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The Journey East to Harrisburg with a Stop in Pittsburgh For the Monongahela Incline 4/5/2007 to 4/8/2007

The purpose of this trip was to attend Bart Jennings' trio of rare mileage trips in Indiana which happened to be scheduled over my school's spring break. Since Chris Parker and I were meeting each other in Indianpolis prior to the charters, I planned to visit some museums and locales that I had never visited before.

I worked another long hard day at McFadden Intermediate on April 5th, 2007, but this time did not go directly home, instead had my hair cut and ran a few errands before finishing packing. My mother then drove me to the Santa Ana station and I said hello to Marti, my excellent night-time Amtrak agent, before making my way over the pedestrian bridge with my luggage.

Pacific Surfliner 583 4/5/2007

This train arrived with Pacific Surfliner cab car 6908, Superliner coach 31021, coach 6405, coach/café 6351, Pacific Business Class 6801 with F59PHI 452. I boarded and relaxed downstairs for the trip to Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal.

We stopped at Anaheim and had a red signal at CP College, where I photographed the former Tustin branch of the Southern Pacific, before continuing toward Fullerton and our final sprint into LAUPT.

I walked down, over and up to Track 12 to find a waiting Southwest Chief which P42DCs 99 and 80, baggage 1172, transition 39010, sleepers 32088 "Iowa" and 32097 "New Hampshire", diner 38024, lounge 33019 and coaches 34041, 31033 and 34050. I boarded "New Hampshire" and was given Room 4, with Paul Wilson as my sleeping car attendant.

After setting up my room, I went outside for a quick station picture then listened to Rainbow's "In Europe".

We departed on time and I made a 8:15 PM dinner reservation before we passed the MTA subway yard with downtown Los Angeles in the background.

Looking southwest from the Redondo Flyover across the Los Angeles River.

There were interesting skies as we headed to our first fresh air stop at Fullerton.

A fresh air stop at Fullerton with changing sky colours. After Fullerton, at 8:15 PM, I was called in for dinner and sat with Ron and Judy, on their way to Raton and Colorado Springs. I had the pork chop and sweet temptation chocolate cake then returned to my room and listened to "Rush In Rio" for the climb over Cajon Pass and after Summit, called it a night.

4/6/2007 I awoke east of Flagstaff and went to the dining car for French Toast and sausage patties and was seated with a reader of my stories on Trainweb from Triangle, Virginia and Ross and Cynthia from La Habra. Cynthia is making her first long-distance train trip. After breakfast, it was more of "Rush In Rio" as I read USA Today with the train speeding toward New Mexico.

An Arizona morning. Once in New Mexico, I had a nap that lasted until Rio Puerco.

An interesting butte. My watch stopped working last night so I would have to find a replacement in Chicago tomorrow. Because of our late running, we stopped at Isleta to wait for a New Mexico Rail Runner train.

New Mexico Rail Runner 509 bound for Belen.

BNSF 6704 was waiting for both trains to depart.

Once the New Mexico Rail Runner passed, we crossed the Rio Grande River before arriving in Albuquerque and after a nice, long and warm servicing stop, we departed at 1:51 PM {12:40 PM} and I listened to the final CD of "Rush in Rio".

Clouds were draped over the mountains north of Albuquerque.

Another view as we neared Lamy. At East Lamy, we met the westbound Southwest Chief in the siding and I rode in the lounge car for the trip through Apache Canyon and over Glorieta Pass. After that, I returned to my room and put on Alice Cooper's "Billion Dollar Babies". Later we crossed a very full Pecos River and I chose the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" for my next musical selection on this very gloomy afternoon.

A gloomy New Mexico day.

The old stable foundations of Fort Union as we passed. At 5:30 PM, the following announcement came over the PA system: "This is Sam, everyone's favourite dining car steward calling all 5:30 dinner car reservations in for dinner!" I was again seated with Ross and Cynthia, along with Chris heading to Chicago and I repeated last night's dinner of pork chop and chocolate cake.

I finished just before we arrived at Raton for a very cold fresh air break. Back inside my warm room, I put on Jethro Tull's "Stand Up" for the trip up and over Raton Pass into Colorado.

