really need to go would you mind if I use the bathroom." And he basically just nodded said I don't care and let me go. So then Malcolm and I get off the train and he asks a different police officer, " so do we have to get on the busses seeing this is close to our hotel or can we just go to our hotel."

He was told that they couldn't stop us so he's like. Let's call a lyft to that intersection and just go to the hotel. So we just walked away while everyone else boarded busses to go back to Denver. I have never been as embarrassed and shamed as I was on board the Denver Post Special and that includes as the train nut in high school.

Even when I wrote this report I can still feel upset just talking about it. Malcolm has since asked for a refund for the way we were treated.
 
Wow, what an ordeal you had to experience....I am so sorry for you. She sounds like a typical "gun and badge wannabe", trying to exercise her 'authority'. I well know the type.

I wonder how they recruit and train these car hosts?

Back in the seventies, and eighties, I was involved in running the Intermountain Chapter, NRHS trips, with the 844 and 3985. We recruited select member's of our chapter, and gave them brief training, on how to be a good car host. We never had experienced anything like what you did. Whenever we had a 'rooky' host, we paired them with an experienced one.

One way to avoid getting into a confrontation like you experienced, just for future reference, would be to 'keep a low profile', and not tell someone you don't know, about your qualification's, or mention the fact that you 'have coach keys', etc.... While some may appreciate it, other's as you have learned, might take it a different way, and feel like their position was 'threatened'.

I would not mull it over, and let it ruin your vacation, which looks otherwise like you had a great time...the terrific photo's you posted make me feet a tinge of 'homesickness' for Colorado...
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[sarcasm]"K" sounds like a real nice people person. Good for her.[/sarcasm]

I'm sorry you had to go through such an ordeal. As AmtrakBlue would say, ((HUGS)).
 
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The A Train under our hotel in the wee hours of the morning.

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Union Pacific 1943 attached to the consist.

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Now that's what a passenger train is supposed to look like.

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Union Pacific 844 running light.

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Union Pacific 1943 awaiting the 844 to couple up.

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844 passing the 1943.

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Vestibule riding in the Denver metro.

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UP 844 delayed the California Zephyr for so a change charters did delay Amtrak.

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Rounding one of the few curves on the route.

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Meeting a freight

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Looking back in the consists.

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Putting some steam out.

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A classic scene that used to be common place. And gets reenacted at least once a year with this train. But even that might be at risk according to sources.

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Minus the well cars and the 1943 this could be a picture from the steam era.
 
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Downtown Cheyenne Wyoming something one never sees arriving by rail.

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Beautiful and warm Cheyenne.

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The hand painted curtain.

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More mid century architecture.

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The Wyoming Capitol Building. M

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The big boy.

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844 looking at an approaching storm in more ways than one.

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844 preparing for departure back to Denver.

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A classic scene that is almost never seen these days.

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844 rounding a curve on its way back to Denver.

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A water tower in great light.

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Of all places to be stuck at least our sunset was perfect.
 
Day Four: Cascadian Air for recovery

Well after that debacle the day before Malcolm and I again awoke early so we could catch our early morning flight on Southwest to Portland, OR which is my second home. We went to check our bags and found an incredibly long line and each of us tried a self service, and full service lane to see which was faster. It turned out self service was faster and by the time we had our bags checked was about an hour to take off.

Security had a thirty minute wait so it would be a bit touch and go. Malcolm has TSA Pre so he went that way and grabbed breakfast for the two of us while I slummed it with the normal people. I managed to get to the gate with ten minutes to spare and had my breakfast before boarding a B737-700 for Portland.

Again I tried to sleep on the flight and if that didn't work play risk. Shortly before landing the beautiful Cascade Mountains came into view and Malcolm and I enjoyed looking at them. Shortly thereafter we were taxing to our gate. I had tried to schedule a day out with Julia long before but her boyfriend planned a trip for them conveniently after her and I had made plans to hit the Oregon coast.

