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Reaching My Millionth Amtrak Rail Mile 4/7/2008

I was up at 5:00 AM, showered and shaved then went to the lounge car and enjoyed the pre-dawn running on Day 4,828 of my sobriety. At 5:50 AM, I awoke Jeff and he joined me in the lounge car, as did Chris Parker, after we passed BNSF's Topeka Shops. Later we had breakfast and I enjoyed French Toast and sausage links. At BNSF Argentine Yards, our engines were refuelled before we continued to Kansas City Union Station.

The Southwest Chief which was twenty-five minutes late departing.

Kansas City Terminal Railroad locomotives as we left Kansas City.

Carl Morrison and Carole Walker joined our party at Kansas City this morning.

I tried on the Millionth Mile Amtrak jersey as we departed the Missouri River bridge, where, on April 27, 2007, I broke my One Millionth Overall Rail Mile. Since several of our photographers would be detraining from the sleepers when we arrived at La Plata, I thought it would be a good idea for them to get their pictures now.

Some bridge that was important to me on April 27, 2007. I then took off that jersey and would wait until we arrived at our La Plata stop to put it back on. The train slowed through Carrolton before hustling through Marceline then about thirty minutes, it was announced that we were arriving at La Plata and everyone returned to the sleepers to detrain, except Tom and I, who remained in the lounge car to record the onboard arrival.

The Southwest Chief stopped at La Plata and since this stop completed my Millionth Amtrak Mile, it was time to put on the official Million Amtrak Mile hockey jersey.

These photographs courtesy Tom Anderson. Once it was on, we both walked back to the first coach to get off at the second stop of this double spot. Henry Ford used the public address system to announce "Chris Guenzler has reached his Million Amtrak Rail Mile as he arrived into La Plata this morning and if you look out the left side of the train, you can see the balloons to celebrate this feat.

I stepped off the Southwest Chief at La Plata with one Million Amtrak rail miles completed.

I was then given a plaque that read: "Presented to Chris Guenzler on April 7, 2008 by the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation for completing your Millionth Amtrak Rail Mile at Mile Marker 312.7 on the eastbound Southwest Chief in La Plata, Missouri. This award signifies that Chris Guenzler is the only regular Amtrak Passenger documented to have traveled more than 1,000,000 miles via Amtrak since it was created in 1971, having covered every mile of every route of the system."

Three views after I received my plaque.

After I showed the plaque, we all boarded the Depot Inn bus and were taken to the Silver Rails Event Center.

Interior of the Event Center.

Ray Ivy spoke first on behalf of the City of La Plata. Tom Anderson photograph.

Tom Marshall welcomed the crowd and then showed the other three plaques to be placed around La Plata.

The author addressing the crowd.

Ray Burns of Trainweb.com spoke next, thanking me for all I had done for them. Tom Anderson photograph.

Ray Burns and I, photograph also by Tom Anderson. After that short presentation, the bus took us to the Depot Inn & Suites where I checked in and received my usual Pullman Suite. After a wonderful sauna bath, I took Carl and Tom out to the Exhibition of Amtrak History for Tom's first viewing then relaxed back in the Pullman Suite until it was time to take a bus tour.

Late in the afternoon, we boarded the hotel shuttle bus and Tom drove us to Gifford to see a former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy station.

I went inside and here is a look out the bay window.

The rear of the building.

So. Gifford still on the north side.

I think this is where the tracks once were.

After seeing the South Gifford station, we returned to La Plata via the Amish countryside and the bus drove to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point where all were invited to sign the inside of the structure.

Jeff did a little artwork with his pen; he is very talented artist.

I added my latest goal which I had completed this morning.

On the wall across from that one is the one from last year.

An eastbound BNSF freight came by and you notice that the trees had been cut to afford a clearer view.

That train had DPU's on the rear.

A few minutes later, a westbound BNSF train hustled by our location. After a few more minutes, Jeff and I walked back to the hotel where we got ready for tonight's main event and at 5:45 PM, everyone boarded the shuttle bus once again and drove to the Silver Rails Event Center.

It would be a very nice evening.

We arrived and all went inside, but I stayed outside for a few more pictures.

There was a unique sign on the street corner.

Switch stands along the parking lot.

The exterior of the Silver Rails Event Center. Jeff and I then went inside

Steve Grande and his wife Barbara Cepinko.

Tom and Kelly Marshall, owners of the Depot Inn & Suites.

Shivam Surve, Ray Burns and Bob McMillan.

My tablemates seated at our table. I enjoyed an excellent prime rib dinner for my big day.

The Million Amtrak Mile cake with that famous Pointless Arrow, Amtrak's former public symbol.

The Trainweb group at their table.

I cut the Million Amtrak Mile cake and had some fun with the photographers as I did so. At 7:40 PM Steve, Carole and I took Tom and Jonathan to the station to catch the westbound Southwest Chief.

This sign summed up my whole day. If Amtrak Management has a reserved parking spot in La Plata, then why were they not here when I arrived this morning?

An eastbound BNSF freight passed before a late-running Southwest Chief arrived.

Tom and Jonathan boarded the Southwest Chief for Fullerton and their homes, the first of our group to leave.

On the rear of their train was the Pacific Parlour Car "St Lucia Highlands". It started to rain as we returned to the Event Center.

There was a band playing when we returned. Later, my Millionth Mile DVD was shown without sound. The evening then broke up and Tom plugged the sign back in and I went for a walk.

That really cool sign. We were driven back to the Depot Inn & Suites for the night.