As we descended the Pass, there was snow on the ground. I had a hot shower as we made our way toward Trinidad and listened ton ABBA's "More Gold" as day turned into night. I called it a night before La Junta prior to bouncing across Kansas all night.

4/7/2007 During our trek into BNSF's Argentine yard, I went to the dining car and was seated with Glen and Karen Copper of Milwaukee. Karen has been involved with the "Tracks Ahead" television program that covers numerous topics about railroading. The dining car was out of French Toast, so I had to have Frosted Flakes. We were joined by Reg Miller going to Flint, Michigan and I finished just before we arrived in Kansas City on a cold windy morning.

The Southwest Chief at rest at Kansas City.

Several freight trains passed through as our train was serviced. After we departed, I went to the rear door to document our trip across the Missouri River bridge east of Sibley, where I planned to pass 1,000,000 rail miles on April 27th.

We went under a Santa Fe signal bridge as we slowly made our way across the Missouri River floodplain following a BNSF freight.

One of the gentle curves on the floodplain.

Passing the former Santa Fe station at Sibley.

The railroad becomes single track here for the crossing of the Missouri River.

Starting onto the bridge.

The spot where I would celebrate the 1,000,000 rail riding mark if all goes according to plan on that trip.

The train having just gone through the bridge; a picture I knew I would not be able to get later this month since I would be occupied with a large onboard celebration the next time I was here.

A beautiful river on a beautiful day!

This 4,082 feet bridge was built by the Santa Fe in 1915, whose main span consist of a trio of 396 foot long Pennsylvania through trusses, each with 16 panels and pinned connections. To the south, these are approached by three more deck plate girder spans.

In 1887, the Chicago, Santa Fe and California Railway began construction on a 213 mile line crossing the state of Missouri. It would begin at Fort Madison, Iowa and head to Big Blue Junction, Missouri. The line crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa at Fort Madison, and Des Moines River into Missouri near Argyle, Iowa. At Sibley, it would cross the Missouri River.

The Sibley Bridge Company was chartered in 1888 to construct the large bridge across the Missouri River at Sibley. Similarly, the Mississippi River Railroad & Toll Bridge Company constructed the bridge across the Mississippi River. The entire line became part of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1900. This mainline would see heavy reconstruction throughout the first decade of the 20th century. Reconstruction included tasks such as relocation and double tracking. The line was critical to the development of the State of Missouri since it provided the quickest and most direct route between the agricultural center at Kansas City and Chicago.

Throughout the 20th Century, the line remained one of the most critical rail lines in the United States. The heavy duty mainline saw guards during World War II, due to the critical connection between Southern California and Chicago and it connects to the equally as important Chillicothe Subdivision on the east, and the Emporia Subdivision on the west.

Later we passed that BNSF freight running on the joint line with the Norfolk Southern. I went back to my room for Jethro Tull's "Benefit", followed by Scorpions' "Eye II Eye".

The La Plata station stop interrupted my music as this is where I would detrain on the Million Mile Rail Trip for a two-night stay at the Depot Inn and Suites along with a major celebration.

Ray Burns of Trainweb.com and Trainparty.com came down to the station to see me come through on a very cold spring day.

The brand new train viewing platform that is part of the Depot Inn and Suites complex. Our next stop would be Fort Madison, so I put on Queen's "Innuendo" to get me there.

Our train crossed the Des Moines River as we entered Iowa

We descended into the Mississippi River floodplain, running beside the river to Fort Madison.

The cold fresh air stop at Fort Madison.

Minutes later, the Southwest Chief crossed the Mississippi River.

I looked back from Illinois to Iowa across "Old Man River". then napped beyond Galesburg before going to the lounge car for a chocolate chip cookie and sat at a table until Kewanee where we stopped for CSX 6770 West and Norfolk Southern 9140 West. We reversed a tenth-of-a-mile to clear a circuit so the signal maintainer could correct a signal problem before we left East Kewanee. John Cougar's "Freedom Road" was my next musical choice, followed by Paul Stanley's "Win to Live" to get me closer to the Windy City on this dark gloomy afternoon. Just west of Aurora, the westbound Southwest Chief passed us and we almost made it into Chicago Union Station but were aligned on the wrong track to enter. Once our conductor walked back to protect our rear, we reversed about three car lengths before pulling into Track 26 at 4:54 PM {3:20 PM}, ending a very relaxing trip on Amtrak's Southwest Chief.

