The Santa Fe Super Chief-One of America's Most Beautiful Trains

The Santa Fe Super Chief is truly one of America's most beautiful trains and is well loved and remembered as the flagship of the Santa Fe.  The Super Chief operated between Chicago and Los Angeles.  Not only was its brightly painted silver and red consist truly beautiful, but the Super Chief operated across some of America's most breathtaking landscapes as it traversed the Southwest.  Today's Amtrak Southwest Chief proudly stands upon the shoulders of this train.

Approaching Mission Tower and Union Station on the Amtrak SouthwestChief

Mission Tower stands guarding the entrance to Los Angeles Union Station.  I had seen this tower in pictures, but it was surreal to approach this historic icon as our Amtrak Southwest Chief approached its destination at Union Station.

Crossing Cajon Pass on the Amtrak Southwest Chief

In 2010, my mom and I had driven down to Los Angeles on a trip to visit with Athearn.  We spent the night in San Bernadino and had a great view of the BNSF yards.  Early the next morning, we took a trip up the mountain to watch BNSF and Union Pacific cross Cajon Pass.  It was a great experience.
A few weeks ago, I was able to cross Cajon pass on the Amtrak Southwest Chief.  It was one thing to view Cajon Pass from afar in 2010.  Crossing the mountain on Amtrak was a whole new experience altogether.  I watched freight trains on their first and last legs of their trek across America from my Amtrak window.  It truly was being a part of the action.  I will never forget this experience aboard the Amtrak Southwest Chief.