St. Louis-Chicago Trip:

 

Prologue:

 

            With my Syracuse trip being a success, I decided the U.S. was good to travel in. I started looking into various trip options. The trip I eventually settled on is a trip to St. Louis and then backtracking to Chicago. There is a railway museum in St. Louis which has some interesting equipment both railway and public transit. I also wanted to go back to Kenosha.

 

            My plan was to take the Maple Leaf to Syracuse and kill time there. I would then take the Lakeshore Limited to Chicago. I would connect with the Texas Eagle and go to St. Louis.

 

            After a few days in St. Louis, I would take a Lincoln service train back to Chicago and stay there a few days with one day a trip out to Kenosha. I would fly hope to avoid being in the U.S. during American Thanksgiving. This would be the first time I’ve been to Chicago since my friend Greg passed away in 2021. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

November 15, 2023:

 

            I got to Union Station shortly after 7:30 am. I went to join the line for VIA train #97. Before I left this morning, I got a text from Amtrak saying the Maple Leaf would be terminated at Croton-Harmon because of a parking garage that was structurally compromised. Since I was getting off in Syracuse, it wouldn’t be a problem assuming train #49 would not be cancelled.

 

            Instead of standing in a line, passengers on the Maple Leaf were allowed to sit down in an alcove near the gate where we’d board. Boarding of the train began shortly after 8:00 am. I was seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82599. I booted up my laptop. The equipment for VIA trains 62 and 52 pulled in on the track to our right but since I was seated on the left side of the train, I was unable to film the J-train. The train departed on time.

 

            Shortly after leaving Toronto, we passed a VIA corridor train on the right-hand side of the train, but I was unable to film it. I did partially film the equipment for the Canadian deadheading to Union. I also filmed the equipment in the yard of VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center.

 

            As we passed the Port Credit GO station, I saw a large area excavated for the construction of the Hurontario LRT line. My ticket was taken. The café car was also opened. The train stopped at Oakville. We departed Oakville and stopped at Aldershot a little while later.

 

            After departing Aldershot, we passed through Hamilton. I photographed CN end cab switcher #7304.

 

 

            The train passed through Grimsby non-stop. I was given a form to fill out prior to customs. The train stopped at St. Catherines.

 

            The bridge over the Welland Canal was down. The café car closed and would remain closed until we left Niagara Falls, New York. As we passed over the QEW, I saw a Niagara Falls Transit Nova LFS articulated bus.

 

            The train stopped at Niagara Falls, Ontario. The train made two stops as per usual. The first stop was to change locomotive crews. The train then moved forward a few car lengths before stopping to allow passengers getting off in Niagara Falls, Ontario to get off.

 

            The train departed Niagara Falls Ontario and crossed into the United States. We stopped at Niagara Falls New York. Everyone got off the train. All the passengers were made to line their bags on the platform and step back while customs walked past with a sniffer dog. After they finished, they told people to pick up their bags in the order the line was arranged. My bags were at the end so as a result. I was one of the last to go through customs proper. The agent was all right though and I went up to the station to await boarding of my train.

 

            When I got off, I saw the train was led by Amtrak P42 #108 which is painted in the livery work by Amtrak’s new ALC-42 locomotives. The reason for this is for Amtrak’s 50^th anniversary back in 2021.

 

            The train soon reboarded shortly after 11:30 am. I photographed the train before I got back on.

 

 

 

 

            I was seated in the same coach as earlier. The train left on time. I attempted to photograph the train as it went around a curve. The train stopped at Buffalo Exchange Street. I worked on this report some more. The train stopped at Buffalo Depew.

 

            After leaving Depew I went to the café car for lunch. We passed a couple CSX freight trains. As we came into Rochester, I saw a United Express plane on approach to Rochester’s airport. The train stopped at Rochester. East of Rochester Amtrak train #63 passed, but I was unable to film it.

 

            We overtook a CSX freight train. We soon began overtaking a second freight. However we were approaching Syracuse so the train pulled ahead. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #64 arrived into Syracuse 5 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I filmed the train departing. I took a photo of the train.

 

 

            I then went to catch a bus to Destiny USA. I figured I could spend time at the mall during my layover in Syracuse. I attempted to phone home but found my cell phone couldn’t make calls

 

            While waiting for my bus, the CSX freight train #64 overtook earlier. After awhile the bus to Destiny USA arrived. I got on and rode to the mall.

 

            I got a drink from a Burger King in the food court. I had a massage at a store instead of a coin operated massage chair. I went into Dave and Busters and played a couple games. I thought about going to the trampoline park, but decided against it.

 

            I saw the go kart track at RPM Raceway had been changed since I was there in June. I photographed it before I went for a race.