After I stored my bags in the Metropolitan Lounge, I went to buy a new watch but the two CVS pharmacies west of the Chicago River closed at 5:00 PM, as did the five other stores east of the Chicago River. I walked over a mile before finding a Macy's (Marshall Field's) which had a $250 watch reduced to $64. I kept walking south down State Street and at Adams, found a Walgreen's with watches for sale starting at $14.95, so bought one. Back inside warm Union Station, I visited Gold Coast for a pair of char dogs which I brought back to the lounge then called home so that my mother could take care of something that I forgot to do before I left.

I reclaimed my luggage and learned that the eastbound Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh would be late becuase of mechanical problems from this morning's late arrival. It was just another day at Chicago Union Station. It was announced at 6:45 PM that dinner would not be served on the Capitol Limited tonight, so they gave each sleeping car passenger $18 for dinner. Those Gold Coast char dogs certainly were good!

At 8:04 PM, sleeping car passengers were finally called to board the train and I noted the consist before boarding Room 2 in Sleeper 32033. This train had P42DCs, baggage 1257, transition 39024, sleepers 32039 and 32033, diner 38063, lounge 33031 and coaches 31027, 34058 and 34137. We had to wait for our train crew to arrive so our departure time was listed at 10:00 PM. Daryl was my sleeping car attendant and I was already in bed as we departed at 9:18 PM {7:05 PM}.

4/8/2007 I slept well and awoke east of Cleveland on a cold snowy morning this early April and had my usual breakfast of French Toast and sausage patties.

After breakfast I listened to the Young Dubliners' "With All Due Respect" as we were having another delay outside of Ravenna, Ohio then later we paused in Alliance for a short passenger stop.

An oil well east of Sebring. There was plenty of Norfolk Southern freight action on this line to keep me entertained.

Cheapke, Ohio.

We crossed the state line into Pennsylvania passing a iced pond.

The next pond was frozen as well.

A red barn.

Icicles hanging down in a rock cut.

Just after we crossed the Ohio River at Beaver Falls.

The north side of Norfolk Southern's Conway Yard.

About thirty minutes later, we pulled by the Amtrak Pittsburgh station before we reversed into it, arriving at 11:08 AM {5:30 AM}.

The Capitol Limited at rest at Pittsburgh.

I stored my bags behind the counter then photographed the former Pennsylvania Railroad station built in 1901 that now houses an apartment complex. Until the late 1980's, Amtrak used part of the building, but once the main building was renovated and converted into condominiums, the passenger areas were moved in 1989 to a newly constructed facility at the rear of the complex.

I followed some directions that were off by over a block but did find the Port Authority Transit Steel Plaza light rail station. I was planning on riding the whole system, but my late train forced me to change my plans so instead, I would sample a small portion of the light rail and then ride the Monongahela Incline. After an eastbound trolley went by and waiting about fifteen minutes, my westbound arrived, which I boarded and was off for a two-station trip. We exited the subway portion of the line, stopping at First Street then crossing the Monongahela River, stopping at Station Square. I exited, paid and was given a transfer here. Downtown Pittsburgh is a free-ride zone so passengers pay when entering or exiting a station outside the downtown core. I walked a block north for a ride that I had wanted to take for years.

The Monongahela Incline was opened on May 28, 1870, built by engineer John J. Endres at a cost of $50,000 and has been in nearly continuous use for a century-and-a-half. It was the first passenger funicular railway built in the United States. The success of this incline then brought about 17 more inclines in the greater Pittsburgh area. In 1935, the cars were rebuilt and electric traction motors replaced the steam engines that had pulled the cables. In 1964, the Incline joined the Port Authority of Allegheny County. In 1970, it was declared a historical structure by the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation then in 1977, was added to The National Register of Historic Places. This icon of Pittsburgh history was built to transport workers up and down "Coal Hill" which was otherwise almost inaccessible from the city proper. "Coal Hill" is now known as Mount Washington.

It has been renovated several times and the stations have been restored to their original appearance. The length is 635 feet with an elevation gain of 367.39 feet. The grade is 35 degrees, 35 minutes and it has a speed of six miles per hour.

