p&sr
OBS Chief
On Sunday, June 8th we checked in for the SouthWest chief. They confirmed our ID and gave us Dinner Reservations. Instead of waiting in line in the Station as usual, they gave the OK for us to head directly to Track 11, where we watched our train backing in. 2 engines, baggage car, 3 sleepers, diner, lounge, and 3 coaches. First coach had downstairs seating as well. Third coach was for passengers bound for Kansas City and Chicago.
We boarded at 6:15 PM (1/2 hour early) and got good seats on the left side. We departed on time, with great views. Leaving town through Fullerton Junction, then rugged scenery in the Santa Ana Canyon near Corona, with a lovely Sunset at Riverside. In the station there, we were passed by a long double-stack freight train... 2 engines, 121 cars, then 2 more engines. Fortunately, we passed them again at high speed when we left the Station, so we would not have to follow them for the climb up Cajon Pass.
We saw the famous crossing at-grade between BNSF (double track north and south) and UP (double track east and west) at Colton Junction... jointly said to handle 85% of all Southern California's Rail Traffic. We walked around on the platform at the San Bernardino Station, with its Moorish Architecture and a separate section for Metrolink Trains, then climbed Cajon Pass by late twilight as we enjoyed our dinner of Roast Game Hen (AKA "Chicken"), Cheesed Rice, good Coffee, and excellent Strawberry Cheesecake. Back to our Coach seats at Victorville to settle in for the night.
During the night, I noticed the Stations at Barstow and Needles, saw the Westbound SCW at 1:15 AM, and watched our crossing of the Colorado River into Arizona. We had a long climb into Kingman, where we made four separate stops (perhaps because of a very short platform there).
Monday began at 4:35 AM with the stop at Williams Junction (for connections to the Grand Canyon Tourist Train) by the first light of dawn. Approaching Flagstaff, we saw snow on the San Francisco Peaks. Using our good AAA Maps (marked in advance with our route), we could enjoy lots of detail as we crossed the Painted Desert... canyons on Navajo land, distant views of the Hopi Mesas, water in the Little Colorado River which we followed, then Red Cliffs beginning at Gallup, New Mexico. We saw the volcanic Mt. Taylor and surrounding lava flows, then the villages and churches and outdoor ovens of the Acoma, Laguna, and Isleta Pueblos. Crossing the Rio Grande, the Mountains were in clear view all around.
We arrived 55 minutes early in Albuquerque (11:17 AM), and enjoyed walking through the new Intermodal Terminal there. We saw a couple of Chartered Trains parked in the Station, and watched the 12:36 Rail Runner Train pass through the Station southbound. We bought some nice Navajo Indian Jewelry at good prices from Veronica Yellowhorse on the platform, then re-boarded for our on-time departure.
It seems the Sniffer Dogs were active in Albuquerque as well. While getting settled again in our coach seats, a fellow said he was from the Police and would I mind speaking with him for a moment. I said, let me just put my sunglasses away and then we can chat. My wife asked to see his badge, and it said DEA... Drug Enforcement Agency.
He asked to see my tickets, which said Oceanside to Chicago. He asked if I would "identify my luggage". I pointed to the overhead rack, with one large pack and one small pack. "Nothing downstairs?" No, this is all we've got. He asked why I wanted to go to Chicago, and I said "to see Chicago!". He asked sarcastically if it was to ride on the "L". At this I brightened and said, Yes, that's absolutely right.
About this point he figured I was not what he was looking for. He left abruptly to join his fellow-agent who was busy handcuffing a newly-boarded passenger with wild hair and dark skin. They hauled him off the train, looking satisfied.
On our way again, we saw several more Pueblos, and dramatic scenery at Canyoncito, Glorieta Pass, and the Pecos River. Beyond Las Vegas and Watrous we followed a nice canyon (with a stream) through the Prairie. We saw a large Elk jumping up the cliff. Shortly thereafter we began to see Antelope in great numbers, many showing their distinct Prong-Horned Antlers.
Approaching Springer we saw the jagged mountains around Culebre Peak in Colorado, and the twin Spanish Peaks. I was delighted to climb Raton Pass by daylight. We saw Aspen on the high ridges there, on glacier-carved slopes. Once the land opened up after Trinidad, Colorado, we got sustained full views of the Spanish Peaks and of Pikes Peak in the distance, all the way across the Comanche National Grasslands to La Junta.
We walked on the Platform at La Junta, right at Sunset, and saw the Steam Engine on display there. Late evening we passed through Lamar, and after a heavy Thundershower we passed through Dodge City, the last place in "the West".
