I detrained from the Belen train and waited for the one to Santa Fe at 4:15 PM.
A little bit of the Santa Fe Railroad that has not disappeared, on the bridge just north of the station. Amtrak's Southwest Chief came by early at 3:30 PM then I walked out to my spot by the eastbound mainline to wait.
New Mexico Rail Runner 560 2/13/2009
At 4:03 PM, I boarded the cab car, taking the front seat again after it reversed into the station and waited for departure, which was on time. I was surprised that the engineer was Phyllis, who used to be my engineer on the San Diegans/Pacific Surfliners back home.
Signal 9002 as we entered a quiet zone.
The train passed the end of two mainlines at Hahn.
Rolling north along the single track mainline past an old semaphore signal foundation.
Los Ranchos/Journal Center station.
Rolling north.
I was surprised by these last two semaphore signals along the New Mexico Rail Runner route.
Approach signal for Bernalillo.
West Bernalillo.
The Downtown Bernalillo station, along with the former Santa Fe Railroad station sign.
East Bernalillo.
Sandoval County/US 550 station with a walkway to east parking lot.
A curve east of Sandoval. The conductor announced that no pictures should be taken of the pueblos for the next twenty-five minutes.
West Nueva.
New Mexico Rail Runner Train 511 from Santa Fe.
Rolling north with mountains to the north.
Views ahead.
Interstate 25 bridge.
Approaching the cut.
The junction to Santa Fe, where the Southwest Chief goes east to the right. My new mileage started at that switch.
The first curve on the new line to Santa Fe.
A curve on a big fill as we gain elevation.
The first bridge on this new line.
Curves as we continued to climb the grade.
Approach signal for Silva with a road bridge.
A curve with mountains standing tall.
West Silva.
East Silva.
About to enter the Interstate 25 median.
Running down the middle of Interstate 25.
Our train pulled into Richardson Siding, named after the New Mexico Governor.
New Mexico Rail Runner 515 on its way to Albuquerque.
East Richardson.
Ready to exit the Interstate 25 median.
A signal before we continued towards Santa Fe.
The junction with the Santa Fe Southern, which ended my new mileage. The railroad was rebuilt the rest of the way to the Santa Fe Depot.
Sidings for industries along the route.
Another new station being built in southern Santa Fe.
Cresting another hill on the Santa Fe Southern tracks.
Dropping down another hill.
West Faught.
South Capitol station.
Going through one of the many crossings in Santa Fe.
Crossing St. Francis/Cerillos Road.
Closing in on the Santa Fe Depot.
The Santa Fe station was in sight. We arrived a few minutes late, but it had been a fantastic trip aboard the New Mexico Rail Runner. I detrained and first went forward.
The cab car at Santa Fe.
The New Mexico Rail Runner at the Santa Fe station before it returns to Albuquerque.
Santa Fe Southern GP7 07 which should pull my train to Lamy tomorrow. I walked the six-tenths of a mile to the Sage Inn for the night.
The Sage Inn's offices.
Three of the wings of hotel rooms.
Views of my Room 114. I walked over to KFC for dinner before calling it a night.
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