My Transcontinental Odyssey

Greetings All,

This is the second post about my trip and will cover a bit about the Northeast Regional Train #141 from Metropark to DC.

The train was in pull mode and consisted of Engine #653, an HPP-8, and eight amfleet passenger cars.  It was the normal consist of six coaches, a cafe car, and a business class car.

The train ran late most of the way and got into Union Station DC about ten minutes behind schedule.

Now for the photos.

Amtrak Northeast Regional #141 pulling into Metropark Station 

Entering Philadelphia Station with some track work going on

Crossing the Susquehana River south of Perrysville, MD.  The Route 40 bridge in the foreground and a CSX bridge in the background.

Entering the yards north of Union Station in DC.  A Virginia Railway Express MP36PH is stored awaiting the southbound Rush Hour.

Union Station DC Yard with Amtrak Amfleet and Superliner Cars in the background.

MARC Engine #14 (an MP36PH) just north of the Train Shed in DC Union Station.

I think this one is self explantory.

DC Union Station.  They were doing some work on the access road and also some major work on the interior.

Regards,

Ed

I'm loving this thread.  Can't wait to see the rest!

Jon 

Great stuff, Ed. Thanks for sharing your train trip pictures.

Thank you for the Photos.

The rivers at Harpers Ferry covers all the rocks this year. That is a sign of things to come.

How was the food on the train?

Lee,

Harpers Ferry has got to be one of the most scenic areas in the US.

As far as the food is concerned it was fairly decent.  I only had one meal that was not that great which was lunch the last day.  The menu's do vary somewhat but you can always count on a steak, half a chicken, crabcakes, or a veggie pasta dish during the dinner meal plus a few items that vary.

I attached a menu which is fairly typical for any amtrak long distance train.

Also the generally use name brand condiments like land of lakes butter and Newmans Own Salad Dressing.  They also have A1 Steak Sauce if you need it for your steak.

Regards,

Ed

I know that alcohol is extra, but do sleeper passengers get to choose anything on the menu, including the steak,  breakfast meats and dessert with dinner?

Kent,

For Breakfast Juice, Coffee, Milk, or Tea or a combination is included.  Breakfast meats are also included.  One strange thing is that eggs are not to order.  Only scrambled or omelets.  I think they probably only have egg beaters or pre scrambled and no real eggs onboard.

For lunch and dinner desert is included plus any non-alcoholic beverage.  Also a small salad and dinner rolls comes with dinner.  Besides Tea Coffee or Milk you can also choose soft drinks or iced tea.

Also in each sleeper there is a small beverage area with bottled water, coffee, apple and orange juice plus a bucket of ice. 

Also the conductor made a few announcements that food and non-alcoholic beverage are permitted to be brought on the train and consumed but only alcoholic beverages purchased onboard may be consumed.  Several people in the sleepers had their secret stash and I even saw a few bring their premixed beverages to dinner.  Just dont flaunt it if you bring your own bottle and I dont think you will have any problems.

If you dont bring your own beer, wine and spirits are $6 to $7 plus they have half bottles of wine for $15.  They also take credit cards or cash for onboard purchases.

Regards,

Ed

Amtrak's timetable states that personal alcohol may only be consumed in your sleeping car room.  Personal food and beverages can be consumed anywhere except food service cars.

Greetings All,

Part I

I will probably break the third leg of this trip down into 2 or 3 parts depending on how many photos I post in it.  At 50 hours it was the longest leg of the trip.

The California Zephyr West Bound Train #5 departs Chicago at 2PM CST and is scheduled to arrive in Emeryville, CA at 4PM PST.  Along the way we will pass the east bound Zephyr three times. 

After visiting the Willis Tower in Chicago I grab a quick bit of lunch in the Union Station food court and await the boarding call.  The boarding call is at 1:25 PM and I head out to the train.

The consist is two P42DC Engines number 39 and 14.  Engine 39 leads and the engines are end to end.  The rest of the consist is one heritage backage car and 7 superliner cars.  The 7 superlines from front to back are one transition dorm sleeper, two coaches, one lounge sightseer, one diner, and two sleepers.  I am in the last sleeper at the end of the train is car number 32006 and am assigned room 3 which is on the left side of the train.  I hear the heritage baggage cars will be retired in the next couple of years.  Probably long overdue as most of them are at least 50 years old.

We depart on time at 2PM and head south out of the station into the Chicago suburbs.  We pass the east bound Southwest Chief about an hour out and a few minutes later the east bound Zephyr.  We wind up crossing the Mississippi into Iowa a little before sunset.

Factory just outside of Aurora, IL (the broadcast sight of that famous Cable Public Access Show "Waynes World").  The painted on sign caught my eye and may use it for my own factory.

A Burlington Caboose at Galesburg, IL which is the future home of the National Railroad Hall of Fame.

A BNSF Engine backing to hook up to a Coal Hopper Unit Train just east of the Mississippi River.

A Crossing and Trackside Signal.  You can still see the BNSF Engines headlight in the background.

Crossing the Mississippi River at Burlington, IA.  They are currently rebuilding the rail bridge and are using prefab sections which are floated in on barges.

The temporary Amtrak Station in Denver.  Denvers Union Station is undergoing a rehab.  This station is just east of Union Station.

The California Zephyr at the temporary platform in Denver.

Starting the climb to the Moffat Tunnel on the Front Range of the Rockies.  This is one of the windiest locations in the US.

Denver hidden by the haze as we climb into the Rockies.

Rounding a curve in Coal Creek Canyon about halfway from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel.  At this point we have climbed almost 2000 feet.

Engine #39 working hard making the climb to the summit. 

An east bound Coal Unit Train passing us while we wait for them to clear the Moffat Tunnel.

Entering the east side portal of the Moffat Tunnel.

Winter Park Ski Area just after exiting the west side portal of the Moffat Tunnel.  We now start our decent after passing 9239 feet inside of the tunnel which is the highest elevation of our journey.

Leaving Granby, CO.

The scenery up to this point has been spectacular.  Look for more in Part II.

Hope you are enjoing it.

Regards,

Ed

Thank you for the pictures, keep them coming.

Ed,

Great photos and review of your rail trip. The old Khoehler Mfg. building is in Naperville, Il just East of Aurora, Il. It was a large furniture maker now converted to offices and apartments.

Looking forward for more.

Thanks!

Frank

great photos.  thanks

Frank,

Thanks for the correction..... We stopped in Naperville but I thought I took that shot after we had left the station.  Maybe it was only 30 seconds after we left LOL.  My memory isnt what it use to be.

I will try to post some more photos tonight.

Regards,

Ed

My wife and I rode the ZEPHYR to the TCA Convention in Sacramento last summer. We took these pictures.

Ed

I am enjoying your post very much.

Here is a link to a Washington Post article about Amtrak travel across the continent everyone may enjoy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...IQAebSjmR_story.html