Hiawatha Pete

Hiawatha Pete's Journal

March 27, 2020

Santa Fe, All The Way! A Steam Train Sojourn on the "Grand Canyon Limited"

Hello Again, DU'ers,

While holed up here in my house looking for a distraction from the non-stop bad news about the global pandemic, I thought l'd share some more photographs - this time showcasing an all-but-extinct mode of transport: the steam-locomotive-hauled long-distance passenger train.

For those interested in taking a virtual journey across the Southwest, in 2012 my wife & I were passengers on "The Grand Canyon Limited" (a one-time specially-chartered train recreating the original Santa Fe train of the same name that entered service in 1929) complete with restored Santa Fe Steam Locomotive #3751 & vintage cars which ran on a five-day round trip excursion from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon to celebrate Arizona's Centennial.

The pics are from my website, https://northamericabyrail.info/

Hope you enjoy!

First, a pic of Santa Fe 4-8-4 type steam locomotive #3751 in front of the Grand Canyon Depot after arriving with the "Grand Canyon Limited"

Now, from West to East: Los Angeles Union Station

Crossing the Los Angeles River in the dome car 'Silver Lariat' on the eastbound "Grand Canyon Limited"

Dome car dining on the Grand Canyon Limited

Grand Canyon Limited approaching San Bernardino

Grand Canyon Limited approaching Sullivan's curve

Sullivans Curve, Cajon Pass, CA

Panoramic view of Santa Fe 3751 pulling the Grand Canyon Limited around Sullivan's Curve

Alray, Cajon Pass, CA

Riding in the baggage car for a closer view of Santa Fe 3751

Old Route 66

Riding eastward through the California desert

Meet with an Arizona & California Railroad freight at Cadiz, CA

Grand Canyon Limited eastbound near the California-Arizona state line

Santa Fe 4-8-4-type steam locomotive 3751 on the point of the Grand Canyon Limited. Photo run-by at Bouse, AZ

Grand Canyon Limited photo run-by at Bouse, AZ

Dome-chair car Silver Lariat

Dome-sleeper-lounge-observation car Silver Solarium on tail end of the Grand Canyon Limited

River near Salome, AZ

Santa Fe 3751 digs in its heels with the Grand Canyon Limited at Wenden, AZ

Saguaro cactus

Santa Fe 3751 pulls the Grand Canyon Limited through the wye at Matthie, AZ

Congress, AZ

Grand Canyon Limited, Skull Valley, AZ

Grand Canyon, south rim

Lookout Studio, Grand Canyon Village, AZ

March 19, 2020

America the Beautiful - By Amtrak

Hello Again, DU'ers,

Since my prior 'Canada By Train' post was so well-received, I thought I might post some pics from a U.S. train trip.

For those interested in taking a virtual journey across the Western US, in better times my wife & I often traveled by train (and plan to do so again once the current global health crisis has passed) & thought we might share some pics from the route of Amtrak's Train #5 - 'The California Zephyr' - which runs from Chicago, Illinois to the San Francisco Bay Area.

The pics are from my website, https://northamericabyrail.info/

Stay safe & hope you enjoy!

First, a pic from onboard the California Zephyr as our train rounds a curve in the front range of the Colorado Rockies

Now from East to West:

Chicago Union Station

Onboard the California Zephyr, passing Chicago Burlington & Quincy steam locomotive on display in Galesburg, IL

A coyote somewhere in the Iowa plains

Crossing the Mississippi River at Burlington, IA

Neon sign at Denver Union Station - 'Travel by Train'

Onboard the California Zephyr approaching tunnel & flatiron rock formations in the front range of the Rockies

Passing Gross Reservoir, near Plainview, CO

Roosevelt National Forest

Fraser-Winter Park, CO

Fraser Canyon, CO, as seen from the California Zephyr

Glenwood Canyon, CO

Glenwood Springs, CO

California Zephyr at Glenwood Springs, CO

New Castle, CO

Pallisade, CO

Grand Junction Amtrak Station

Onboard the California Zephyr racing through Ruby Canyon

Ruby Canyon, CO

A herd of deer near Green River, UT

Salt Lake City nocturne with Train #5

Rolling through the desert near Elko, NV

Donner Lake - onboard the California Zephyr climbing Donner Pass

California Zephyr crossing a trestle near Emigrant Gap, CA

Rolling through the American River Valley, CA

Passing a palm tree (a big deal for Canadians like me)

Rolling under a suspension bridge over the Carquinez Strait in thick fog

Emeryville Amtrak Station

And now for some pics of the onboard accommodations:

Amtrak Sightseer Lounge Car

Roomette on Amtrak Sleeping car

Amtrak Dining Car

March 8, 2020

Canada By Train - A Photographic land cruise

Happy Sunday Afternoon, DU'ers,

For those interested in taking a scenic land cruise across Canada from the comfort of your computer or smartphone, my wife and I often travel by train and thought we might share some pics from the route of VIA Rail's transcontinental passenger train, 'The Canadian', which runs from Toronto to Vancouver.

The pics are from my website, https://northamericabyrail.info/

Hope you enjoy!

First, a pic of the train consist at Jasper National Park - Jasper, Alberta

Now from East to West: In the dome car leaving Toronto, Ontario

Through the muskeg & lake country of Northern Ontario

Rolling through prairie country, crossing the Red River floodway east of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg Union Station, a long crew change & refuelling stop with time to detrain & walk around

Front range of the Rockies at Swan Landing, Alberta

Canadian Rockies, Henry House, Alberta

Meet between East & Westbound Canadians at Henry House, Alberta

Eagle's nest near Devona, Alberta

Meet with a CN freight at Devona, Alberta

Through the Rockies in the Dome Car

Along the Athabasca River, Passing Roche Miette

Passing a black bear rubbing against a tree

VIA Rail's Canadian roaring through the Rockies - Jasper National Park, Jasper, Alberta

Passing herd of Elk east of Jasper

The Canadian running along Moose Lake, British Columbia

Mount Robson, highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, 12,972 feet

Passing through the Fraser River Canyon, west of North Bend, British Columbia

Pacific Central Station, Vancouver, British Columbia

Now for some of the onboard accommodations:

The 'Bullet lounge' in the tail end of the Park Car (last car on 'The Canadian')

'Mural lounge' and bar in Park Car

High level observation Dome in Park Car

Dining Car on 'The Canadian'

Prestige class bedroom on 'The Canadian', day time setup

Prestige class bedroom on 'The Canadian', night time setup

Profile Information

Gender: Do not display
Member since: Sun Feb 9, 2020, 12:30 AM
Number of posts: 1,797