 

 

            After I was done my race, I bought dinner. I went to a convenience store and got a few snacks. I determined that it would be faster to walk back to the Amtrak station than to wait for a bus.

 

            I saw Amtrak train #283 at the station. When it departed, I attempted to film it as it passed by. I then walked to the station.

 

            I logged into the station’s Wi-Fi and learned train #49 was running over 90 minutes late.  I was annoyed but was glad I at least had a sleeper. The news was on and I saw that the parking garage which is being a thorn in Amtrak’s side should be repaired by tomorrow. I’m not sure the delay to train #49 is due to this, but the New York section of the Lakeshore was terminated in Albany.

 

            After awhile I went onto the platform. An eastbound CSX intermodal passed. I went back into the station to warm up for a few minutes before returning to the platform.

 

            Train #49 pulled in two hours late. I photographed the train.

 

 

 

            My sleeper was not in the platform. I was unsure if the train would move ahead a car length or not. One other passenger incorrectly stated that upon reaching Chicago the power would run around the train and pull it from the other way. While that does happen on other Amtrak and VIA trains, it is not the case with the Lakeshore Limited. In the end, the other sleeping car passengers and I went through the sleeping car ahead and walked through to the next sleeper which was Viewliner 1 sleeping car #62047. The train left a few minutes later. I worked on this report before I called it a night.

 

November 16, 2023:

 

            I got up just before 8:30 and got dressed. I went to the dining car for breakfast. While I was in the dining car, we stopped at Bryan, Ohio. I went to my room which was in the process of being made up into its daytime configuration. I charged my cell phone’s battery despite the fact I charged it the night before.

 

            The train crossed into Indiana and stopped at Waterloo, Indiana. I worked on this report some more. We passed some Norfolk Southern freight trains. The train stopped in Elkhart. I attempted to film the New York Central Museum but a freight train with CPKC power blocked my shot. This is the third time since 2006 that something like this happened!

 

            West of the Elkhart station, we passed a Norfolk Southern rail yard. The train slowed to a crawl. We then stopped. This was to let another CPKC freight pass. The train started moving again but it wasn’t going to help with our lateness.  I photographed a freight train with a CN Gevo leading and a leased CITX unit trailing.

 

 

            We passed an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight with a BNSF unit leading. This is the second BNSF unit I’ve seen in the last two hours. The first one had a Union Pacific locomotive trailing so I’ve seen power from five of the six Class 1 railroads in the last two hours. The one missing is CSX though I saw plenty CSX units yesterday.

 

            We passed a stopped freight that was led by another BNSF locomotive. Moments later I saw a fourth BNSF unit down a diverging track. The train stopped at South Bend. We ended up making a double stop. We then departed. The next stop would be Chicago. At one point, the crew announced we were 90 minutes out of Chicago. However it appeared as if we’d be 85-90 minutes late.

 

            The train passed non stop through La Porte. I went to the lounge car but it was closed. The train slowed down through a work zone. We were running parallel to the Chicago South Shore and South Bend railroad. We passed an eastbound freight led by a CSX locomotive. In just over three hours I’ve seen locomotives for all six Class 1 railroads. The train sped up. We passed an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight.

 

            I saw a couple South Shore trains. We passed a couple freight trains. We were soon about 20 minutes from Chicago. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            I attempted to photograph a freight train with a caboose!

 

 

            The train crossed over a bridge over a canal. I filmed the equipment in Amtrak’s 14^th Street Yard.

 

            The train fronted in. We arrived one hour and 29 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train as well as the Cardinal on the track next to us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I saw the Cardinal had a Viewliner 2 baggage dorm and a Viewliner 2 sleeper. This marks the first time I was able to photograph all four Viewliner 2 types. I photographed a couple other Amtrak trains.

 

 

 

            I then went inside the station and bought a weekly CTA pass. I photographed a Christmas tree decorated with signs for Amtrak and various railroads including railroads that never served Chicago such as the Southern Railroad and New Haven.

 

 

            I then went out. I thought about going to an Arby’s a short CTA ride away but wasn’t sure if I would make it back for my train. I went to a restaurant called Potbelly’s which I seem to remember going with Greg {rest in peace}.

 

            My lunch wasn’t all that good and I think this may have been the place Greg and I ate at in 2008 which made me sick an hour or so later. I ended up going to a nearby Burger King and bought a hamburger. I then went back to Union Station.

 

            I had seen a desk for coach passengers on the Texas Eagle to check in so I went there once I got back to Union Station. However since I was only going to St. Louis, they told me it wasn’t necessary. I then went to wait for the train. 

