Having traveled on Amtrak from time to
time throughout the last 40 years, I thought it would of interest to
visit the Amtrak 40th Anniversary train while it was somewhere in
Southern California. I elected to take Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner
to San Diego on Sunday December 4 to check it out. A few days
beforehand, I viewed the Amtrak 40th Anniversary web site to find out
what to expect. It would be one locomotive, a non powered cab
unit and 5 cars, all of
which were restored or rebuilt for the run around the country. I
encourage you to view their site as well as click through this report
to the end. I tried to take a photograph of everything within
reason. Most of the photographs speak for themselves without any
description necessary. The train contains large as well as small
objects of interest from Amtrak's 40 years of existance. Some of
the interior photographs do not do justice to what is onboard, but I
did the best I could. Click on any photo for a larger copy.
Luckily, I got there soon after 10 AM and found few people to get in
the way of gathering the photographs. The Amtrak employees,
volunteers and guests were all extremely nice and helpful.
In the late afternoon when the
sun angle was better, I got some exterior shots of the train except for
the store car. In addition to the display train, a Surfliner and
Coaster commuter train were in. For equipment information, the
Amtrak 40th web site has full descriptions of history
and refurbishment.
A few shots from inside the
station find my volunteer group Operation Lifesaver and other groups
with booths.
A beaming Marcos from Amtrak in
Los Angeles helps out at the Chuggington area. Once on board the train, it was
collect a photograph of anything and everything. J. Craig Thorpe created a poster
for the 40th anniversary. He has done other projects for Amtrak
and other railroads. I met him on board the 75th Anniversary
Empire Builder train in June 2004.
