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The Passenger Train Historical Society Picnic in La Plata, Missouri 8/4-8/2008

My attendance at the picnic of the Passenger Train Historical Society (formed by attendees to prior annual conferences of the Amtrak Historical Society) in La Plata was a late add-on to an existing trip. In April, after Bart Jennings sent me an e-mail about his Appanoose County Community Railroad rare mileage excursion on August 16, 2008, I learned that his trip would start in Centerville, which was only 75 miles from the Depot Inn & Suites in La Plata. Since I had not taken the California Zephyr eastbound for a while, I decided to ride the whole route from Emeryville to Chicago, visiting my brother Bruce in Sacramento one night after taking the San Joaquin up from Los Angeles then go to work with him before taking Capitol Corridor train to Emeryville.

I would spend one night in Chicago before taking Train 4 to La Plata, rent a car to get to Centerville and wherever else I would go to. Iowa was hit with record flooding, wiping out several other railroads that Bart had hoped to ride the day after his excursion. Since I would have a rental car, I decided to stay in Cameron, Missouri then contacted the Midland Railroad in Baldwin City, Kansas and the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad in Belton, Missouri. Both came back with affirmative replies and received complimentary tickets.

My plan then was to return to La Plata via the Norfolk Southern line to Moberly and take train 3 home. Then it was announced that the Passenger Train Historical Society picnic would occur just before my trip. Steve Grande thought that I should attend since I was one of the leading passenger train riders in the country today and the Lookout Point in La Plata was named after me. I explained to him that I would have to leave Friday night so I could start my trip on Sunday which was fine with him. Bart managed to organize a Sunday event at Old Threshers in Mount Pleasant, Iowa but I had to pass on that since I had already scheduled the other two trips, both brand new to me.

After returning from my round trip to Seattle to ride an upgraded Coast Starlight, I was home for three days before taking off once again. At this point, there was no news regarding my job. Thank you to all those who sent me an e-mail about being laid off after 25 years of service to Santa Ana Unified School District.

While still at home, I checked the Amtrak website and found that my train departed San Diego one minute late. At 4:00 PM, there was still no report out of Solana Beach so half an hour later, I called Julie, Amtrak's automated agent, who reported reported it had left Oceanside at 4:20 PM and was expected at Santa Ana at 5:17 PM, so I still had time to take a train to Los Angeles to connect to the Southwest Chief there. At 5:17 PM, Pacific Surfliner 583 arrived at Santa Ana and I boarded the lower level of the Pacific Business Class Car and found it empty. After Anaheim, I was told the Circus Train was passed at CP Bake, hence the reason for the delay. At Fullerton, Randy, who worked for Steve Grande, gave me envelopes for myself and Carl Morrison, who would be boarding in Fullerton when the Southwest Chief came through there this evening. I worked on my new business cards on the way to Norwalk then relaxed the rest of the way to LAUPT, where we arrived at 6:15 PM and I walked around the front of the trains to my next train.

Two Metrolink trains departed LAUPT at the same time.

Pacific Surfliner 583 at rest.

This version of the Southwest Chief consisted of P42DCs 180 and 79, baggage 1248, transition 39007, sleepers 32090 "Michigan" and 32067, diner 38055, lounge 33022 and coaches 34038, 34037 and 31007. I listened to Jethro Tull's "Catfish Rising" as we departed on time, with Craig Campbell beings my Sleeping Car Attendant. The train ran at track speed until Norwalk when we came to a red signal. The 7:30 dinner reservations were called and I was seated with a couple from Ceres, California on their way to Walt Disney World. Carl was to join me, but he was still in Fullerton and I was on the train so I called him and ordered his meal as I had my usual flat iron steak and chocolate ice cream. We sat Norwalk before running stop-and-go to La Mirada and then at Buena Park, the crew had to hand-throw the switches due to a power malfunction at the control point. We followed Metrolink 610, which had to do the same thing. Once we resumed the journey, we ran slowly to Fullerton where Carl Morrison boarded fifty-five minutes late and soon joined me in the dining car as I was about to have my dessert. After dinner, I gave Carl his envelope then worked on my story before watching Queensryche's "Video Mindcrime" as we arrived in Riverside.

At the fresh air stop at San Bernardino was a fantastic crescent moon.

The station scene at San Bernardino. I watched the rest of the DVD and called it a night as we descended the desert side of Cajon Pass so made up my room and went to bed.

8/5/2008 I awoke about fifteen minutes before Flagstaff.

At Flagstaff, I took a fresh air break.

The former Santa Fe freight house as the checked baggage process was being completed. We departed still an hour late and I caught up the story while I waited for the dining car to open at 6:30 AM. The door to my Room 10 was off its track and was very aggravating. I had breakfast with a father and son from Toledo, Ohio who had been visiting his sister in the Flagstaff area and enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties as we passed through Winslow on our way to New Mexico. I then listened to Poxy Boggards' "Lager than Life" as we made our first New Mexico station stop in Gallup then switched to "Liver Let Die", also by the Boggards and once that was finished, started to watch Frank Zappa's "Zappa in Barcelona" as we rolled the miles towards Albuquerque.

