4/11/2009 I was up at 7:15 AM after a good night's sleep in the Pullman Suite at the Depot Inn & Suites. After a quick continental breakfast, I took my lap top and drove to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point. First I transferred the pictures from the last two trips, the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway and Arkansas and Missouri Railroad into my computer then started to work on the Eureka story since the Lookout Point has wall plugs and wireless Internet. Of course soon a train came by which caused a temporary stoppage to my work.
First there was an eastbound BNSF stack train, quickly followed by a westbound BNSF stack train which I would see again after dinner just east of Grants. I returned to work until a family came out to see the Lookout Point and was surprised to find the person for whom it is named sitting inside working on a story for his website.
A westbound Union Pacific freight passed through next then an eastbound BNSF piggyback train.
There were two more westbound BNSF trains and I took pictures of only one as I was uploading pictures to the website.
Next it was time for Amtrak's Southwest Chief to arrive in La Plata on its way to Chicago. I was then joined by two railfans from Missouri who were amazed that the Lookout Point had wireless Internet.
More BNSF trains passed by and by this time, the total was twelve. I finished the Eureka Springs story, sent Winston an e-mail to proof it, and returned to the Pullman Suite after I dropped off the keys to the rental car at the front desk. I then worked on the Arkansas and Missouri story and after finishing part 1, called Winston and asked him to proof that part. I then worked on part 2, finished it and called again and he proofed that while I went to the Red Rooster for a Porterhouse steak dinner.
After dinner, I made the corrections and uploaded them then used the sauna tub as I watched the Hannah Montana DVD on the wide screen television in the Pullman Suite. I packed then checked out and was driven to the Amtrak station with a stop by Ray Burns' house on the way. He came down to the train station to see me off.
Southwest Chief 3 4/11/2009The train arrived and I boarded the Sleeper "Vermont", taking Room 6. This train consisted of P42DCs 129 and 69, baggage 1132, transition 39016, sleepers 32113 "Vermont" and 32059, diner 38060, lounge 33042, with coaches 34078 and 34065 and dead-heading Pacific Surfliner 6413 "Manhattan Beach" with no seats. I had Simon as my Sleeping Attendant, whom I have had on multiple train trips in past. I watched the Scorpions' "Live at Wacken Open Air 2006" which I watched for about twenty-five minutes before making up my room and calling it a night.
4/12/2009I was up by Garden City, Kansas and went to the dining car for French Toast and sausage patties then returned to my room and took a nap until La Junta, where we arrived very early and I ventured out into the rainy morning.
The Southwest Chief at rest at La Junta.
Pacific Surfliner coach 6413 "Manhattan Beach".
It looked very odd to see the interior of this coach without seatings.
The rear of the Southwest Chief before I returned to the warmth of our train. We departed on time with me as I watched Deep Purple's "Cal Jam".
Our crossing of snowy Raton Pass. I watched the rest of the Scorpion DVD then at Raton, detrained for some fresh air and pictures.
The Southwest Chief at Raton. Back in the room for more watching before my 11:30 AM lunch, where I enjoyed the Angus beef burger and vanilla ice cream. After the Scorpions finished, I watched a Motley Crue DVD and we met the eastbound Southwest Chief at Canyoncito.
Snowy peaks along the Rio Grande before we reached Albuquerque, where I detrained into the 43 degree air and after a few minutes, returned to my room for the Jethro Tull's "Jack in the Green" DVD. I was called into dinner twelve minutes earlier than the 5:15 PM for which I was scheduled and had the Flat Iron steak and Snickers chocolate cake. After dinner, I showered then watched "ABBA the Movie" ando enjoyed the views of the New Mexico Red Mesas.
The beautiful Red Mesas of New Mexico. I played Solitaire on my laptop until Flagstaff where I detrained for some fresh air on a very nice night. I then made up my bed and called it a night.
4/13/2009 I arose just before Riverside and Simon made up my room then relaxed as the Southwest Chief made its way to Fullerton where I detrained and went over to an outside table at the Santa Fe Cafe and cleaned out my e-mail.
The Southwest Chief departed Fullerton for a fifty-two minute early arrival in Los Angeles at 7:23 AM. I crossed the pedestrian bridge to Track 3 to wait for my train back to Santa Ana.
Metrolink 682 4/13/2009
The train arrived a few minutes late and I boarded the rear cab car for the fast trip down to Santa Ana where my mother picked me up and took me home. I showered, shaved and had some breakfast before driving to Jefferson Elementary to start another week of work. This ends yet another excellent ten days of rail adventures.
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