This trip began the day after I saw that great Alice Cooper Theater of Death show at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Chris Parker dropped me off at 12:35 AM, and after printing out my Amtrak ticket number, I went to bed until 6:15 AM, when I was up and after fixing breakfast, drove to Stater Brothers for some needed supplies before returning home and packing. I checked the Weather Channel so I would have no surprises in Oakland or Portola then my mother once again drove me to the Santa Ana station and I picked up the necessary tickets for this trip. I was tired but ready to go once I heard Pacific Surfliner 565 approaching.
Pacific Surfliner 565 arrived and I boarded the lower level of the cab car and started numbering the pictures for the Alice Cooper concert story. The first thirty took me almost to LAUPT and the time seemed to fly by while I was working. I detrained and went to wait for the Thruway Bus to Bakersfield via Glendale. Once everyone was aboard, I continued and finished labelling the pictures and worked on the story pages as we passed Templin Highway. I relaxed the rest of the way to Bakerfield then called Carole Walker, my excellent travel agent, who was able to get fantastic hotel rates in both Oakland and Sacramento.
Once aboard the train, I started to write the story and hopped off in Merced for a picture of the train. We made our way to Stockton and from there, I relaxed as the we crossed the California Delta and ran along the Carquinez Straits in the last light of day.
The view between Martinez and Richmond along San Pablo Bay. We continued the rest of the way to Oakland under the cover of the night. It was a great trip north to the Bay Area and I was able to work on my two newest stories. We arrived in Oakland early and I walked the three blocks to the Jack London Inn for the night.
Train and Travel Feather River Express Return of the California Zephyr 10/30/2009I awoke and had their breakfast before myself and another gentleman walked back to the Oakland Amtrak station where we met our tour group for this exciting trip through the Feather River Canyon to Portola.
Our train arrived on schedule with a consist of Amtrak P42DC 184, California Zephyr dome-lounge "Silver Lariat" 800190, California Zephyr sleeper "Silver Rapids" 800481 and California Zephyr dome-observation "Silver Solarium" 800333 then departed on time en route to Portola.
We left Oakland and started the journey by travelling south to Newark.
The author in the dining room of "Silver Lariat".
The Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland A's baseball team and Oakland Raiders football team.
Our route took along the east side of San Francisco Bay.
Newark.
The Dumbarton Line, Southern Pacific's line that crossed San Francisco Bay which eliminated travelling to San Jose to reach San Francisco.
At Newark, our train turned east but paused while we waited for an Altamont Commuter Express train to San Jose.
A few minutes later, that train passed us.
The junction at Newark.
The Fremont ACE/Amtrak station where a few more passengers joined our train.
We made our way to Niles.
The hills behind Niles.
Our train went through the junction at Niles and entered the former Western Pacific tracks en route to Niles Canyon.
Into Niles Canyon our train went.
Tunnel one at Milepost 32.1 of Union Pacific's Feather River Division.
Niles Canyon.
Tunnel two at Milepost 33.4.
Scenes in Niles Canyon.
Hearst siding at Milepost 38.6.
Livermore.
The former Southern Pacific line through Livermore.
Stored box cars east of there.
The Altamont Hills.
We passed underneath Interstate 580.
Our train crossed the Greenville trestle.
Some of the Altamont Hills are green even into late October.
The Greenville trestle.
Climbing the west side of Altamont Pass.
We reached the top of the pass at Altamont siding, Milepost 56.7.
We started down the east side.
The windmills dot the Altamont Hills.
Our second crossing of Interstate 580.
The grade of the former Southewrn Pacific Railroad is seen below.
The Altamont Hills.
Continuing the descent of Altamont Pass.
Approaching Midway siding.
Midway siding at Milepost 63.9 of the Feather River Division.
As our train continued to descend, the San Joaquin Valley came into view.
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