So I did the next best thing which was go railfaning with Tom my sometimes goofy and annoying boss at the travel agency (I must be a workaholic with three jobs). So we pile into the CRV and head eastward into the gorge. Malcolm proved to be a good luck charm of sorts because we had a ton of trains on our drive.

Malcolm wanted to ride the Mount Hood Scenic but they wouldn't give us a travel agent rate so we chased it instead with the corporate photographer also chasing it. And I think we managed some incredibly shots with the various mountains, flowers, rivers and the like. So we drove in the shadow of Mount Hood which Tom adores like most true Oregonians.

Afterwards we went to lunch at a pizza joint in Hood River before continuing east to where the wildfires were past the Dalles. Tom had wanted to see what type of damage that they had done. Afterwards we crossed over the River into Washington and continued looking for trains.

The highlight being a seven plus hour late Empire Builder at Horse Thief Lake before heading as Far East as Wishram. We then headed back west along the Washington side to Vancouver before turning to head toward Tom's townhouse.

With a picky eater, and a vegetarian in the car it took us about half an hour of driving around to find a place to eat but we settled for McMinnivens a bad chain in Oregon. At dinner with all three employees of RailsNW we had an impromptu but enjoyable business meeting. I had wanted to have dinner with Julia but she was running several hours late.
 
Sounds like quite a trip, Seaboard. Sorry that you had to witness that tragedy on the UP special. Your car host sounds like she had a real "authority" problem, but I don't think you helped matters any by usurping her authority and then listing all your qualifications as a car host. Announcing you had a bag full of railroad authorized tools probably didn't help, making her suspicious of your actions. After the accident, I imagine UP wanted to account for everyone on board to make sure no one else was hurt in the incident. Hiding out with the catering crew eating brownies certainly didn't help matters. I suggest the next time you ride a railfan excursion as a civilian that you let the crew do their work, even if you think you're more experienced and could probably do a better job.
 
Fabulous photo's....thanks so much for posting them...brings back great memories of my many UP steam trips. We never had five domes...usually just one dome lounge, ten coaches, and a baggage car.

I would say that the Denver station has transformed more than any other station anywhere, that I can think of....I could just imagine if I was back there in 1989, went into 'hibernation', and woke up in 2018....and seeing that RTD MU!
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Fabulous photo's....thanks so much for posting them...brings back great memories of my many UP steam trips. We never had five domes...usually just one dome lounge, ten coaches, and a baggage car.
I would say that the Denver station has transformed more than any other station anywhere, that I can think of....I could just imagine if I was back there in 1989, went into 'hibernation', and woke up in 2018....and seeing that RTD MU!
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In the US it is definitely one of the most dynamic changes. Now in Europe I would nominate Leipzig HBF. In the last ten years they've added a three story shopping mall in the CJ course (still keeping the historic charm of the building), and adding an underground station.
 
I nominate Union Stations in Washington to be included in the most changed/improved Stations.

After the fiasco in 1976 during the Bi-Centenial, ( anyone remember the National Visitor Center?) and the sad condition of this once Grand Building led to calls for it's demolition (like Penn Station in NY and far too many other Gems,) turning it into a Mall and Combo Commuter/ Passenger Rail Station allows us to still have this treasure today!

Remember,if Jackie Onnasis hasn't spearheaded the effort to save Grand Central Terminal, we'd probably have another Pit like NYP in the Apple or even just another High Rise!
 
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The combination of transforming the old station into a hotel, and destination attraction, the "train shed" over the platforms, the addition of light rail and heavy electric commuter trains, and the new underground bus terminal....not to mention the complete transformation of the immediate neighborhood of the baseball stadium, and those high rise condo's, from what was a 'wasteland', is just staggering to me. I spent ten years working at Denver station, I find it barely recognizable now....in a generally good way, of course...

The loss of its use as a 'thru' station is an exception to that...