 

            I played around with my phone and was able to get it work on a limited basis. I would have to monitor the situation as it unfolded.

 

            After awhile passengers for train #21 were called to the south boarding lounge. I went there and waited until it was time to board. Boarding began after 1:30. I was seated in Superliner 1 coach #34024 which was the last car in the train. I saw the California Zephyr which would depart five minutes after the Texas Eagle had a coach wrapped for the Denver ski train. I was unable to photograph it.

 

            The Texas Eagle departed on time. I filmed equipment in the station and in the yard. My ticket was taken shortly after. My phone was again giving me problems but I eventually clued it to it working under certain networks and not others. I switched it to a network it seems to work. Hopefully that will solve the issue. When we passed a CN yard, I attempted to photograph two units still in Grand Trunk colours.

 

 

            The train stopped at Joliet. While we were stopped, a BNSF train passed with a locomotive, a covered hopper and what looked like a business coach. I was unable to photograph it.

 

            The train departed. We passed a stopped Union Pacific intermodal. I worked on this report some more. We stopped at Pontiac less than an hour later.

 

            We departed the Pontiac station which blocked a road due to a railway crossing. We departed. We stopped at Bloomington-Normal and sat there for at least 8 minutes. We departed shortly after 4:00 pm. I noticed there were two platforms. When I passed through here on my Arizona and Dallas trips, I could have sworn there was a single platform. It seems in the 14 years since I rode the Texas Eagle out of Chicago Amtrak added a second platform.

 

            The train was running parallel to a highway. We stopped in Lincoln shortly after 4:30 pm.

 

            Amtrak train #318 passed. It had a Siemens Charger locomotive, two Viewliner 2 baggage cars, an Amfleet 1 café car with Business class seats, and four Siemens Venture coaches. The reason there is an Amfleet 1 coach is that there are not Siemens Venture café cars in service with Amtrak so they continue to use Amfleet 1 or Horizon café cars on Midwest trains. I was unable to film train #318.

 

            The train stopped at Springfield. I wondered if it was a smoke stop but heard there would be none until St. Louis. We still sat there for several minutes. We actually made a double stop at Springfield. We finally departed at 5:10 pm. I decided to go to the dining car for dinner.

 

            The Texas Eagle only had a 37000 series Diner lounge like the train I rode on my 2009 Dallas trip. However, it was a glorified café car and not a sit-down diner like my 2009 Dallas trip. This change was brought on by Covid and things aren’t back to normal. The train stopped at Carlinville as I finished dinner.

 

            I went back to my seat. The train stopped in Alton.

 

            Awhile later we passed some TRRA locomotives. We were getting close to St. Louis. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            The coach I was in was to be uncoupled at St. Louis while the rest of the train would continue onto San Antonio. We waited on board while the last car was uncoupled and the rest of the train pulled ahead. We were allowed off. The train was 5 minutes late. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            The rest of the Texas Eagle pulled ahead then reversed onto the track next to coach #34024. I filmed the train backing in and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed a BNSF coal train as it passed by the station.

 

 

 

            I took one more photo of the Texas Eagle from the pedestrian walkway above the tracks.

 

 

            I then went to head to my hotel. I bought a weekly pass for the local transit system with much difficulty. I boarded a bus on route #74 because it was one of two buses heading to where I was staying. Unfortunately I had copied directions wrong and ended up riding past. I got off and walked a few blocks and found a Super 8 hotel. I was staying at a Days Inn so I went into a nearby McDonald’s to use the Wi-Fi. I was able to find a bus to my hotel. I left and went to a bus stop. Two buses on a different route including a New Flyer XE60 electric bus went by. I knew New Flyer was making a battery version of the XD60 but didn’t know which properties purchased it.

 

            My bus eventually came and I rode to where my hotel was. The driver let me know where to get off.

 

            I walked to my hotel and checked in. I went up to my room. I attempted to phone home but my cell phone wasn’t working again. I sent my mom a text. I went online and eventually called it a night.

 

November 17, 2023:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went downstairs to the lobby. It was nice to have a real sit-down breakfast unlike a prepackaged breakfast in a paper bag like some hotels on my past trips. After breakfast, I went back to my room and went online for a few minutes. I eventually headed out.

 

            I had a long wait for a bus which came just before 11:00. I rode to the Civic Center terminal and Metrorail station. I got off and photographed my bus and another bus.

 

 

 

            I then went to the light rail station. I photographed a train going the other way.

 

 

            My train arrived. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to 8^th and Pine and got off. I filmed the train pulling out. This was the closest station to the arch. However it was still a few blocks away. I took some photos of it.

