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Southwest Chief to and from Lamy with 900,000 Rail Miles on the Way Home 11/24-26/2005

After I decided to go on the Georgia trips, I needed a post-Thanksgiving train ride. I tried to leave Thanksgiving night and go to La Junta, but the returning train was sold out. I then booked a Friday after Thanksgiving trip on the Coast Starlight to Sacramento and the San Joaquin home, although the problem with was I did not like the Sacramento middle-of-the-night layover with the Starlight's on-time problems. I worked another week then one morning, it occurred to me why not leave on Thanksgiving night, go only as far as Lamy, then board the westbound Southwest Chief that departed Chicago on Thanksgiving Day?

So after work that day, I went straight to the Santa Ana station and had Marty, my excellent night-time agent, book my trip to Lamy and cancel the Sacramento journey. Since I knew that with a little bit of planning, I could get my 900,000th rail mile on the westbound trip, she booked me coach eastbound and sleeper westbound so I would celebrate in style and comfort.

After returning from the fantastic rare mileage trips sponsored by the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum on the Georgia Southwestern Railroad, I returned home then made an afternoon Metrolink roundtrip to Riverside the day before Thanksgiving. On Turkey Day, I packed and had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal at my sister-in-law's mother's house before preparing to leave.

I drove to the station and parked with plenty of time before my train arrived.

The future east elevator.

The east platform being worked on.

The future west elevator area.

The location where one will exit the building if the future pedestrian bridge is used. I checked to see if Pacific Surfliner 583 was running on time, which it was, before I waited on the platform.

A Metrolink Thanksgiving Day special running from Irvine to Riverside was making several roundtrips. It arrived first while Amtrak held back.

The Metrolink train before it departed.

The train arrived with cab car 6900, coaches 6408 and 6411, coach/café 6304, Pacific Business Class cars 6802 and 6807 with F59PHI 452 in push mode. We departed on time and met Pacific Surfliner 582 at CP Lincoln before making our way to Anaheim and Fullerton prior to running to LAUPT early, where I detrained and went into the station for the line to board the Southwest Chief. The station agents checked identification and tickets for all who joined the queue early. The turkey I had eaten made me sleepy while I waited for a delayed train to be brought into the station from the yard. We did not board the Southwest Chief until after departure time, which I thought was funny as this trainset arrived twenty-five minutes early this morning.

This Southwest Chief had P42DCs 205, 36 and 51, baggage 1264, transition 39022, sleepers 32030 and 32090 "Michigan", diner 38015, lounge 33005, coaches 34052, 34031 and 34065 with dead-heading diner 380005 on the rear. I boarded the 412 car and my attendant give me Seat 55. We departed a mere thirteen minutes late and ran to Fullerton, where during our stop, I visited with Keith Johannes, our former McFadden Intermediate Adaptive PE teacher, who was here to put his son on the train. It was really good to see Keith again. The train made its way to Riverside and San Bernardino with us now on time as we departed San Bernardino, then as the train climbed Cajon Pass, I called it a night.

11/25/05 Running on time, I arose after the train had left Flagstaff as we rolled east under a crescent moon with a red twilight along the eastern horizon. I enjoyed a French Toast and sausage breakfast with a delightful couple from Cortez, Colorado taking this train from Riverside to Gallup. Back at my seat, I decided to photograph the scenery from the flat desert east of Holbrook to the beautiful red mesas of New Mexico.

The flatness of Arizona.

The low-lying rock strata began to make an appearance.

The rock strata began to rise up.

I love this route as it changes over the miles.

Interstate 40 follows our route.

The vegatation changed a little as we sped east.

I always look for animals.

Those truckers never have time to look at the beautiful scenery as one can do on a train.

Nearing New Mexico, it started to get more interesting.

Even if get trucks in the way when I take a picture as we enter New Mexico.

Another truck trying to block my view.

Chief Yellowhead tourist trap. They used to have "Buffy the Buffalo" for years and a sign along the highway once told about him but that has since disappeared. I hoped "Buffy the Buffalo" did not became "Beefy the Buffalo!"

More of "Yellowhead" trading post.

Here you can see how a mesa rises from the valley floor.

This gives a good view of nature has constructed it.

Good-looking rock strata.

The interesting rocks.

As we travelled more into New Mexico, the scenery changed.

The result of erosion over a great period of time. The train stopped at Gallup before continuing east and remaining on time.

A nice reservoir reflects the red mesas.

A pointed rock off in the distance.

Interesting boulders continued to be seen.

All we needed were some Indians on horseback for a really good movie location.

New Mexico is a colourful land.

Mesas and blue skies cannot be beaten!

One last view of a red mesa for this trip. The Southwest Chief climbed the north track to Throreau as I switched to the CD by Martin Barre of Jethro Tull fame called "Stage Left", which took me to Grants. Queen's "Day at the Races" was next as I felt very relaxed and was enjoying the journey.

More interesting rock formations. At Suwanee, we took the south track to Dalies as I rode in the lounge car for that segment. I returned to my seat for the Young Dubliners' "Real World" and more of my book, John Grisham's "The Broker" as the train sprinted to Albuquerque.

Crossing the Rio Grande River.

