Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Give us a run down of what you saw, post pictures if you'd like...any info is welcome.
ConrailDetr​oit
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Location: Detroit

Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

Tuesday, April 9th

Los Angeles Union Station

ImageLos Angeles Union Station by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Metrolink

ImageMetrolink 912 by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Leaving LA Union Station

ImageLeaving LAUS by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAmtrak 591 by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAmtrak 503 & 509 by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Los Angeles River

ImageLos Angeles River by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Santa Fe Bluebonnets

ImageBNSF Bluebonnetts by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSanta Fe 163 - Los Angeles, CA by tcamp7837, on Flickr

California Mountain Scenery & Sunset on the BNSF San Bernardino Sub

ImageCalifornia Scenery - Southwest Chief by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Intermodal Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Intermodal with Rear Pusher Engine

ImageBNSF DPU Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF / Southwest Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageIntermodal / Southwest Chief Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Signal Bridge Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief Sunset by tcamp7837, on Flickr

West Corona, CA

ImageMetrolink - West Corona , CA by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Wednesday, April 10th

Eastern Arizona / Western New Mexico

ImageBNSF 6306 - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Meet - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageNew Mexico Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageNew Mexico Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSouthwest Chief Scenery by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Albuquerque, New Mexico

BNSF Fakebonnet

ImageBNSF - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAuto Loading - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAlbuquerque Rail Runner by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageRail Runner Shops = Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ATSF Searchlight Signals

ImageClassic Santa Fe Signals - Albuquerque, NM by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAlbuquerque Amtrak Station by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageLeaving 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.

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSemaphores - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSignal 8431 - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Lamy, New Mexico

ImageLamy - New Mexico by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

East Canyoncito

ImageE Canyoncito - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

West Fox

ImageW Fox - ATSF Searchlight Signals by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Meeting the Westbound Southwest Chief

ImageSouthwest Chief Meet by tcamp7837, on Flickr

East Fox

ImageE Fox - ATSF Searchlight Signals by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageATSF Searchlight Signals - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

S Curve

ImageS Curve - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSemaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ESS Chapelle

ImageESS Chapelle Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Intermediate Semaphores

ImageIntermediate Semaphores - 7861 BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

3 Percent Grade

ImageBNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ESS Ojita

ImageESS Ojita Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageNew Mexico Plains - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageIntermediate 7221 Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

WSS Levy

ImageWSS Levy Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ESS Levy

ImageESS Levy - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

WSS Colmor

ImageWSS Colmor Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ESS Colmor

ImageESS Colmor Semaphores - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

West Keota - near Raton, NM

ImageW Keota - BNSF Raton Pass by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Raton Pass Tunnel - New Mexico / Colorado State Line & Highest Elevation on the Santa Fe - 7835 Feet

ImageRaton Pass Tunnel by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Wednesday, April 11th

Kansas City, Kansas

BNSF Argentine Yard

ImageBNSF 745 - Kansas City, KS by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Argentine Yard - Kansas City by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Kansas City, Missouri

ImageKansas City, MO by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageKansas City MO by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Missouri River

ImageMissouri River by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Fort Madison, Iowa

Crossing the Mississippi River

ImageSouthwest Chief crossing the Mississippi River - Fort Madison, IA by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Galesburg, Ilinois

ImageGalesburg, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF 1825 - Galesburg, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Princeton, Illinois

ImagePrinceton, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ATSF Gondola

ImageATSF Gondola by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageNS 9581 - Princeton, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Chicago, Illinois

ImageMetra 106 - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAmtrak 44 & 837 - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Leaving Chicago Union Station on Amtrak 354 to Detroit

ImageMetra by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageAmtrak Locomotive Shop - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageI-90 / I-94 Rush Hour - Chicago, IL by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Gary, Indiana

CN & EJE Engines at Kirk Yard

ImageCN & EJE - Kirk Yard - Gary, IN by tcamp7837, on Flickr

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AARR
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by AARR »

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...

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~Z~
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by ~Z~ »

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.
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ConrailDetr​oit
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Location: Detroit

Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

~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.
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.

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Jetlink
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by Jetlink »

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

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GP30M4216
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

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:
2-25-06 57.jpg

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Michael
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by Michael »

Top notch photos and report

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SW
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by SW »

Nice! Enjoyed the photo tour.
Owosso Steve

penn central
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Re: Los Angeles to Detroit by Amtrak

Unread post by penn central »

Very nice pictures!

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