After Grants, the south side mesas.

The landscape was green after the summer monsoonal rains that came up from Mexico. We arrived at Albuquerque at 12:16 PM {12:12 PM} and I detrained for some fresh air.

The Southwest Chief at rest.

Get your kicks on Route 66!

The New Mexico Rail Runner arrived at the downtown station.

New Mexico Rail Runner MP36 104. While I was off the train, one of the Amtrak crew in Albuquerque was able to put the door back on its track but I knew I had to be very careful with it the rest of the way to La Plata. We departed at 1:00 PM {12:55 PM} and proceeded north to Lamy while I watched Black Sabbath's "Live Radio City Hall 2007".

The train left Lamy eleven minutes late with an interesting sky to the east. After passing through Apache Canyon and climbing Glorieta Pass, we met the westbound Southwest Chief at Glorieta. The DVD finished as we were dropping down the east side of Glorieta Pass and I decided a nap was in order after I had received a 6:00 PM dinner reservation. I awoke as we entered Las Vegas, New Mexico and watched Randy Rhodes' "Six String God" which took me almost to Raton then I went and visited with Carl until our arrival there.

I took a picture of Carl and his Sleeping Car Attendant during the fresh air stop. We climbed the south side of Raton Pass and I was called into the dining car at 6:00 PM as we passed through the Raton tunnel and started down the steep grade towards Trinidad. I had the flat iron steak again tonight which was excellent. At Trinidad, I called a few people before watching U2's "Zoo TV Live from Sydney" which would take me to La Junta and beyond. It appeared our train was heading into a good storm as I could see lightning flashes ahead which became a real light show with almost continuous cloud-to-cloud lightning. I just hoped it was not raining in La Junta, which it was not, so I was able to get some fresh air before accessing the Internet; however the town was under a severe thunderstorm warning. The train departed on time and made its way east to Lamar then out into Kansas. I watched the U2 DVD until the encore then made my room up for the night.

8/6/2008 Sometime during the night, my sleeping car was struck by lightning which knocked out the public address system and caused an intermediate buzzing sound until the crew fixed it. Being struck by lightning was a first for me aboard a train. I slept like a baby through all of it, woke up just west of Lawrence, Kansas and went to the dining car for my usual French Toast and sausage patties breakfast then watched Asia's "Fantasia Live in Tokyo" as we arrived at BNSF's Argentine Yard to refuel our engines.

Triple Crown Roadrailers were on a train as we made our way out of Argentine Yard, crossed into Missouri and arrived at Kansas City Union Station.

The Southwest Chief in Kansas City. The train departed here at 8:29 AM {7:45 AM} and cobntinued to its next station stop, and mine, of La Plata, exiting the greater Kansas City aArea by way of the Missouri River Bottoms on the way to Sibley, where we crossed the Missouri River. I finished Asia and then watched the end of U2's Zoo TV. Members of the Amtrak Riverside Reservation Office were on the train and asked for a picture of the Million Mile Man, which we took in my room. We passed through Marceline, I packed up my room and arrived at La Plata at 10:56 AM {9:57 AM}, ending a relaxing Amtrak trip to Missouri.

Maria Snodgrass, the Depot Inn and Suites Manager, was there with the hotel van and took Carl and I to this unique railroad-themed hotel. Once there, I received Room I this time and stored my luggage there then acquired a screwdriver from Maria and walked out to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point, arriving there just as an eastbound Union Pacific stack train was going by. I met the grandparents and their grandson from Edwardsville, Illinois who were enjoying the viewpoint and played Uno between trains; they were able to play plenty as the next train did not come by for over an hour. My job was to unscrew the plastic covering over the Amtrak system map and put mark the Amtrak routes with a Sharpie.

The finished job, with all the Amtrak routes back on the map where they should be.

My new friends enjoying themselves. We finally had a westbound Union Pacific stack train before I posed for pictures in front of the Lookout Point, after which I returned to the hotel and later, Carl and I decided to go to the Pear Tree Restaurant for dinner in Bevierst and we left La Plata at 4:00 PM.

Carl and I drove this 1941 Chevy pickup truck to Bevier.

On display is Bevier and Southern 2-6-0 112 built by Baldwin in 1920. The Bevier & Southern Railroad started life in 1914, when the Missouri & Louisiana Railroad divided, with the Missouri portion of railroad becoming the B&S. It hauled coal on a 9.18 mile line from Binkley, Missouri, to a connection with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Bevier. The line was abandoned in 1982. 112 was donated to the City of Bevier, Missouri, in 1963 having travelled 364,562 miles in service..

The steam engine looking towards the grade crossing with the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy that ran through the town.

The exterior of The Pear Tree Restaurant.

A readaptive use for a mine cart in front.

An interior view.