New Mexico Rail Runner MP36 101 and train of the future Rail Runner commuter train service was seen as we arrived in Albuquerque at 11:31 AM MST for an extended stay. I walked over to Cold Stone Creamery for a bowl of ice cream and after working on my sun tan for a while, I decided to call Amtrak's automated agent, Julie, to learn my westbound Southwest Chief was two-and-a-half hours late. That train had departed La Junta at 11:02 AM MST, which gave me plenty of time to explore the immediate area. With twenty minutes to spare, I returned to my seat in anticipation of an on-time departure from Albuquerque, which we did.

I relaxed the rest of the way to Lamy listening to Keith Richards' "Main Offender" before our slightly early arrival.

The Santa Fe Lamy station built in 1909, as the eastbound Southwest Chief departs en route to Chicago.

The Lamy Station ticket counter.

Note the train above the door.

The waiting room.

Pictures and posters around the waiting room.

The Santa Fe timetable board, after which I ventured outside.

The exterior of the station.

New York Central sleeping car "Hamilton" built by Pullman, later Southern Railway. Full history unknown.

I walked the Lamy station platform and soon discovered bricks were made with a stamp from the Coffeyville Vitrified Brick Company.

Former Amtrak dining car 8085, ex. Seaboard Coast Line 5955, nee Atlantic Coast Line "Talladega" built by Pullman Standard in 1950. The Lamy station agent kept telling people the westbound Southwest Chief would be arriving at 4:20 PM and I called Julie and she said 5:20 PM, then at 4:00 PM, the agent changed his time to match Julie's time. I sat out in the cool fresh air listening to the Moody Blues' "Greatest Hits". The sun set at 4:45 PM and the Moody Blues song, "I Know You're Out There!" now has a special meaning after I sang it on the platform. I watched the first stars appear in the clear sky as I waited for my train to arrive.

At 5:21 PM MST, the Southwest Chief duly arrived two hours and fifty-seven minutes late with a consist of P42DCs 66, 88 and 167, baggage 1235, transition 39026, sleepers 32043 and 32039, diner 38022, lounge 33002, coaches 35004, 34061 and 31025 with another dead-eading diner 38011 and BNSF BN 41 "Flathead River", BN 45 "Powder River" and BN 44 "Colorado River". I was given a 5:30 PM dinner reservation, meeting Dave and Terry travelling from Milwaukee to Flagstaff. I had the Flat Iron Steak, which was excellent, along with a chocolate sundae. Andrew was my sleeping car attendant.

We arrived at Albuquerque at 6:28 PM MST and I walked to the rear of the train to see the BNSF business cars. Back onboard, I put on the first CD of Ian Anderson "Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull" set and we departed at 7:03 PM {4:45 PM}. After the first CD, the activities of the last week began to catch up with me so I called it a night.

11/26/05 At about 12:40 AM MST at MP 369.9 just east of Williams Junction, I passed 900,000 rail miles while I slept soundly in my sleeping car. I officially arose for some unknown reason at 3:30 AM PST just west of Needles and must have set my watch the wrong way. The train sped west across the Mojave Desert then west of Ludlow, I went back to bed, sleeping until Victorville then went to the dining car and was seated with Bill and Andrea, travelling with their children from Garden City, Kansas to San Bernardino. I enjoyed a busy Cajon Pass while having my French Toast and sausage.

At San Bernardino, the Metrolink trains were laying over for the weekend, then we continued on to Riverside. I finished the second Ian Anderson CD west of La Sierra and switched to Yes' "Talk" then a large percentage of our passengers detrained at Fullerton, where I had my last fresh air break of this trip.

Our train on the flyover across the Alameda Corridor before we arrived at LAUPT at 9:08 AM PST {8:15 AM}.

BNSF bi-level coach 41 "Flathead River", ex. BNA 32 1996, ex. Transcisco Tours "Donner Lake" 1992, nee Southern Pacific 3701 built by Pullman-Standard in 1955.

BNSF bi-level coach 45 "Powder River", ex. BNA 41 "Powder River", exx. Transcisco Tours "San Francisco" 1992, nee Southern Pacific 3707 built by Pullman-Standard in 1955.

BNSF bi-level coach 44 "Colorado River", ex. BNA 40 "Colorado River", exx. Transcisco Tours "San Jose" 1992, nee Southern Pacific 3708 built by Pullman-Standard in 1955.

The three business cars on the rear of the Southwest Chief.

Today's Pacific Surfliner 572 that departs at 11:10.

This train had F59PHI 451, Pacific Business Class car 6861, coach/café 6351 "Tecolote Canyon", coaches 6451 "Ocean Beach", Pacific Business Class 6852 "Elysian Park", coach 6413 and cab car 6904. We departed on time and returned back to Fullerton the way we had just come then ran to Anaheim and on to Santa Ana, where I ended yet another fantastic Amtrak adventure.

Our monthly Train Travel Meetup Group gathering that was usually held at the Rail Restaurant had to be moved that day due to an electrical problem. I returned Steve Grande's phone call which told me of the problem and suggested Stubrik's Steak House a few doors to the east. We had 16 people present and I had a very large surprise after dinner when they presented me with this cake that said "Congrats Chris 900,000.0 Rail Miles". I was very touched by this gesture, but still had one more trip to take this year.

The beautiful cake.

Here I am looking at the wonderful cake.

The group enjoying the cake. The last three pictures were taken by Cathy Stanfill.

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