This trip started out to just get more Amtrak rail miles for my One Millionth Amtrak Mile coming on April 7th, 2008 and would consist of a round trip to Albuquerque until I had an idea and contacted my friend Randy Jackson who lives there and planned to ride the Sandia Peak Tramway during my layover.
I rode my nightly trips to San Diego as well as Metrolink Train 604 to North Beach then walked to San Clemente Pier and returned home via Pacific Surfliner 785, one of my favourite afternoon trips. I worked all week at McFadden Intermediate and by Wednesday, could not wait for Friday afternoon to arrive. I returned home, packed and relaxed before driving to the Santa Ana station then visited the ticket counter and purchased a Business Class upgrade for my trip to LAUPT. The Metrolink signs were flashing that southbound trains were delayed due a police incident but since that did not affect me, I made my way to Track 1 and waited for my train to arrive.
Pacific Surfliner 583 2/29/2008I boarded the Pacific Business Class car, choosing a seat on the lower level and the wonderful Gloria was my Business Class Attendant. I started to watch my Quiet Riot DVD and wondered when I would see the first southbound train.
Randy Rhodes, one of my all-time favourite guitarists.
Anaheim Stadium was waiting for the 2008 baseball season to start. Metrolink 604 passed us before Fullerton then once at that station, a southbound Metrolink train passed followed by Pacific Surfliner 582 and a 91 line Metrolink train. We only slowed at the shooting incident location before making the final sprint into LAUPT where I walked around the end of the platforms from Track 10 to Track 12.
Southwest Chief 4 2/29/2008
This version of Train 4 had P24DCs 120 and 48, baggage 1720, sleepers 32037, 32025 and 32032, diner 38021, lounge 33046, coaches 34041 and 34044 with dead-heading sleeper 32111 and baggage 1160. I had Room 5 in the 330 car with Fred as my Sleeping Car Attendant. I watched my DVD of "Blue Oyster Cult at the Navy Pier in Chicago" and acquired an 8:00 PM dinner reservation before the train departed on time. The shooting incident at Buena Park did not slow us down at all but there was still a large police presence as we passed.
Station scenes at Fullerton. Conductor Dave Arthur stopped by to see me and after we passed through Santa Ana Canyon, heard we would be stopped due to a BNSF trespasser incident and stopped short of the Downtown Corona Metrolink station at 7:55 PM and sat there until 8:25 PM, during which time I was enjoying dinner with Cathy on her way to Chicago. I had the flat iron steak with chocolate ice cream for dessert then the Southwest Chief took the south track up Cajon Pass to Summit, where I made up my room and called it a night.
3/1/2008 I awoke at Flagstaff and was in the dining car as the train left town. I had the Marketplace Special, the Belgian waffle with sausage links, for breakfast while seated with Rob, going to Albuquerque, and Pat, along with Emil, going to Chicago.
Buttes off to the north before we arrived at Winslow.
Leaving Winslow, behind I watched Jethro Tull's "New Day Yesterday".
Chief Yellowhorse welcomed us to New Mexico.
Views before Gallup where I switched to Disc 1 of "Fawlty Towers".
The red mesas of New Mexico.
Later we would pass a BNSF freight with five different paint schemes: Ferromex, Norfolk Southern, Santa Fe, Burlington Northern green and BNSF. The Southwest Chief arrived at Albuquerque early at 11:47 AM {12:12 PM} and Randy Jackson was on the platform waiting for me. We walked out to his car then drove to our first destination of the day.
Sandia Peak Tramway 3/1/2008The Sandia Mountains sit directly east of Albuquerque, in the Cibola National Forest. The highest point is Sandia Crest, 10,378 feet, exactly where the tram cars deliver passengers. From the ground, the cables are barely visible-and certainly do not seem sturdy enough to support two glass boxes that each hold 50 people. The Sandia Peak Tram has two cars that pass each other. Get ready to wave! The Sandia Peak Tram has two cars that pass each other. Get ready to wave! The trams make 10,500 trips a year. Except for two scheduled maintenance periods (April and November) and unfavorable weather, it is open all year.
Board the Sandia Peak Tram in a high desert climate for the "flight" as the trip is called. During the 3,819 foot ascent; the tram starts at 6,559 feet; you pass from rocky canyons to lush forests. At times, the canyon walls seem close enough to touch. Only two towers hold the cables; after passing the first tower at 7,010 feet, there's a small "dip," and everyone gasps. The tram car attendant reassures us that this is normal, and we return our attention to the dramatic scenery. The attendant also gives a short talk and answers questions.
Fifteen minutes later, we step onto a platform that seems too small to hold us, so we all scurry off to solid ground. Then we begin to take in the view.
Stay on the peak as long as you like. The Visitors Center has information on the area, as well as restrooms and snack machines. Sandia Peak Tram runs from 9am to 9pm, during the summer. Until 8pm in fall and winter. But dress warmly - temperatures are about 30 degrees cooler at the top. Sturdy shoes are important, too, for walking the uneven ground.
