I was going to cover Amtrak's Snowflake Special but when it looked as though that excursion was not going to occur (which it did not), I decided it was time to ride the New Mexico Rail Runner's new line to Santa Fe so contacted the Santa Fe Southern for a one-way trip back to Lamy. I found the Sage Inn, a new hotel in Santa Fe which was six-tenths of a mile from the station, and made a reservation there. The day of the trip I bought a New Mexico Rail Runner Day Pass online then went home and packed for another rail adventure.
Metrolink 609 prepared to leave Santa Ana as I walked across the bridge.
Pacific Surfliner 583 2/12/2009
Pacific Surfliner 583 arrived early and I boarded the cab car for the trip to Los Angeles. We caught up to Metrolink 609 and had to run restricted speed and stopped at Santa Fe Springs.
A Union Pacific tank train across the Los Angeles River before we arrived at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal on Track 10, after which I walked over to Track 11 to wait for my train tonight.
The New Jersey Comet Cars that Metrolink would be using in the future. Pacific Surfliner 784 was running forty minutes late but arrived and then departed for San Diego as I waited for the Southwest Chief.
Southwest Chief 4 2/12/2009The Southwest Chief reversed into the station with P42DCs 206 and 98, baggage 1212, transition 39022, sleepers 32075 "Connecticut" and 33072 "Arkansas", diner 38030, lounge 33044 and coaches 34084 and 31039, with Pacific Surfliner coach 6413 {no seats inside} dead-heading to the Beech Grove Shops. I boarded the "Arkansas" with the most excellent Ann Marie as my Sleeping Car Attendant and had room 14 for this trip east to Albuquerque. We departed on time and made our way to Fullerton. I was in the dining car at Santa Fe Springs, seated with a man going home to Virginia via the Cardinal and a Canadian mother and son going to the Grand Canyon. I enjoyed the flat iron steak and chocolate ice cream then returned to my room and listened to JD Peterson's "Rhythm the Dream" then visited with my conductor before calling it a night east of Victorville.
2/13/2009 Friday the 13thI was up at 7:00 AM and went to the dining car for French Toast and sausage patties, seated with my friend from Virginia again, a man going to Albuquerque and another man going to La Junta. Back in my room, I read USA Today before watching Blue Oyster Cult's "A Long Days Night" as the train headed east from Winslow this clear morning.
The first mesa as we entered New Mexico. Before Gallup, Anne Marie gave all the Albuquerque passengers a piece of Valentine Chocolate, a nice personal touch on Friday the 13th. The train paused in Gallup then took the north track to the Continental Divide, where Blue Oyster Cult finished and I switched to Poison's "Live Raw & Uncut" that took me almost to Dalies. I relaxed the rest of the way to Albuquerque, where we had an early arrival and I detrained and waited for the New Mexico Rail Runner to arrive from Santa Fe. It had been another excellent trip aboard the Southwest Chief!
The Southwest Chief departed on time bound for Chicago.
New Mexico Rail Runner 509 2/13/2009The Rail Runner is New Mexico's first commuter rail service. Inaugurated in 2006, it provides service seven days a week to 15 stations along a 96.5-mile corridor that runs through Valencia, Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, linking numerous communities and tribes. Rail Runner trains operate from approximately 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM on weekdays, with an emphasis on the morning and evening commutes. Service is supplemented by Rio Metro buses on certain early morning routes. There are fewer trains on weekends, with service hours running from approximately 8:00 AM to 10:30 PM on Saturdays and 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Sundays.
The train arrived at the Downtown Albuquerque station and I boarded the cab car and chose the rear seat. My Day Pass was checked at my seat after we departed. This is my second trip on this route to Belen; I rode it in March 2007 and gave a full photographic tale of its route.
Leaving Albuquerque.
The spare Amtrak unit was passed as we left town.
New Mexico Rail Runners waiting their turns out on the mainline.
The former Santa Fe Shop buildings in Albuquerque.
BNSF motive power in the BNSF yard.
Bernalillo County/International Sunport station.
Isleta Pueblo station.
Curve with mountains behind.
The bridge across the Rio Grande River.
Leaving the Southwest Chief route at Isleta.
Isleta.
West Isleta.
A small lake along our route.
Los Lunas station sign.
Los Lunas station.
Los Lunas.
The siding at Chloe was being removed.
The junction with the station line at Belen.
The BNSF Transcontinental mainline at Belen.
Rolling the final stretch into Belen station, where we arrived to on time and I detrained for some quick pictures.
The cab car's end.
New Mexico Rail Runner.
The train was now ready to leave for Albuquerque.
Santa Fe station sign at Chloe.
Los Lunas Santa Fe station off site. We waited for time at Isleta Pueblo station before our on-time arrival at Albuquerque.
The train back in Albuquerque.
My train going into midday storage and now I waited for my train to Santa Fe.
