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Stuck in Lamy for Hours, a Round Trip on the Southwest Chief 2/23/2007 to 2/25/2007

This trip, like the one to Portland, was just to get me closer toward my one millionth rail mile in late April. One trip on the Union Pacific was sufficient; as my next two long distance trips would be over the BNSF since fast tracks equals fast rail miles. I worked that short week, coached at the All-City Santa Ana Intermediate Track Meet on Wednesday, and still had plenty of time to pack light for my trip to Lamy, New Mexico.

On Friday, I drove to the Santa Ana station but detoured into the station before crossing the bridge to reach the east platform.

While I waited for my train to Los Angeles, Metrolink 610 came from Oceanside on its way to Los Angeles on what turned out to be a very cold and windy late February afternoon.

The Surfliner train arrived cab car 6903, coaches 6412 and 6414, coach/café 6303 and Pacific Business Class 6806 and F49PHI 461. I chose a seat upstairs in the cab car.

At CP Lincoln, we waited for Pacific Surfliner 582 then I noticed the realigned tracks north of Santiago Creek for the future double-tracking project. We made our way to Anaheim, known as the "Mouse's House" then onto Fullerton.

Later at DT Junction, we slowed for track work and here are the San Gabriel Mountains before we arrived on time at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. I walked down, over and up to Track 12 just as Southwest Chief 4 reversed into the station.

This train had P42DCs 68 and 45, baggage 1255, sleepers 32047, 32093 "Missouri" and 32076 "Delaware", diner 38016, lounge 33014 and coaches 34016 and 31042. I had Room 2 in "Delaware" for this trip, settled in and listened to "Queen I" then made a 7:15 PM dinner reservation. At Fullerton, I stepped off for a minute to say hello to a few railfans who frequent the station to see the eastbound Southwest Chief. I went to the dining car and was seated with Carol and John, going to Indiana. Then I was asked to come to my sleeping car's door where I saw Chris Parker and waved to him just as we departed. Back in the dining car, I enjoyed the pork chop and delicious chocolate cake then walked walked back to the coaches, finding two of my favourite people: Conductor Rosie and Car Attendant Gingi. The three of us caught up with each other until our fresh air stop at San Bernardino.

The San Bernardino station. We departed on time and enjoyed the crossing of Cajon Pass from my darkened room, listening to CD 1 of Led Zeppelin's "How the West Was Won". Just before Victorville, I made up my room and called it a night.

2/24/2007 I awoke east of Winslow after an excellent night's sleep, went to the dining car and was seated with Martha and Frieda, who are sisters travelling to Albuquerque. I ordered the French Toast and sausage patties then returned to my room, read the Arizona Daily Sun and listened to CD 2 of the Led Zeppelin set as we made our way toward New Mexico, where CD 3 took me over the Continental Divide.

Looking back at the red mesas. Next was Blue Oyster Cult's "Curse of the Hidden Mirror". At Suwanee, we were stopped by a westbound BNSF train before crossing over to the south track and continuing east. My next musical selection was Rush's "Vapor Trails". We arrived at Albuquerque fifteen minutes early, where I detrained into a cold and windy 36 degree afternoon and called Let's Talk Trains, the Internet radio show. I learned that my westbound train was delayed by a dust storm and would not arrive until 7:30 tonight so there was no need to worry about making my connections in Lamy.

I visited Coldstone Creamery and talked to Gingi on the platform before returning to the warmth of the train. It was frigid with that strong north wind blowing. We departed on time with U2's "Pop" on my CD player then arrived at Lamy on time and I detrained.

The Southwest Chief departed here for points east and I learned that the westbound Southwest Chief had been stuck in Lamar awaiting a new crew. However, the crew had a major problem getting to their train because the roads had been closed from snow drifts and blowing snow.

I used the nice warm Lamy station as my headquarters for my extended stay.

I walked over to former Atlantic Coast Line diner "Talladega" built by Pullman Standard in 1950 which became Seaboard Coast Line 5955 and later Amtrak 8085, which is now a part-time restaurant, for some soft drinks and called home to let my loved ones know that I was alive and well, but delayed. Now is when I say "Remember, Every Trip is an Adventure!"

Cheap Trick's "Music for Hangovers" was the first of my delay music, followed by ABBA's "Rarities and Demos". I found out that the train had left La Junta 6 hours and 17 minutes late then I discovered that the train was re-crewed at Las Vegas at 7:08 PM and was now scheduled to arrive in Lamy at 8:15 PM. If that happened, I still might be able to have dinner. I talked with Sandy, the wonderful Amtrak agent and called Steve Grande of Trainweb.com to discuss the trips so far then went outside into the late afternoon light.

Looking west down the rails.

Looking east.

A former Santa Fe wooden box car minus its trucks.

Atlantic Coast Line "Talladega" now a restaurant. I went back inside to warm up then returned outside.

Sunset in Lamy looking down the Santa Fe Southern tracks.

The old Lamy church as the sun set on this extremely cold and windy evening. Back in the warmth of the station, it was time for Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack" and I finished reading Trains Magazine and switched to the new Passenger Train Journal. Besides reading, I did my Sudoku puzzles which really helped to pass the time on trains and during delays.

Lamy station at night. My next musical selection was Jethro Tull's "Broadsword and the Beast", followed by the "Benefit" CD.

At 8:10 PM, a green signal was finally spotted.