Tuesday began at 5:20 AM with a beautiful Sunrise. 5:40 we saw the State Capitol at Topeka, Kansas. Lawrence KS at 6:12, then Kansas City (both in Kansas and in Missouri) with busy yards and good views of Downtown. At the Station we walked on the Platform, even daring to walk briefly upstairs to the connecting walkway for a better view. We saw the morning Train for St. Louis departing, and there was a beautiful classic KCS diesel engine parked there, newly painted in Red, Gold, and Black. After our on-time Departure, we pulled out of town, noticing a bold grafitti under one bridge saying "God Bless the RailRoads!". My sentiments exactly.
We had two meals on board, with Bratwurst for Breakfast, and (to assure some variety in my diet) a Hot Dog for lunch. We crossed the Missouri River on a high bridge, then cut north-east across the State far from major roads. Crossing into Iowa, we caught views of Nauvoo IL on the bluffs east of us, then came into the town of Fort Madison, where we saw turtles in ponds, and swamps on the edges of the Mississippi River. There was a Riverboat there, the "Catfish Bend Casino", also the historic (reconstructed) Fort.
We crossed the Mississippi River on the large two-level swing bridge (with highway traffic on the upper level), and followed the River for a ways in Illinois before climbing up to Prairie Level. Looking across the River, we noticed that large areas of Iowa (behind the Levees) were shockingly far below River Level... but still dry at that time.
Across Illinois we saw lots of young corn growing, and coal trains. At Cameron we switched from former Santa Fe Track to former Burlington Northern. Coming into Galesburg we had fine views of the town, and the buildings of historic Knox College, and the Steam Train parked at the Railroad Museum next to the Station. As a major Railroad Junction, Galesburg marked the eastern corner of our "Triangle", but we continued on east to enjoy related points of interest while we were in the area.
The first signs that we were approaching Chicago were the outlying Suburban Homes and small Mansions at Somonauk and Sandwich. At Montgomery we saw the "Caterpillar" Factory. Then crossing the Fox River we came into Aurora, just 5 minutes behind schedule. We passed through this interesting older brick town as an Elevated Railroad, and continued in through the Suburbs, passing Metro Trains and Stations from this point on.
At 2:28 PM we passed the Westbound CZ. From the Yards near Cicero we got great views as we approached Downtown. We saw the "L" (Pink Line) a couple of times, then turned left next to the Chicago River and headed into the Station, arriving at 2:45 PM... 35 minutes ahead of schedule!
To be continued...
We boarded at 6:15 PM (1/2 hour early) and got good seats on the left side. We departed on time, with great views. Leaving town through Fullerton Junction, then rugged scenery in the Santa Ana Canyon near Corona, with a lovely Sunset at Riverside. In the station there, we were passed by a long double-stack freight train... 2 engines, 121 cars, then 2 more engines. Fortunately, we passed them again at high speed when we left the Station, so we would not have to follow them for the climb up Cajon Pass.
We saw the famous crossing at-grade between BNSF (double track north and south) and UP (double track east and west) at Colton Junction... jointly said to handle 85% of all Southern California's Rail Traffic. We walked around on the platform at the San Bernardino Station, with its Moorish Architecture and a separate section for Metrolink Trains, then climbed Cajon Pass by late twilight as we enjoyed our dinner of Roast Game Hen (AKA "Chicken"), Cheesed Rice, good Coffee, and excellent Strawberry Cheesecake. Back to our Coach seats at Victorville to settle in for the night.
During the night, I noticed the Stations at Barstow and Needles, saw the Westbound SCW at 1:15 AM, and watched our crossing of the Colorado River into Arizona. We had a long climb into Kingman, where we made four separate stops (perhaps because of a very short platform there).
Monday began at 4:35 AM with the stop at Williams Junction (for connections to the Grand Canyon Tourist Train) by the first light of dawn. Approaching Flagstaff, we saw snow on the San Francisco Peaks. Using our good AAA Maps (marked in advance with our route), we could enjoy lots of detail as we crossed the Painted Desert... canyons on Navajo land, distant views of the Hopi Mesas, water in the Little Colorado River which we followed, then Red Cliffs beginning at Gallup, New Mexico. We saw the volcanic Mt. Taylor and surrounding lava flows, then the villages and churches and outdoor ovens of the Acoma, Laguna, and Isleta Pueblos. Crossing the Rio Grande, the Mountains were in clear view all around.
