As September's Full Moon streamed into my bedroom picture window on the Private Railcar Birch Grove, I wondered how this Iowa moonlit night might have looked differently when this 1950 Birch Grove car was new.  Since only tree silhouettes passed in the moonlight and corn tastles stretched like ocean swells over the gently rolling fields, I concluded that this scene would have been exactly the same as the view from a passenger train at night 58 years ago.

What is different, as we travel westward this night, is the comfort level of Yours Truly.  My roomette on the Birch Grove still has the same fixtures, although restored,  but the chrome ashtray is not used these days, so in the past there would have been the constant smell of cigarette smoke within the car.  The mattress is thicker than current Amtrak mattresses, but probably the same as in this car's heyday.  The ride, however, is the difference...much smoother today than the clackety-clack of rail seams now replaced with ribbon rails.  Also, the speed is greater with modern diesels pulling us, as we travel miles and miles at 79, sometimes 90, mph.  And, I doubt that many people use the used razor blade slot by my sink these days.

A foregone conclusion among rail travelers is that the best way to see, and photograph, America The Beautiful is by rail car with open vestibules.  However, one other consideration that I had never experienced, is riding in a true dome car.  These features, open vestibules and a 360-degree-view dome rail car is what you get when riding the Cincinnati Railway Company's The Observatory.  Riding in The Observatory private rail car also has the advantage of having a low number of accompanying guests so that you can take all your meals and spend every travelling minute in the dome if you like.

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Trains, Planes, and Automobiles all within 24 hours - Getting to the Departure Point.

Chef Bill was the man in charge onboard the Birch Grove and The Observatory.  I first contacted him the night I arrived by plane in Chicago.  I learned later that The Cardinal, on the back of which the private cars were to be attached in Cincinnati, was late arriving into Chicago because of Hurricane Ike flooding.  There were three passengers who boarded in Cincinnati.  At 3:15 in the afternoon the power went out in the city.  The passengers boarded in Norwood Yard at Union Terminal.  At 1 a.m. there still was no power in the city.  The train was made up and at 6:30 a.m.  the consist proceeded to Indianapolis, arriving about noon, about 6 hrs. late.  The train was nulled in Indianapolis and Amtrak passengers were bussed to Chicago.  Private car passengers wondered about their fate.  However, The Cardinal deadheaded to Chicago with the private cars. 

When I called, after arriving in Chicago Monday night,  Chef Bill said they wre not yet in Cincinnati, and that they had been delayed.  I already had made plans to stay Monday night with friends in Huntley, northwest of Chicago. 

Tuesday morning, rail friend, Bob, and I took the Metra from Big Timber Station, downtown and called Bill again from the station.  He said they were in Inspection at that moment, and suggested I just stay at the terminal and board when they backed in on the back of the California Zephyr .

With about 3 hours in downtown Chicago before the California Zephyr was scheduled to depart, my friend Bob and I had breakfast at the terminal's food court, then took the water taxi from near Union Station to Michigan St. and walked to Millenium Park where we took photos of 'The Bean.'

Downtown Chicago:  Chicago River Taxi to Michigan Street and a walk to Millenium Park and Union Station.

Rail Fan, Bob, in Chicago Union Station's Metropolitan Lounge	Chicago Water Taxi Boarding stop near Union Station

"L" trains passed overhead on this bridge, the cars traveled on the lower level.
	This bridge was cars over, trains under.

	Condominiums with barking on the lower level of the towers.  Movies with cars flying out of the garage into the river have been filmed here.

	Nearly finished Trump Towers

Billy Goat Tavern made famous on Saturday Night Live.

Many famous wall stones were built into and labeled in the Tribune Building.	Relief sculptures on bridge towers.

The Chicago Cubs' magic number as of this date.	Chicago Architecture Tour boats carry guests down the Chicago River into Lake Michigan.
Fountain and colonnaide in the northwest corner of Millenium Park	Yours Truly with self portrait in "The Bean."

Millenium Park

The Bean	Flash photo up under the bean.

Unique photographic tower and refleting pool.  The faces change and frequently pucker and spout water.

Chicago "L" Train

California Zephyr and Southwest Chief Routes from Chicago to Galesburg, Illinois

I learned that both the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief follow the same route from Chicago to Galesburg, Illinois.  Some stations differ for each train during this section, but similar stops are Naperville, Princeton, and Galesburg, Illinois.

This being the first time I ever boarded a private rail car in an Amtrak Station, I simply asked the Amtrak person in the coach lounge where I should wait to board my private car.  She directed me to a section of the waiting area next to the exit door to the California Zephyr.  Soon I saw a fellow in an apron come to get other guests with luggage and I asked if he was Chef Bill.  He said that he was Steve, from The Casitas, but that I should just bring my luggage and follow him to the Birch Grove car that I was to board.  When I walked out of the Amtrak waiting area, in Chicago Station, four private cars were ready for departure behind Amtrak the California Zephyr:  The Casitas (from Minneapolis, MN), the Birch Grove, The Observatory, and the Chapel Hill all of which had come from Cincinnati, OH, behind The Cardinal.

