Waking Up in California

We boarded the Southwest Chief at 10:15PM in Flagstaff, AZ, an hour and a half late. The landscape was dark and I would not make my first photograph until 4:46AM the following morning. On this morning the train whistle woke me, often this means we're approaching a road or town. I peaked out the window to see lights in the distance, lots of lights that extended high above the horizon.  Feeling a wave of excitement, I slid out of bed, this was more than a small town or a railroad crossing. I picked up my camera and sat in my seat waiting patiently as light emerged from the darkness.

Once the massive plant passed, I returned to the rhythm of watching patterns unfold as the landscape became littered with structures.  We passed distribution centers, new construction, storage facilities, and miles of infrastructure that sustain daily existence.  Arriving in Los Angeles was a thrill, it was our destination, we successfully crossed the country.

California, 5:31:06AM, Summer 2012

California, 5:47:42AM, Summer 2012

California, 6:39:26AM, Summer 2012

California, 7:01:54AM, Summer 2012

California, 7:17:42AM, Summer 2012

California, 8:28:05AM, Summer 2012

California, 8:30:19AM, Summer 2012

California, 8:32:12AM, Summer 2012

The Southwest Chief

The Southwest Chief bolted out of Chicago determined to maintain it's schedule.  We passed the corn festival, the Mississippi River, wind turbines, processing facilities, soy, corn, horses, cows, miles of desert and lots of freight cars, LOTS.  Then we stopped. We sat in the dining car wondering why were stopped, freight passed but we remained still. While eating dessert in the desert we were informed the train would be heading back to Albuquerque. Another train full of empty coal cars had derailed ahead of us.  At 9PM, the time we were to arrive in Flagstaff, AZ, we loaded a bus for a 6 hour bus trip to our destination.  Today we board for Los Angeles. The Southwest Chief runs only once a day, so we depart in the dark and approach Los Angeles during the sunrise.  Wish us luck.

Illinois

Missouri

Kansas City

Kansas

New Mexico

The Southwest Chief

Here are a few iPhone photos from Union Station in Chicago and the Southwest Chief route. The ride is, at times, fast and bumpy, then other times, slow and steady. We are currently leaving Albuquerque, NM.

The Capitol Limited

The slow steady midnight train to Chicago, the Capitol Limited, was worth every minute. The experience included storm clouds, rain, a sunset, a sunrise, miles of farmland and steel mills. Riding through Pittsburgh was less revealing than I imagined, but I captured a few photographs displaying the city amongst bridges.  Below are a few unprocessed images from the first two legs of this trip. Today we board for the longest segment,  31 hours to Flagstaff, AZ.  We'll travel through Illinois, Iowa(tiny bit), Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.  I wonder what else is out there besides corn and soy?

Maryland, Capitol Limited

Maryland, Capitol Limited

 

Pennsylvania, Capitol Limited

 Ohio, Capitol Limited

Indiana, Capitol Limited

Illinois, Capitol Limited

Leaving Union Station - Washington, DC

A few iphone photos.

Pokeweed

Charlottesville Train Station

B&O Railroad Museum

Final Prep for Transcontinental Train Trip

 

  

Sunday we'll leave on this railway for DC then board the Capitol Limited route to Chicago. I'm in the final stages of testing my tools and gathering information. Please check back for updates.