 

 

 

            I got to the arch and bought a ticket to the top. The display said the next tour that was available at 12:10 pm. However the person said they can get me on a tour at 11:50 am tour.

 

            The arch had a unique way to get visitors up to the top of the arch. They have a car that’s a combination of a Ferris wheel, an elevator, and a tram. I photographed an example of what is used.

 

 

            I had to go through a metal detector. There was also a museum of the history of St Louis. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went to join the line for the North elevator. There was a video on the history of the arch. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            We were then taken to the ride to the top. I photographed the doors.

 

 

            We were told not to take photos during the loading and unloading to reduce people from banging their heads on the stainless steel frames. We could take photos one we were inside.

 

            There are eight cars on each side. Each car can squeeze in five people. The ride up takes four minutes while the ride back down takes three.

 

            I was lucky to have a car all to myself. We soon departed. I took some photos.

 

 

This shows just how small the trams are despite the fact they can each carry 5 people.

 

 

 

            We soon got to the top. We would have 10 minutes at the top. I took some photos including of an Amtrak Lincoln Service train and a BNSF freight with a rear end helper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            It was time to head back down. I boarded my tram and we descended. I got to the main level and got out. I went to the gift shop. Once I was done, I took a few more photos in and around the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photos above and below are of other contest entries that lost to the famous arch.

 

 

 

            I then left and took a couple more photos outside.

 

 

 

            I then made my way back to 8^th and Pine LRT station. I stopped at a Metro themed store near the station but didn’t buy anything. While waiting for my train, I photographed an LRT train going the other way in the original livery.

 

 

            I got on an LRT train and rode to Union Station. During the ride, I took some photos of trains as the LRT line ran near the main line Amtrak uses. I got off at Union Station and headed off. Amtrak no longer serves Union Station; instead, it’s a tourist area. However, the train shed is still intact and has three tracks still leading to the station that are connected to the main line. I saw 10 passenger cars for a “Polar Express” excursion. Three of them were Amtrak Horizon coaches. I photographed those cars and other cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed two TRRA diesels that would be used as power for the Polar Express.

 

 

            I also photographed a koi pond under the train shed.    

 

 

 

            I decided I would try to try to ride the Polar Express either tonight or the next day. I then had lunch at a 50’s style diner under the train shed. I then walked around to the back.

 

            I walked though the station which had a hotel. I saw some models of steam locomotives. I photographed them.

 

 

 

            I noticed some things at the other end of the station. A security guard let me into the area where I saw there was an aquarium, a mirror maze, a rope course, and a café. This guard started to seem to want me to leave so I decided to buy a ticket to the rope course which ended up getting them off my back.

 

            I was given a 30 minute reign on the rope course which included two back-to-back ziplines which I went on 2-3 times. I didn’t go on every obstacle unlike what I did back on my Syracuse trip. After the 30 minutes was up, I got off and got my stuff. I photographed the rope course.

 

 

            The security guards had moved on away from me. I thought about doing other stuff but decided against it.

 

            I made my way over to the light rail station and photographed the next train that came in.

 

 

            The train that came was a blue line train. I decided to ride to Clayton station. After I got off at Clayton, I photographed the train and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            The reason I chose to ride to Clayton was that I would have to go there tomorrow to get my rental car. I decided to find the car rental place which was a good thing I did because it took me several minutes but after popping into a Subway restaurant and using their Wi-Fi, I was able to locate it.

 

            I then walked back to Clayton station. I got on the next train and rode to Grand station as I was going to try to ride a New Flyer XE60 which I had seen the night before.

 

            When I got there, I took an elevator to get to Grand Avenue which was pretty high above the light rail station. I waited for a XE60 on route #70 as that was the route I saw them. The first route #70 heading in my direction was a 40 foot Gillig, but it was followed closely by an XE60. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode for several minutes before I got off. I rode through what looked like the entertainment district of St. Louis. After I got off I photographed the bus.

 

 

            I filmed the bus pulling away. I went into a CVS pharmacy and looked around. I bought a couple items before I went out to catch a bus. The next bus was also an XE40. I rode to the McDonald’s I was at the night before. I got off and went inside the restaurant. I got a call from a survey taker. Since it worked, I phoned home and it worked. However I would find my phone would only work sporadically.

 

            I had dinner then bought some milk from a nearby shop. I saw a highway coach was dropping off passengers to have dinner at the McDonald’s or the Subway next door. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I then waited for a route #40 bus back to my hotel. It eventually came. I rode back to my hotel and went up to my room. I worked on this report for a few minutes. I eventually set my alarm and called it a night.

 

Click here to read about my trip to the National Museum of Transportation:      National Museum of Transportation part 1