my old stomping ground. :)
Posted on 03/27/2010 4:49:21 AM PDT by Willie Green
We were slowly approaching 8000 feet over the gloriously craggy Sangre di Cristo mountains, en route from southern Colorado to New Mexico. As my wife and I chugged up the Raton Pass--one of the highest points in America's rail system--I was one contented traveler. I thought to myself, "This can't get any better."
Then it did.
The train headed into a narrow, pitch-black tunnel through the top of the pass. And when it emerged on the other side, we had a gasp-worthy view of the biggest sky imaginable, peaks and valleys, forests and deserts, with several different weather systems hovering over the astounding landscape.
Ever since that moment, I have understood completely why more and more Americans are riding trains (the past two years have been the best in Amtrak's history), why President Barack Obama is putting $8 billion into improving our country's rail travel, and why financier Warren Buffett recently made a $44 billion investment in a railroad company. There's a little bit of a "trainiac" in all of us, and there's still no better way to explore the United States than by rail.
Trains offer a certain combination of quality and quantity time that is impossible to duplicate. You can also lengthen your adventure as much as you like by arranging to get off and back on wherever you like. Not only is the route we were traveling, Amtrak's Southwest Chief, one of the nation's best rides, but going from Chicago to Los Angeles is an interactive way to relive America's expansion west. With a few exceptions, you're on the same tracks that once made up the Santa Fe Railway, which was built along the wagon trail of the same name and was largely followed to create the archetypal American highway, Route 66.
(Excerpt) Read more at parade.com ...
Good to see you, Willie.
Man, train travel is the greatest. I promised my 4 year-old daughter (and myself) a long train ride across the country (as much as possible) when we have the time and the finances.
Four times I rode the nonstop rail from Kiev to Donestk Ukraine. The only way to travel.
...never forgot a nearly 1000-mile train ride during childhood. It was fast.
Although I cannot stand the Obama reference in this article, riding the rails is the way to go. DOn’t we have an American version of the Orient Express?
I was a rail commuter for years when I worked in the city (Philly)and you never knew who you were going to meet. Always an adventure. In a few more years, I’d love to do the Silverton, Georgetown and other mountain routes. THen, maybe Alaska? Thanks for the breather from all the bad news this week.
So did the author park his train and get out and take in the scenery at that mountain pass? I doubt it.
TL;DR
I want sleeper cars and mysteries lol
Yep — and, of course, Eva Marie Saint.
Sorry train rides are boring.. Time for you all train lovers to live in the present... Passenger train service in America is DEAD!!!!
financier Warren Buffett recently made a $44 billion investment in a railroad company.
So did a lot of other people, myself included, but not because the railroad hauled passengers.
To otherwise stay on track, no pun intended, the state of SD has one passenger rail line that I am aware of, between Keystone, SD and Hill City, SD called the 1880 train, pulled by a steam engine.
No Amtrak, that would be in North Dakota.
my old stomping ground. :)
Plus one on the Durango-Silverton train. Fantastic trip.
If you’re afraid of heights...bring blinders.
lol
don't watch this video
Done many trips. Hope to do many more. The ride from Chicago to LA is fabulous.
A couple of years ago we got on the train in Charlottesville, changed in DC, Chicago, and LA and were picked up by our daughter at Oxnard. The change in Chicago even gave us time to go to walk to a church for Mass!
Unbelievably great ride! From before Raton until night fall in AZ is stunning!
Turnagain Arm ...high tide
...and at low tide
...SB out of Portage
Mt. McKinley ...not always cooperative in showing himself
...you're more apt to see wildlife, than McKinley on the way
...the S-curves make for some great shots
...outside Fairbanks
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