I was bored, so the moon became my next photographic target.

Sandy kept all the passengers well-informed. I went outside and waited for a headlight to show up in the darkness from the east as that cold wind continued to howl.

A late train is always better than no train. I was tired as the Southwest Chief arrived at 8:50 PM and boarded, whose consist was P42DCs 11 and 173, baggage 1245, transition 32045, sleepers 32048 and 32068, diner 38060, lounge 33040 and coaches 34109 and 34048. I boarded the 32068, a rebuilt sleeper with Paul Wilson as my sleeping car attendant then went straight to the dining car as we left at 8:53 PM {2:24 PM}. The only item they had left was one baked chicken, which was decent. I then asked for a chocolate bundt cake for dessert, but they were out of that as well. I showered then called it a night before we reached Albuquerque at 9:53 PM and departed at 10:38 PM {4:45 PM}.

2/25/2007 I awoke just short of Needles and dressed.

The 1908 Needles station, El Garces, in the early morning light. We left at 6:34 AM {12:49 AM} and started our morning trip across the Mojave Desertand I went to the dining car, was seated with Bob, Jill and Celia, going from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Anaheim and enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties.

As we travelled through the Colorado River valley, Arizona was visible across the river.

The train climbed out of the valley to our first summit at Goffs.

I enjoyed the mountains to the north and visited with Conductor Rosie in the rear of the dining car.

Interesting rock strata in this land that is usually travelled through at night.

Between Cadiz and Amboy.

Looking south at the same location.

Amboy Crater and lava flows as we sped west towards Ash Hill.

Looking south a few minutes later.

The old volcanic crater east of Siberia. Now a trip over Ash Hill.

Ash Hill is one of my favourite pieces of railroad.

At Ludlow, we crossed over to the south track with the train reaching the top of this grade just before Lavic.

A peak to the south as we climbed out of Ludlow.

Reaching the top of this grade just short of Lavic.

Looking south down another desert valley.

The Pisgah Crater.

Crossing Hector Dry Lake.

Newberry Springs.

The Coolwater Solar Collection System.

We reached Daggett, where the Union Pacific joins the BNSF for the journey over Cajon Pass.

Passing the Marine Corps Logistics Base just east of Barstow, where there was a pair of engines outside this morning.

I photographed Santa Fe FP45 95 which is part of the Western American Railroad Museum.

During a cold and windy fresh air stop at Barstow, my sleeping car was in front of the Casa Del Desierto, the former Harvey House. The train departed at 9:08 AM {3:39 AM} and I decided to listen to Jethro Tull's "Benefit" as we proceeded to Victorville, arriving there at 9:48 AM {4:18 AM}.

Going through Upper Mojave Narrows.

Going underneath the Frost Flyover as we started the climb over Cajon Pass.

We crossed over at Lugo, passing the Joshua trees in the Summit Valley.

There was a westbound BNSF freight in the Summit hold track.

An eastbound Union Pacific freight waited at the red signal for us to clear.

Changing from bright sunshine into dark clouds.

Descending the three percent grade on the south track down Cajon Pass. I put on Young Dubliners' "With All Due Respect" as we made our way to San Bernardino for another fresh air break.

The Metrolink fleet at rest waiting for the Monday morning commuter rush, which included a leased Sounder trainset.

The San Bernardino Santa Fe station.

During the station stop, the checked baggage that would be connecting with the Coast Starlight in Northern California was removed from the train to be put on a Thruway Bus for the Amtrak San Joaquin train. We departed at 11:11 AM {5:32 AM}.

Passing the Miller Honey caboose at Rana.

The former Union Pacific station at Colton.

We crossed the former Southern Pacific Sunset Route at Cajon where I put on Guns N' Roses' "Appetite For Destruction" then departed Riverside at 11:29 AM {5:53 AM}.

When we passed through Corona, it was possible to see the houses reaching the boundary of the Cleveland National Forest in the Santa Ana mountains.

Crossing the Santa Ana River Bridge in Santa Ana Canyon.

A signal bridge in the canyon.

The Santa Ana River in Santa Ana Canyon.

Our train was rounding the Horseshoe Bend before reaching Fullerton.

I talked with my good and dear friend Chris Parker who came to see me. We departed at 12:17 PM {6:34 AM} as the Southwest Chief made its final sprint into Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal and now we will see just how much padding there is in the schedule between Fullerton and Los Angeles. The Spice Girls' "Spiceworld" took me the rest of the way.

We crossed the flyover over the Los Angeles River before arriving at 12:49 PM {8:15 AM}, or 4 hours and 34 minutes late. The padding in the schedule was just over an hour, making the train train a little less late than it really was. This ended a very interesting trip aboard the Southwest Chief.

The Southwest Chief at final rest at LAUPT. I walked over to Track 7 to wait to for a Metrolink train home.

Using my Amtrak Monthly Pass, I boarded this weekend Orange County Line train for home instead of waiting for Pacific Surfliner 578 at 2:00 PM and departed on time at 1:30 PM and headed south.

A Union Pacific freight along the east bank of the Los Angeles River.

The Amtrak turntable with Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 under the tarpaulin.

The Los Angeles River from the Redondo Flyover.

A Railpower Green Goat at the BNSF Commerce fuelling facility. We stopped at Norwalk, passed through the future Buena Park station, Fullerton, Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana, where I detrained to end another very interesting trip.

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