Then we kissed Santa Barbara good bye and began our adventure... |
...aboard the McKinley Explorer. Today was overcast, so there were fewer dark shadows for photography. |
Steve and Shivam await the engine that will take us to San Jose...since we don't know the way! |
Engine 511, with engineer and conductor, Shelton, finally appeared down the track, but when it arrived, it was 2 tracks from us! I photographed it as it went past us east... |
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This gave us more time around the car so I photo graphed the double trucks, after Jack said the original Budd cars of the '30s had triple trucks and were not 'full domes' as these cars are. Others noted the date of "02/03" on them verifying their newness. |
Finally, it came and hooked up. |
Now, we were a complete train ready to roll! |
Jim Rau hooked air and current and we were ready! |
Shelton Barber would be our conductor to San Luis Obispo, and he made a final check with Jerre, of Amtrak Operations. |
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...with a load of logs from a forest fire! |
We enjoyed the platform
as we sped
out of Santa Barbara north. |
Curves and a red light allowed us hang out of the platform and photograph the set including the engine. |
The red light was to allow the log train time to pull off on the siding and let us pass, being much faster. |
I could imagine how delighted the Alaska passengers are going to be with this nearly-360 degree view as we watched the Pacific Ocean go by. |
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Steve and Ray had brought veggies and fruit and wine and we enjoyed our luxury accommodations without station stops. |
