Chris Guenzler reaches One Million Miles Traveled on Amtrak

Photos and Story by Carl Morrison Carl@TrainWeb.com

http://trainweb.org/carl/GuenzlerAmtrakMillion

Comments welcomed at Carl@TrainWeb.com

April 7, 2008

Getting There

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles would be an appropriate title for my efforts to cover this historic event. Since I finished a photo assignment in Laughlin, Nevada, about 7 pm Saturday, April 5, I drove back to Orange County, California, arriving about midnight. Plans for my trip to LaPlata, MO, were to be at Steve Grande's house at 6:45 am, April 6, so we could fly Express Jet from Ontario, CA, to Kansas City, MO, leaving about 9:40 am. The plans worked out perfectly, and I begin my report with a picture of an Express Jet.

(Click any photo below to see a double-sized copy; Click BACK in your browser to return to this page.)

Express Jets at Ontario, CA, Airport
Ontario homes and businesses as we left for Kansas City. Right: Above the clouds	"Sky High"

Steve reserved both an aisle AND a window seat for me! (There is a single row of seats on the left side, and that is how I could have a window and aisle seat). I enjoyed XM radio during the flight, using a complimentary headset. A light, cold meal was served soon after departure, followed by drinks, followed by a snack, followed by drinks, so we pretty much ate our way from the West Coast to Middle America during the 2 hr. 15 min. flight.

Where the clouds meet the mountains.
The ridgeline snow seemed to have been drawn with chalk.	Where Southern California's water comes from (aquaduct).

Palm Springs Airport. Right: All life is near the river in the desert.
A freeway exit to a dirt road.

In irrigatged areas, circle makes the square.

Earlier rains caused flooding, but water was back within the banks near Kansas City.

Intersection pattern near KCI

Where to stay In Kansas City, near Union Station.

Carole Walker, Amtrak and Cruise Specialist, owner of Bella Vista Travel, (562) 594-6771, on her way to LaPlata, MO, for Chris Guenzler's Million Amtrak Mile Celebration, stayed at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, 2345 McGee Street, 800 233-1234. I stayed at the Westin Crown Center, 1 East Pershing Road (816) 474-4400

Hyatt Regency Crown Center Skies Restaurant on the 42nd Floor LINK, enclosed, climate-controlled walkway, to Union Station.	Westin Crown Center Benton's Steak and Chop House with City View LINK, to Union Station and Hyatt Regency
Westin Crown Center's Lobby from the walkway level.	Entry to Westin Crown Center from The Link.

View from Westin Lobby to Union Station.

Five-story waterfall in lobby.

Union Station has 850,000 sq. ft. and is home to the interactive Science City, traveling exhibits, restaurants, shops, special events and more. The Theatre District in Union Station features live performances on the H&R Block City Stage and state-of-the-art 3D movie projection on the giant Extreme Screen. A favorite meeting place is under the Grand Hall clock. The station is open free from 6 am to Midnight. See a 360 degree video at the entrance at: http://www.360kc.com/Attractions/Museums/UnionStation.html

Sign in the Westin.	View of the Westin from the Link/walkway.
The Link as it leads to Union Station (left side of photo).	Inside The Link.

THE LINK, covered walkway to Union Station from both the Hyatt Regency and Westin Hotels.

View from inside The Link looking toward Union Station.	View of the Westin from one of the observation glass rooms in The Link.
View of the Westin from The Link near Union Station.	The Link enters Union Station on the 2nd floor, an excellent location to view the vast lobby.


Illinois Zephyr model encased in the Union Station.	New mural of 12 rail lines that united to build Union Station.

	View back to the main lobby from the long hallway to the tracks.
This bridge from the 1800s was brought in and placed as a pedestrian bridge from Union Station to the shops and restaurants north across the tracks.	Below the bridge I spied this Santa Fe "Chico" private car.

In addition to a siding for Amtrak to stop at the station, UP feights pass frequently...	and continue past the Amtrak passenger ramp and through downtown, heading eastward.
	To get down to track level without a ticket on Amtrak, walk out the front of the station, where you'll see the Westin, to the street, turn right, and walk down the ramp to the lower level.

Main entrance to the beautiful station.
	Once on the track level, you will notice this trolley display.

Once on track level, there is an open gate in the fence allowing you to walk right up to the rail car and locomotive.

Other scenes in the Kansas City Union Station

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	The building next to Union Station reflected the station making interesting images.
	Downtown K.C. from The Link back to The Westin

A logo from a restaurant in the Westin hotel.	Hallmark cards studios are adjacent to the hotel.
A short taxi ride from downtown is the best Kansas City-style barbecue in town. I selected the pulled-pork sandwich. Excellent, and enough to feed a family!


	For an excellent evening in downtown K.C., I'd suggest dinner and/or drinks at the Skies Rooftop Revolving Restaurant in the Hyatt Recengy Crown Center.

The day of Chris' Millionth Amtrak Mile, in K. C., I boarded the Southwest Chief on which he was traveling from Fullerton, CA, to LaPlata, MO, for the last couple of hours of his trip. This completed my "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles" section of this trip, but the excitement was just beginning!

Morning view from the Amtrak ramp to trains leaving Kansas City Union Station. I was there early enough to see the Kansas City Mule depart for St. Louis at 9:40 (right and below). The Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service also stop at this station.
	Not long thereafter, the Southwest Chief pulled in, my ride to LaPlata with Chris and others who had come from California for the celebration.

On board the Southwest Chief with Chris for his Millionth Amtrak Mile.

Chris was glad to see Carole Walker, who joined him on the Southwest Chief in Kansas City.	Onboard from Fullerton, CA, was Jonathan Ortiz.
Carole and Chris Parker in the lounge car eastbound for LaPlata (Right) David Thebodo, Rail Merchants International, was onboard as well. He had sold the 2 Rail Express Cars to Silver Rails Resort for the Historical Museum of Amtrak. He currently has several cabooses for sale, complete with hot tubs.

Tom Anderson, Rail Friend and maker of shirts for all Chris' Milestones.	Rocker Tom Anderson was also onboard.
And, Chris Guenzler, the reason we were all on the Southwest Chief this day in history, ready to toast his Millionth Mile with a Coca-Cola.	A scene that had taken place a Million times...Chris watching a passing train from an Amtrak trip.

Chris' Millionth Rail Mile (all routes) took place on this bridge earlier. Many of us were on this same trip with him at that time.	David pointed out "Where old Chevy Pickups go to die."
Christy Walker also was on this train from Fullerton.	Jeff Hartmann, also onboard the Southwest Chief, with Chris.

Arrival in LaPlata. First spot we sleeper passengers detrained, second spot, Chris got off.	I spied Dutch Myers (in the shades) in the reception committee.
Soon the Southwest Chief pulled out for Chicago. The best sight in LaPlata (right) is to see Tom Marshall welcoming you with his great smile at the LaPlata Amtrak Station...it's like being welcomed back home!

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