The tram opened in 1966 to serve the Sandia Peak Ski Company. One of the ski company's co-founders, Robert Norhaus, had seen tramways in European mountains. Bell Engineering Company of Lucerne, Switzerland, built Sandia Peak Tram as a "double reversible jigback aerial tramway". "Jigback" means that when one tram car is ascending, the other is descending. The cars pass each other at 1,000 feet above ground level. Bell Engineering started building tramways in 1888. By the time they started the Sandia project, the company had built 50-but because of the rocky terrain and steep cliffs, the engineers declared it one of the most challenging.
While the first tower is 232 feet tall, the second tower is only 80 feet tall. It was built on an outcrop, using helicopters, because a construction road was impossible. The longest span is between the second tower, at 8,750 feet and the top terminal. This span is the third longest clear tramway span in the world, at a length of 7,720 feet.
We drove passed the Sandia Peak Tramway sign and parked in the upper parking lot.
We walked into this building to buy our tickets for the World's Longest Tram Ride. Once tickets were purchased, we waited in line to have them punched.
Our tram came down into the station and once everyone had exited, the waiting passengers boarded for the 15 minute trip up Sandia Peak.
The base station sign at 6,559 feet elevation.
The big wheels pull the cables.
The tram quickly gained elevation as it started the climb towards Sandia Peak.
Tower 1 on our trip.
Climbing away from Tower 1.
Passing the downhill tram.
The downhill tram neared Tower 1.
Leaving Tower 1 in the distance.
Climbing towards Tower 2.
Tower 2 was on the next ridge.
Leaving Tower 2.
The views really opened up the higher the tram climbed.
Beautiful vistas abound aboard the Sandia Peak Tram.
It is a long way down.
Almost to the top of Sandia Peak.
The tram reached the summit of Sandia Peak and everyone exited.
Views looking to the west.
Sandia Peak elevation 10,378 feet. We took the next tram down as I took pictures with my 35 mm camera. Once at the bottom, I visited the gift shop before returning to the car and we decided to drive to Belen and see what we could see there. It was a quick trip down Interstate 25 and a few minutes later, we were exiting the highway at Belen and drove into town, parking at the Belen Harvey House.
A BNSF westbound headed out of Belen.
Next another BNSF freight is switching around the Belen Yard.
Belen Harvey House Museum 3/1/2008
The Belen Harvey House was built in 1910 at a cost of $25,000. Belen is at the junction of the four Santa Fe routes that crossed here in New Mexico. On the north-south route, Harvey Houses were located at Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy, Santa Fe, Wallace, Albuquerque, San Marcial, Rincon and Deming. On the east-west route, they were located at Clovis, Vaughan, Belen and Gallup. Now let us take a walk through this unique museum.
Bathroom fixtures.
We next went upstairs to the second floor of the Harvey House.
Model of the Belen Harvey House.
New Mexico Mission models.
Santa Fe Railroad memorabelia.
Upstairs hallway.
From the roof, the BNSF freight still switching. We went back downstairs and signed the Guest Book before we visited the next attraction here in Belen.
Belen Model RailroadNow I will take you through this very interesting Belen Model Railroad that is housed in corner of the Harvey House building.
After a very interesting model railroad display, we signed their guest book before returning to the world of real trains.
Another colourful BNSF freight left Belen for points west. Randy and I returned to the car and drove to the Belen Rail Runner station for a quick look thene followed the BNSF line back as far as Isleta before taking Interstate 25 for the drive back to Albuquerque. We arrived at the Amtrak station just after Train 3, the westbound Southwest Chief, arrived early. We then acquired the train's consist.
Southwest Chief 3 3/1/2008
The Southwest Chief standing proud at Albuquerque.
The Superliner windows were washed by hand this time.
Our train, waiting for a green signal and an on-time departure, consisted of P24DCs 179 and 130, baggage 1255, transition 39006, sleepers 32051 and 32039, diner 38061, lounge 33012 and coaches 34077, 34010 and 34094. I was switched from my ticketed sleeper 331 to 330 with Ann Marie as my Sleeping Car Attendant, one of the best on the entire Amtrak system. I started watching Yes' "90125" as we departed on time.
West of Dalies, a view of the countryside.
Soon the red mesas came into view. At 5:45 PM, I was called in for dinner, seated with Jean and Don headed to Flagstaff and had the flat iron steak but no ice cream as they had run out. After dinner, I had to go to the 331 sleeper to have a hot shower as the 330 only had cold water. The rest of Yes and then some of the Jethro Tull DVD was watched before I called it a night.
3/2/2008 I awoke at Colton as we were running almost on time and sat back and relaxed after my room was made up. In the pre-dawn light, we stopped at Riverside then made our way to Fullerton before the final sprint to LAUPT, putting us there early at 7:13 AM {8:15 AM}. I had seven minutes to go from Track 12 to Track 10 to catch my Pacific Surfliner home to Santa Ana.
Pacific Surfliner 564 3/2/2008Using my March Monthly Pass from Los Angeles to San Diego for the first time, we departed LAUPT on time and headed out along the Los Angeles River.
The Los Angeles Amtrak servicing facility. The train headed south to Fullerton and Anaheim before arriving at Santa Ana three minutes early, ending yet another Amtrak adventure.