As for Grand Central Terminal...I don't believe it was in the kind of danger of crosstown Pennsylvania Station...the plans were to more or less keep it intact, but to build a tall office tower above it, IIRC...
 
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The Georgetown Loop descending the grade.

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The Georgetown Loop over the parking lot.

...

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Georgetown Loop crossing high above the valley.
What is the Georgetown Loop?
The Georgetown Loop is a narrow gauge tourist railroad. That operates a small three mile route up grade on a former branch line from Denver to I forget where.

Its largest wonder however is the grade from Hells Gate to Silver Plume which includes the loop where the train loops over itself to gain elevation.
 
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The gorgeous Columbia River Gorge.

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Union Pacific under the Bridge of the Gods.

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The Columbia River Gorge.

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I love the gorge.

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The Mount Hood railroad and some mountain wild flowers.

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The Mount Hood Railroad in Oregon's Wine Country.

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I believe that is mount Saint Helens in the background.

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Coming into a lumber yard.

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The Mount Hood Railroad rumbling under its namesake.

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Crossing some sort of River.

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Today's locomotive under Mount Hood.

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Fallbridge

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BNSF at Dalesport.

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Look at how beautiful my second home is.

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The Baby Builder at Horsetheif Lake multiple hours behind schedule.

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BNSF at Whisram.

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The steam engine on display at Wishram.

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Every spot along the river has a beautiful view.

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Bursting out of a tunnel at a fairly good clip.

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I have been begging tom to let me get this shot for years. Finally I have it.

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Portland and Western Railroad at Vancouver.
 
Day five: Cascade trip and Great friends.

Well we woke up in Tom's townhouse which is usual and slowly got our things packed for our next train. We left the townhouse at nine to check our bags and see the WES running before having lunch with Julia at 12:30.

We managed to get there at 12:35 to lunch because tom got side tracked looking for a shortline freight train and Portland Traffic. But we only lost five minutes so not God awful. We had a lovely lunch at a local bar near Julia's apartment.

I was able to detox by talking out my issues, got to hear about her trip and catch up. It was all very nice. I love seeing her she really is my best friend she also helped me discover I had a crush on Maddy my coworker from talking with her. She might be an ex but she's still one of my best friends.

We left from there by Max to Union Station to catch the three o clock train to Seattle. After walking in one of the rougher neighborhoods in Portland to the train station from the Max we made it. Picked up our seats and proceeded to board the mount Olympus.

The train left close to on time and we went up the very scenic route. Honestly this stretch is one of my favorites in the nation so I always enjoy it, as well as the talgo equipment. When we approached the junction where the 501 accident occurred we both took a moment of silence to remember our lost friends. After that we enjoyed what is probably our last ride along this very beautiful stretch of track along the narrows.

Shortly thereafter we arrived in Seattle and I photographed the train leaving from the Sounder platform entering the tunnel under Pioneer Square. Afterwards Malcolm and I decided we would watch the Empire Builder arrive because it was running close to nine hours late. After watching the yard goat pull it off to the yard we caught the Link and the bus to reach Charlie's.

I was constantly looking over my shoulder because my ex that put me in a really bad state lives in Seattle and I didn't want to bump into her and risk having another problem to deal with. We rapidly made it to his apartment where we spent the rest of our night just talking. Ordered delivery which ended up having to be cooked in the microwave and oven. Which was different but fun.

It was a good night with good friends in Seattle.
 
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Portland Union Station. One of my favorites in the entire network.

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Train No. 518 with the Mount Olympus.

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Train No. 518 with the NPCU on the north end which isn't standard practice.

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Columbia River.

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The beautiful Puget Sound which soon won't be visible here.

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Tacoma Narrows.

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Arriving into Seattle.

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King Street Station a beautiful station in the network.

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Train No. 518 under King St.'s tower.

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Entering the tunnel under Pioneer Square.

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The Empire Builder being towed out of the station with the 12th man. Under Seattle's skyline.

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The view out from Charlie's living room.
 
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