This was Carl's and my table. I had prime rib and a turtle cake which was excellent then after a fantastic meal, we drove back to Macon to Walmart so I could get some sunscreen then returned to La Plata. Once there, we went out to the Exhibition of Amtrak History and in the heat, fixed the interior damage from several windstorms that had knocked over the displays in the cases. We even took out two burnt-out light bulbs and would get replacements tomorrow when we went to Kirksville. After an hour-and-a-half of hard work, the two of us returned to the Depot Inn & Suites for the night.

8/7/2008 We had a continental breakfast then I walked out to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point to watch some trains.

I always enjoy the walk down the former Wabash railroad grade through the tree-lined path. It is so peaceful with birds singing and the occasional squirrel or rabbit to be seen.

The first train was a westbound BNSF stack train, followed by an eastbound. A few minutes later, a westbound BNSF grain train and another BNSF stack train, with Carl joining me for the latter.

Amtrak's Southwest Chief arrived at the La Plata station. Carl and I then returned to the hotel and met with Maria then drove the truck to Kirksville, first going to Radio Shack with no luck in our search for the correct bulbs. We next went to Collins Rentals to rent the slide projector and stopped at ACE Hardware where we found the proper light bulbs. Back in La Plata, the Express cars were an oven but we installed the bulbs and then discovered another one was out. In addition, we found four more display cases which needed fixing and in one, a spike had fallen and broke the shelf. So we took out the glass and Carl put the other case's glass up while I made two shelves into one. In the end, it all came out really well and we were ready for tomorrow.

I took Maria out to show her where the shelf had been and the new look. Carl and I then had lunch at the Red Rooster before I relaxed for about an hour before returning to the Lookout Point in the hope of more trains.

I called home and found out that another registered letter was sent to the house but my mother was not home, so it could not be left. After an eastbound BNSF and a westbound Union Pacific freight came through, I needed to know so called my brother Jon, who worked at the school district to find out if he knew what it about. He transferred me to Human Resources and after I explained who I was and that I was on a trip and would not be home until August 20th, the woman told me what the letter said. Good news! You have a job at Jefferson Elementary as an Administrative Assistant for six hours a day.

Since my response was required by August 12, 2008, I asked if she could fax it to the Depot Inn & suites and could I fax back my acceptance of this offer and she said yes! I went to the lobby and called Jon to let him know what they offered then called a few friends with the good news. Sally from the school district called and the fax was received, I signed and dated the form and faxed it back to the district. What a relief! If I had to go to an elementary school, Jefferson would have been my first choice since good test scores mean good children. I felt really lucky to have this job. What I would be doing was up to my new principal who would assign my duties.

Carl and I met in the lobby and we drove the truck to Kirksville after learning about a surprise birthday party tonight for Steve Grande, who would be arriving in a little while. We drove to the Wooden Nickel and I had a fantastic steak to celebrate my good fortune. After dinner we visited Walmart to get Steve some Missouri wine and camera batteries for my 35 mm camera. We returned to La Plata and watched the Southwest Chief arrive on time via the television in the lobby.

Box Cox, the station caretaker, then bought David Mangold, Events Coordinator of the Passenger Train Historical Society to the Depot Inn and a few minutes later, Steve and his wife Barbara arrived. Everyone then gathered in the conference room for the party and a slide show.

Birthday boy Steve Grande recveived his present from Carl.

Barbara socializing with the guests.

Shelly Tucker, Steve's sister, who planned this event.

David Mangold, Events Coordinator of the PTHS.

Carl and Bob Cox.

Party attendees.

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

Kenny Marshall, Tom's brother, who wrote the song "Ballad of Chris Guenzler, Million Mile Man".

What would a party be without a cake? After the party, the Silver Rails DVD was shown, I gave a slide show of the history of Amtrak from 1971 to the present and David presented a few slides to close the evening.

8/8/2008 Carl and I met at 8:00 AM and drove the truck to Grandma's Home Cooking for breakfast then went to CR Market to pick up odds and ends for today's barbecue. Since it was not ready, we explored La Plata and found some interesting items. We returned to CR and acquired what we needed, or so we thought then went back to the hotel and Maria asked if we bought everything on the list. We said "what list?". When she asked if purchased some specific items, we said "no!" but took what we needed to the Lookout Point and unloaded them then Carl and Maria returned to the store to get everything else.

Carl and David waiting for a train; this was David's first visit to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point. At 11:00 AM, I made the fire for the barbecue and at noon, Jon from La Plata started cooking the hot dogs and hamburger patties.

The future great meal was being cooked by Jon, our excellent chef.

Everyone enjoying their meals.

Steve, Tom and Kenny Marshall.

The Southwest Chief arrived at 1:32 PM {9:57 AM}. The picnic was enjoyable and we had 13 trains during our visit to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point with the final total being one Amtrak, four Union Pacific and eight BNSF trains. Ray Burns drove me back to the hotel and I wrote this story while doing laundry then relaxed the rest of the day before eating dinner at the Red Rooster in preparation for catching the westbound Southwest Chief tonight.