Amtrak journey through America

Ok, this was a trip I took in December 2009. The plan was to take the train from Denver to Salt Lake City then back four hours later. Due to a snowstorm the Eastbound train was way late so I stayed overnight in a motel and took the train back about six hours late, so we passed things in the daytime that you usually never see including the famous Gilluly loops. Normally the Eastbound Zephyr leaves Salt Lake City at 4:10 AM, this day we left around 10:30 AM.

This is a look back towards Denver as we head into the Rockies going West to Salt Lake City. Notice the big curves in the track because it's a steep grade. Normally you'd see Denver in the background but it's snowing.

Fresh snow on the red rocks of Colorado as seen from the train.

I took several pictures hanging out of the window on the lower section. On this trip I had a sleeper and when my attendant caught me he said it was ok. The last time I got caught I was traveling coach and the attendant threatened to throw me off the train for taking pictures out the window. So this time I got a lot of out the window shots.

The Dome Car was conceived by a UP executive travelling through Glenwood Canyon craning his neck up to see the canyon walls. This is Glenwood Canyon and Amtrak schedules are timed so that passage both East & West goes through Glenwood Canyon during daylight hours. My great Uncle Francis J. Meany was a UP Vice President. Once he came to Seattle in his private rail car. I was 10 years old and was too young to go to the party. Jeez, that was when the Wild Wild West was on TV and that featured a private rail car and I was totally bummed I couldn't go.

This is the stop at Glenwood Springs Colorado. You can see the steam rising from the pool.

Heading out of Glenwood Springs we are out of the mountains and can travel fast. I had hooked up my Garmin GPS device to my laptop so I could track my passage. If you look to the right side of this picture the number in the middle is 73 which is the speed, 73 MPH. That's pretty fast for a long haul Amtrak train. The Southwest Chief out of Albuquerque hits 90 MPH for a while. That's the fastest non Acela train.

Colorado River frozen up pretty much.

Colorado River seems pretty wimpy as the culprit behind the creation of the Grand Canyon . But it is and it did.

Coach class was almost empty on this Westbound trip.

This is the Dome Car envisioned by that UP dude. On this most excellent snow trip the train was not crowded at all.

The dome car has a snack shack down below.

On the West bound trip my sleeper car's heat wasn't working so I slept in the crew car. Alike in almost every way to a normal sleeper with a few exceptions. First I had access to the baggage compartment, full of snow.

There wasn't much luggage so it was in the dry area.

That's my compartment. Not bad. The seats fold into a comfy bed.

To get to the baggage car I had to go past all the train employees so I waited till late night.

Not a good picture but since the car I'm in (crew sleeper) is a double decker and the car ahead is the baggage car you have to go down stairs from the upper level. You only find this when a 2 level sleeper meets a single level car.

I found an empty cargo bay.

This is a shot from the other direction, that's the door I came in. It's blacked out.

This was an open area in the crew sleeper. Something you don't usually see.

This is the handle on the door on the baggage car.

Here we are at Salt Lake City, Amtrak engine number 189 got us through. I have a laptop and all along this route I detected a wireless signal coming from the train. It was password protected though. This is the first time I'd detected a wi fi signal on an Amtrak train. If you search you can usually connect to a local free wireless connection long enough to check your email at many stops.

The mighty Amtrak 189 re fueling in Salt Lake City, about to continue West. Me I go off and went to a motel. Deep snow in the parking lot.

My room was the last one on the right, 1st floor. tire ruts are from the taxi when I arrived.

This is the Amtrak station in Salt Lake City. It is a rail hub featuring light rail and heavy commuter rail.

Commuter rail engine.

Here's a commuter rail side shot.

Interior shot.

This is a smaller light rail train.

This is the interior of the light rail. I came to Salt Lake City by train in 2000 and these trains didn't exist. They've come a long way in 9 years.

When the Eastbound Zephyr finally rolls in it's being led by a UP locomotive. Once the engine refuels we'll be on our way. I'm excited to travel this segment during daylight hours for the first time.

Amtrak station crew go to clear the boarding area.

Before boarding I took a picture of the unusual coupling.

The Wasatch mountains. Very nice.

It was still snowing on the way home. This is such a scenic ride through the Rockies and it looks like I timed it just right.

The mighty UP 7862 pulling us up the mountains.

Looking back from the sleeper car.

There's the UP 7862 in all it's glory. It's a GE ES44AC. If you google UP 7862 you can find other pictures of this locomotive including one from this trip. Apparently the UP locomotive was added in Roseville California.

Great day for a train ride.