The Casitas
Birch Grove - Cincinatti Railway

Chapel Hill - Cincinnati Railway	Chapel Hill - Cincinnati Railway
Chapel Hill - Cincinnati Railway	The Observatory - Cincinnati Railway

Our Head End Power to Oakland, California

California Zephyr in Chicago, ready to depart.

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The Birch Grove

Roomette #6 made up for daytime running.	Mirror, Luggage Rack, Medicine Cabinet.

Hallway on the Roomette end of the car is down the center of the car.

Hallway on the Bedroom with Bath end of the car is down the side of the car with windows on the right.

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The Observatory

Looking toward the back of the car, in the Lounge.	Looking from the entry door, toward the stairs to the dome.
Closer to the stairway to the dome in the center of the car showing the TV and bar. All onboard meals and drinks are included in the trip price (right).

Some electrical plugs are available in the dome, so you can compute without missing any scenery.	The number of onboard guests is small enough that all guests can spend all onboard time in the dome if they wish, including all meals.
Guests enjoying drinks before dinner in the Lounge below the Dome.  Their table is one of two at the end of the lounge in the photo at the right.

Photos From the Train

The California Zephyr follows the same route as the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Galesburg, Illinois.  These sights are available from either train.

Chicago's skyline.

Naperville, IL, Metra commuter train.

Naperville, IL, Metra commuter train.

California Zephyr's Unique Route

After leaving Chicago at 2:00 pm, we had daylight then dusk until Ottumwa, Iowa.  Guests spent time in the dome and lower level of  The Observatory chatting.

It soon became evident that I was among a big happy, train-loving family who had been on several such trips together, many of those trips being AAPRCO Convention trips in prior years.    And, the couples and singles had traveled by private railcar  with other owners all over North America.  

We enjoyed conversation, mostly about railroads,  through the afternoon until about 6:00 p.m. when we were called to the  dome and all who were on this trip were seated  for dinner at one seating. 

Brian and Vicky were seated at the front of the dome and Brian welcomed us all, as he or Chef Bill always does at the first evening meal on his trips, as we slowly made our way through Burlington, IA.  In fact, we shot pictures of the Mississippi River in late afternoon light as he was talking. 

Calvin and 'Rena Gerhard listen to Brian.	Brian and Vicky Collins, Birch Grove Owners.
Bruce Holberg and Ken Burkman	Ken and the Mississippi River.

Mike and Donna Harris

Delicious dinner this evening was baked tomato, shrimp, filet mignon, and potatoes.  In addition to appetizer, salad, dessert and beverage of your choice.

Cincinnati Railway Company's Tours and Excursions

After dinner, in the lounge section of The Observatory car,  Brian outlined in great detail all the trips he takes each year.  A Signature Trip he  is Trainmaster for is his Pitoskey, Michigan trip.  It starts in Chicago and heads north to Pitoskey, Michigan, near Macinaw Island.  It is like a 'mini AAPRCO' of 12 cars and 150 people using the Blue Water Line and Great Lake Central line.   It is a slower trip (35-40 mph as opposed to this cross-country dash to California behind the California Zephyr we are now on to AAPRCO 2008).  The Potoskey Trip stops in small towns and is arranged at the same time as Old Fashioned Festivals  and Polish Festivals in towns where  they are tied up each night.  Tour and time are spent on Mackinaw Island.  A Summer Home Picnic on the water is even part of the trip.  On the return trip, they stop in different small towns on the way back to Chicago.  This trip is the first week of August.

Other popular trips are:   The Washington, DC, Cherry Blossom Festival in April,  where midwest Senators have dinner on the train with you; Kentucky Derby Trip in May;  AAPRCO Convention each year';  Light Up Chicago Excursion - Romantic Getaway;  and New Years Eve in New York City on the Birch Grove and Oliver Hazard Perry with Layover in Albany, travel down the Hudson River, New Years Eve inside Times Square with dinner at Frankie and Johnny's, Acela Lounge after the  festivities and 110 mph ride down to Washington, DC, with a walk through the museums without people on New Years Day and the Cardinal back to Cincinnati.

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Breakfast and Railing to Denver.

Up about 6 am, I found good facilities in the toilet and shower/dressing room in the Birch Grove.  Breakfast is served in The Observatory's Dome when you arrive from your sleeping accommodations.  After breakfast, with the sun at our backs, we traveled westward across the Colorado plains toward Denver.

After breakfast in the Dome, heading to Denver.  It's flat as a pancake out here, but a gradual grade to Denver leaves you at one mile elevation, thus the "Mile High City" monaker for Denver.

At Denver our four private cars were set off the trainset and Amtrak proceeded to the station for passengers.  Soon they were back, picked us up, and we headed up the eastern face of the Rocky Mountains, through it's many tunnels and curves.

Denver Stock Yard was cattleless.	Friends pointed out a trolley to Calvin Gerhard, a trolley restorer, on the trip to AAPRCO.
Railyard and Denver Skyline	Birch Grove, left, turns into Denver

	Denver Station
Colorado Rockies Stadium (above) Chef Bill (right) ready to prepare more gourmet delights.

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