Tuesday, April 9th
Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles Union Station by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Metrolink
Metrolink 912 by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Leaving LA Union Station
Leaving LAUS by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Amtrak 591 by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Amtrak 503 & 509 by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Santa Fe Bluebonnets
BNSF Bluebonnetts by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Santa Fe 163 - Los Angeles, CA by tcamp7837, on Flickr
California Mountain Scenery & Sunset on the BNSF San Bernardino Sub
California Scenery - Southwest Chief by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Intermodal Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Intermodal with Rear Pusher Engine
BNSF DPU Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF / Southwest Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Intermodal / Southwest Chief Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr
California Signal Bridge Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr
West Corona, CA
Metrolink - West Corona , CA by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Wednesday, April 10th
Eastern Arizona / Western New Mexico
BNSF 6306 - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Meet - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
New Mexico Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
New Mexico Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Southwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Albuquerque, New Mexico
BNSF Fakebonnet
BNSF - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Auto Loading - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Albuquerque Rail Runner by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Rail Runner Shops = Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ATSF Searchlight Signals
Classic Santa Fe Signals - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Albuquerque Amtrak Station by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Leaving Albuquerque by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass Line - The most scenic portion of the Southwest Chief Route. Amtrak is the only regular user of the original ATSF Route through the mountains. The line has a questionable future as BNSF no longer runs freights on this line wants Amtrak to pay for maintenance.
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Semaphores - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Signal 8431 - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Lamy, New Mexico
Lamy - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
East Canyoncito
E Canyoncito - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
West Fox
W Fox - ATSF Searchlight Signals by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Meeting the Westbound Southwest Chief
Southwest Chief Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr
East Fox
E Fox - ATSF Searchlight Signals by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ATSF Searchlight Signals - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
S Curve
S Curve - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ESS Chapelle
ESS Chapelle Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Intermediate Semaphores
Intermediate Semaphores - 7861 BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
3 Percent Grade
BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ESS Ojita
ESS Ojita Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
New Mexico Plains - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Intermediate 7221 Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
WSS Levy
WSS Levy Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ESS Levy
ESS Levy - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
WSS Colmor
WSS Colmor Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ESS Colmor
ESS Colmor Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
West Keota - near Raton, NM
W Keota - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Raton Pass Tunnel - New Mexico / Colorado State Line & Highest Elevation on the Santa Fe - 7835 Feet
Raton Pass Tunnel by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Wednesday, April 11th
Kansas City, Kansas
BNSF Argentine Yard
BNSF 745 - Kansas City, KS by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF Argentine Yard - Kansas City by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, MO by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Kansas City MO by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Missouri River
Missouri River by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Fort Madison, Iowa
Crossing the Mississippi River
Southwest Chief crossing the Mississippi River - Fort Madison, IA by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Galesburg, Ilinois
Galesburg, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
BNSF 1825 - Galesburg, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Princeton, Illinois
Princeton, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
ATSF Gondola
ATSF Gondola by tcamp7837, on Flickr
NS 9581 - Princeton, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Chicago, Illinois
Metra 106 - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Amtrak 44 & 837 - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Leaving Chicago Union Station on Amtrak 354 to Detroit
Metra by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Amtrak Locomotive Shop - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
I-90 / I-94 Rush Hour - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Gary, Indiana
CN & EJE Engines at Kirk Yard
CN & EJE - Kirk Yard - Gary, IN by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
I enjoyed the pictures, CRD. Thanks for posting.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
- ~Z~
- Sofa King Admin
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
Most enjoyable to look through these. I was just on the Southwest Chief last week, so neat to see this. Man, you spent a lot of time at that rear window, eh?
The daytime view through Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado are pretty awesome, eh? I kept my head glued to the window throughout the day.
The daytime view through Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado are pretty awesome, eh? I kept my head glued to the window throughout the day.
Webmaster
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com
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- Railroadfan...fan
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- Location: Detroit
Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
Being seated in the rear car makes standing at the rear of the train an enjoyable way to make the time pass while enjoying the scenery. The Southwest Chief is a very scenic ride with the exception of between Trinidad and the outer Chicago Suburbs where the view is mostly boring, flat, plains and farmland.~Z~ wrote:Most enjoyable to look through these. I was just on the Southwest Chief last week, so neat to see this. Man, you spent a lot of time at that rear window, eh?
The daytime view through Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado are pretty awesome, eh? I kept my head glued to the window throughout the day.
- Jetlink
- Not a Railfan
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
Great report. My wife and I traveled the route both ways back in January 2015. I was very impressed with how well BNSF handled the dispatching of the train on the busy mainlines between Kansas City and Chicago as well as between Albuquerque and Los Angeles. And wow all of the meets. Dozens if not hundreds. Now the track across western Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, scenic for sure; but, certainly not up to the same standards. Thanks so much for posting.
interested in trains
Patiently waiting for LansingRailfan to antagonize me in his tagline
Patiently waiting for LansingRailfan to antagonize me in his tagline
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- Saver of all History
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
I really enjoyed this photo set, thanks for sharing ConrailDetroit! I took the SW Chief between Kalamazoo or Dearborn and Fullerton, CA five times between 2005 and 2010, 3 westbound trips and 2 eastbounds. People rave about the scenery on the Zephyr, but I love the southwest deserts and find the daylight portion between La Junta and Arizona to be stunning. I second that riding coach is excellent (you can see out both sides of the train) and that standing at the back door is a great was to see the scenery unfolding behind the train....and snap some photos! I only recall one of those trips where the rear window was so dirty that taking photos out the back was difficult. The conductors always seemed to be totally fine with someone taking photos out the back.
Your photos of the elder BNSF power just out from LAUPT is the La Mirada yard. BNSF bases several local crews out of this yard switching industries up and down BNSF lines across much of Orange County. In the early 2000s, these were the domain of rebuilt ATSF GP7/9s. By the mid 2000s, GP30s, 35s and the like were powering these trains. By 2010, this is where ATSF's GP60M Warbonnets were working, and it appears that they continue to do so today in BNSF dress.
Great to see those vintage ATSF signals still in place at Albuquerque, too:
Your photos of the elder BNSF power just out from LAUPT is the La Mirada yard. BNSF bases several local crews out of this yard switching industries up and down BNSF lines across much of Orange County. In the early 2000s, these were the domain of rebuilt ATSF GP7/9s. By the mid 2000s, GP30s, 35s and the like were powering these trains. By 2010, this is where ATSF's GP60M Warbonnets were working, and it appears that they continue to do so today in BNSF dress.
Great to see those vintage ATSF signals still in place at Albuquerque, too:
- Michael
- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
Top notch photos and report
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak
Very nice pictures!