We arrived 55 minutes early in Albuquerque (11:17 AM), and enjoyed walking through the new Intermodal Terminal there. We saw a couple of Chartered Trains parked in the Station, and watched the 12:36 Rail Runner Train pass through the Station southbound. We bought some nice Navajo Indian Jewelry at good prices from Veronica Yellowhorse on the platform, then re-boarded for our on-time departure.
It seems the Sniffer Dogs were active in Albuquerque as well. While getting settled again in our coach seats, a fellow said he was from the Police and would I mind speaking with him for a moment. I said, let me just put my sunglasses away and then we can chat. My wife asked to see his badge, and it said DEA... Drug Enforcement Agency.
He asked to see my tickets, which said Oceanside to Chicago. He asked if I would "identify my luggage". I pointed to the overhead rack, with one large pack and one small pack. "Nothing downstairs?" No, this is all we've got. He asked why I wanted to go to Chicago, and I said "to see Chicago!". He asked sarcastically if it was to ride on the "L". At this I brightened and said, Yes, that's absolutely right.
About this point he figured I was not what he was looking for. He left abruptly to join his fellow-agent who was busy handcuffing a newly-boarded passenger with wild hair and dark skin. They hauled him off the train, looking satisfied.
On our way again, we saw several more Pueblos, and dramatic scenery at Canyoncito, Glorieta Pass, and the Pecos River. Beyond Las Vegas and Watrous we followed a nice canyon (with a stream) through the Prairie. We saw a large Elk jumping up the cliff. Shortly thereafter we began to see Antelope in great numbers, many showing their distinct Prong-Horned Antlers.
Approaching Springer we saw the jagged mountains around Culebre Peak in Colorado, and the twin Spanish Peaks. I was delighted to climb Raton Pass by daylight. We saw Aspen on the high ridges there, on glacier-carved slopes. Once the land opened up after Trinidad, Colorado, we got sustained full views of the Spanish Peaks and of Pikes Peak in the distance, all the way across the Comanche National Grasslands to La Junta.
We walked on the Platform at La Junta, right at Sunset, and saw the Steam Engine on display there. Late evening we passed through Lamar, and after a heavy Thundershower we passed through Dodge City, the last place in "the West".
Tuesday began at 5:20 AM with a beautiful Sunrise. 5:40 we saw the State Capitol at Topeka, Kansas. Lawrence KS at 6:12, then Kansas City (both in Kansas and in Missouri) with busy yards and good views of Downtown. At the Station we walked on the Platform, even daring to walk briefly upstairs to the connecting walkway for a better view. We saw the morning Train for St. Louis departing, and there was a beautiful classic KCS diesel engine parked there, newly painted in Red, Gold, and Black. After our on-time Departure, we pulled out of town, noticing a bold grafitti under one bridge saying "God Bless the RailRoads!". My sentiments exactly.
We had two meals on board, with Bratwurst for Breakfast, and (to assure some variety in my diet) a Hot Dog for lunch. We crossed the Missouri River on a high bridge, then cut north-east across the State far from major roads. Crossing into Iowa, we caught views of Nauvoo IL on the bluffs east of us, then came into the town of Fort Madison, where we saw turtles in ponds, and swamps on the edges of the Mississippi River. There was a Riverboat there, the "Catfish Bend Casino", also the historic (reconstructed) Fort.
We crossed the Mississippi River on the large two-level swing bridge (with highway traffic on the upper level), and followed the River for a ways in Illinois before climbing up to Prairie Level. Looking across the River, we noticed that large areas of Iowa (behind the Levees) were shockingly far below River Level... but still dry at that time.
Across Illinois we saw lots of young corn growing, and coal trains. At Cameron we switched from former Santa Fe Track to former Burlington Northern. Coming into Galesburg we had fine views of the town, and the buildings of historic Knox College, and the Steam Train parked at the Railroad Museum next to the Station. As a major Railroad Junction, Galesburg marked the eastern corner of our "Triangle", but we continued on east to enjoy related points of interest while we were in the area.
The first signs that we were approaching Chicago were the outlying Suburban Homes and small Mansions at Somonauk and Sandwich. At Montgomery we saw the "Caterpillar" Factory. Then crossing the Fox River we came into Aurora, just 5 minutes behind schedule. We passed through this interesting older brick town as an Elevated Railroad, and continued in through the Suburbs, passing Metro Trains and Stations from this point on.
At 2:28 PM we passed the Westbound CZ. From the Yards near Cicero we got great views as we approached Downtown. We saw the "L" (Pink Line) a couple of times, then turned left next to the Chicago River and headed into the Station, arriving at 2:45 PM... 35 minutes ahead of schedule!
To be continued...
