BNSF GP39M 2807, nee Union Pacific GP30 726 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1963.
The eastbound California Zephyr passed through Mendota without stopping. With that, I decided to go back into the museum to ask where I could have an early dinner.
A block away was Johnny Ray's Classic Bar and Grill where I enjoyed a ribeye steak. After dinner I walked back to the station, retrieved my luggage from the office and waited for the westbound Southwest Chief.
The westbound California Zephyr passed through without stopping. The crossing gates then went down for two minutes then up for just 15 seconds before returning down. After ten minutes of watching this, I walked over to the crossing control box and called the BNSF Grade Crossing phone number to report this malfunction.
A couple more views around the museum.
A westbound BNSF coal train with a CSX engine in its consist.
A Gulf Mobile & Ohio baggage cart in front of the station. The crossing gates finally stopped after an hour before the BNSF maintainer arrived and I walked over to tell him the problem I observed. He thanked me and started to correct the problem.
A few minutes later, the westbound Southwest Chief arrived and I boarded the transition sleeper and was assigned Room 22. This train had P42DCs 146 and 141, baggage 1160, transition 39021, sleepers 32098 "New Jersey" and 32109 "South Dakota", diner 38016, lounge 33029 and coaches 34074, 31003 and 31000, along with dead-heading Pacific Surfliner Superliner coach 34951 "Redwood Grove" and seven BNSF business cars which would be set out at at Argentine Yard in Kansas City. After settling into my room, I watched my "U2 Live" DVD.
The Railfan House in Galesburg which Tom Anderson and I visited on the return journey of my overall Million Mile trip.
The Galesburg station built in 1984 which is the third station at this location.
Running along the Mississippi River.
Crossing the Mississippi River. I watched both of the U2 DVD's and looked at the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point in La Plata, but no one was there.
5/24/2009 I had breakfast, enjoying French Toast and sausage patties then watched the Rutles "All You Need Is Cash!"
Exciting western Kansas scenery.
John Martin Reservoir State Park is about 35 miles east of La Junta. This massive lake was created by damming the Arkansas River in the 1930's. The length of the dam is 2.6 miles with a height of 118 feet.
John Martin Reservoir.
Our train closed in on La Junta and arrived there early.
The front of our train waiting to continue west.
Pacific Surfliner coach 34951 on the rear. We departed on time and the conductor kindly accompanied me for a walk through tour of this coach.
There was now a table in the middle of the car.
Two electrical outlets at each seat.
No leg rests for the passengers in this car.
This end of the car was rebuilt by the shop forces at Beech Grove, who did their usual wonderful job.
The seats inside this coach. I returned to my room and put on my DVD of the Rolling Stones "Shine A Light".
Spanish Peak under the influence of clouds.
Approaching Trinidad.
The former Colorado And Wyoming yard at Jensen just west of Trinidad.
Keith Richards in "Shine A Light".
The old Santa Fe Railroad sign for the Dick Wooten Ranch and the old Santa Fe Trail.
This road was part of the Santa Fe Trail.
The Santa Fe Railroad sign for Raton Tunnel, the highest point on this railroad.
I took a fresh air break at Raton and photographed the Santa Fe station built in 1904. I had an 11:30 AM lunch of an Angus beef burger with vanilla ice cream then afterwards, watched my DVD of Frank Zappa's "Apostrophe/Overnite Sensation".
Before Las Vegas, New Mexico was this interesting piece of machinery, whose purpose remains a mystery to me.
The "S" curves near Blanchard. My next DVD to watch was Guns N' Roses "Live in Tokyo".
View climbing Glorieta Pass, after which we met the eastbound Southwest Chief at Canyonito.
The Santa Fe Lamy station built in 1909.
The New Mexico Rail Runner line to Santa Fe. Later at Bernalillo, we met a northbound New Mexico Rail Runner then we arrived at Albuquerque at 3:33 PM and I detrained for fresh air.
The rear of the Southwest Chief with Pacific Surfliner coach "Redwood Grove".
The Southwest Chief at rest.
The northbound New Mexico Rail Runner. We departed Albuquerque on time as I worked on the Orange County Railway Historical Society's program for June.
Crossing the Rio Grande River.
Big clouds on an interesting late afternoon.
Nearing Grants was a fantastic thunder and lightning electrical storm. At 6:00 PM, I went to the dining car for a flat iron steak, which was was fantastic, along with vanilla ice cream. and my DVD was the first half of the Scorpions "Live at Wacken Open Air 2007."
The Arizona Mesas.
The clouds became interesting as we neared Winslow with a "hole in the sky" being seen before it became really exciting before sunset. After Winslow, I called it a night and made up my room to go to bed.
5/25/2009 I woke up just before San Bernardino and went to the lounge car for a big chocolate chip cookie.
The train ran to Riverside where I photographed Utah Transit Authority Comet Car 302. We continued to Fullerton then made the final sprint to Los Angeles, arriving at 7:21 AM, which was early but not early enough for me to catch Pacific Surfliner 564, as we passed it pulling in. I detrained knowing I would have to wait for Pacific Surfliner 566.
The Disney "A Christmas Carol" train was still on display from earlier in the month.
I walked over to Track 10 to wait to board Pacific Surfliner 566, which gave me a quick trip to Santa Ana.
I detrained at Santa Ana, taking this picture of the train departing. My mother picked me up and soon I was back home from another exciting Amtrak adventure to and from the Mendota Railroad Museum.
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