After I entered the station, soon a car come down on the Incline. Once a single passenger detrained, I boarded the lower level while a family boarded the top level. The doors were then closed and we started our ascent.

Just having left the station.

A little higher.

The view of downtown Pittsburgh on this cold and cloudy day.

Passing the downhill car.

We continued to climb as the car descended.

Looking across the Monongahela River.

Almost at the top!

At the top of the Monongahela Incline.

The first bridge is the one that the light rail uses. I detrained, paid a $1.75 for a transfer before boarding the upper level of the car to record the trip back down. This end has an open view with grating that allows for clear pictures.

Leaving the upper Station House.

Starting down the Monongahela Incline.

Passing the car that was on its way up.

Further down the incline.

Nearing the bottom.

At the bottom, I exited first the car and then the building.

The Monongahela Incline.

The lower station building.

The cars on the Monongahela Incline. What an experience it had been to finally to ride this first incline ever built. I returned to Station Square using my transfer and waited for my light rail train.

The trolley arrived and I rode back to the Steel Plaza station.

Back at Steel Plaza station.

A sculpture of a stegosaurus. I returned to street level hearing loud church bells as it was Easter Sunday and was serenaded all the way back to Amtrak, where I reclaimed my luggage then went up to the platform to wait for my next Amtrak train to Harrisburg.

At 1:10 PM, boarding began for this train which consisted of P42DCs 194 and 75, Amfleet coaches 82651, 82017, 25014, 25037, 25059 and Amcafé 48195. 194 had been on the westbound train yesterday and died, causing that train to be four hours late into the "Steel City". We departed Pittsburgh on time and paused to wait for a westbound Norfolk Southern freight. It was snowing as we approached our first stop of Greensburg, followed by Latrobe then the train twisted and turned through the hilly countryside to Johnstown.

Our train played leap frog with a Norfolk Southern double stack train so this was the last time I saw him today.

Later we passed the Tunnel Inn, where Chris Parker and I stayed last August before we plunged into Summit Tunnel on Track 2.

Next we descended and just before Horseshoe Curve, we stopped because of a red signal.

Once we had a green signal, we rode around the world-famous Horseshoe Curve.

After we stopped at Altoona, the Railroaders Museum with the Pennsylvania GG-1 on display could be seen. Fourteen miles east, we stopped at Tyrone and I did several Sudoku puzzles on the way to Huntington and listened to Led Zeppelin's "How the West was Won."

Juniata River. At Lewistown, the large group of Amish passengers detrained and we would now make the final sprint to Harrisburg.

A Pennsylvania farm.

Later we ran along the Susquehanna River.

Approaching the Arch Bridge over the Susquehanna River.

Our train curving onto the bridge.

Crossing the Susquehanna River. We arrived in Harrisburg at 6:51 PM {6:45 PM} and I went up into the station but there was no answer from the number that Amtrak had given me for Hertz to pick me up. I went outside and found a taxi to take me to Harrisburg Airport where I rented a Kia Spectra which I drove east to the Town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

I checked into the Best Western Intercourse Village Inn. The name of this unique village has nothing to do with sex. When the village was founded in 1754, it was known as Cross Key. Theory 1: there was an old race track that existed east of town and entrance to the track was known as "Entercourse". It is believed by some people the "Entercourse" gradually evolved into "Intercourse". Theory 2: Two famous roads crossed here, the old King Highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and the road from Wellington to Erie intersected in the middle of town. The joining of these two roads is claimed by some to be the basis for the towns of "Cross Keys" or eventually "Intercourse". Theory 3: the final idea comes from the use of the language used during the early days. The word "intercourse" was commonly used to describe "fellowship" and "social interaction and support" shared in a community of faith which was much a part of a rural village like this. This history was taken from the Village of Intercourse Merchants Association.

I called a few people then called it a night.

4/9/2007 The next morning, I went to the Intercourse Village Restaurant on the hotel's grounds and had French Toast and local sausage with orange juice, which was excellent. Four dollars was deducted from my bill since I stayed at the hotel last night, so this place was really a bargain. I checked my e-mail again before checking out and drove to Strasburg for a visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the adjacet Strasburg Rail Road and a stay at the Red Caboose Motel.

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