Drawing of the Day- Grand Canyon Railway F40PH #237

Today I drew Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel F40PH #237. The Grand Canyon Railway connects to the Amtrak Southwest Chief at Williams, Arizona and takes passengers to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Why We Need Trains 5-Amtrak Southwest Chief and the Journey to Philmont Scout Ranch

Amtrak's historic depot at Raton, NM was built by the Santa Fe Railroad.  Raton is served by Amtrak's Southwest Chief, successor to the Santa Fe Super Chief.  Amtrak travels on the rails of Santa Fe successor BNSF.
Troops of Boy Scouts ride Amtrak from across America to Raton where they disembark to head to Philmont Scout Ranch.  At Philmont Scout Ranch, Boy Scouts from across America are able to network, make new friends, and learn about our vast country as they are challenged by the camp's rugged terrain.
The journey to Philmont aboard Amtrak has become a tradition passed down by generations.  Troop leaders, themselves once scouts, once again make this trek aboard the Southwest Chief.  This journey aboard Amtrak affords those eager to learn a chance to see the vast landscapes America has to offer.  Communities along the way show that America truly is a land where we are all neighbors to each other.  This is why we need trains.

Boarding The Amtrak Southwest Chief at Galesburg, Illinois

Here I am about ready to board the westbound Amtrak Southwest Chief in Galesburg, Illinois.  Every time I board Amtrak, I anticipate seeing the beauty of America.

The Southwest Chief crosses the Mississippi River and crosses Raton Pass  of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  The vast landscape along the Southwest Chief is breathtaking.

Amtrak's Former Santa Fe Depot at Raton, New Mexico

Amtrak's historic depot at Raton, NM was built by the Santa Fe Railroad.  Raton is served by Amtrak's Southwest Chief, successor to the Santa Fe Super Chief.  Amtrak travels on the rails of Santa Fe successor BNSF.
Troops of Boy Scouts ride Amtrak from across America to Raton where they disembark to head to Philmont Scout Ranch.  The scenery along the Southwest Chief is truly spectacular.

Amtrak America

While Riding the Southwest Chief after Amtrak Train Days, the beauty of the journey led me to write the following poem, "Amtrak America."

Amtrak roll, roll into the night
Roll into the morning, roll into the night
Forever I roll, across America
The steel rail glistens, along the way
Roll into the night, roll into the day
Amtrak roll across a land so big
Across the mountains, and across the plains
Across the rivers, wide and mighty
Past picked fences, past city lights
Sunrise in valleys, see all of the sights
See all of America, rolling down the track
From your Amtrak window, as you sail clickity-clack
The engineer waves, the crossing gate dings
Across our land, Amtrak sings
Breakfast hits griddle, passengers arise
As Amtrak whistles onward
Here I am, here we are
Amtrak America

The Legacy of Railroading-A System That Moves America

Amtrak was born out of our railroad system.  In today's BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, we see the legacy of many historic railroads and their named trains.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, City of New Orleans, Capitol Limited, Empire Builder, Silver Star and many others take their name from a legacy of railroading.  Railroads such as the Baltimore and Ohio, Great Northern, Illinois Central, Pennsylvania Railroad, Southern Railway and many others built the rails upon which we travel and their freight railroad successors maintain the right of way in order for us to get the goods we need everyday and to make our Amtrak journey possible.  
Here a BNSF locomotive moves intermodal containers at Hobart Yard built by the Santa Fe railroad in Los Angeles.  Railroading truly is a system that moves America.  As our train passes by, we witness the legacy of railroading.

The Amtrak California Zephyr and Southwest Chief

The lobby of the Grand Junction, Colorado Amtrak Station is colorfully adorned with posters of the many Amtrak trains. Here I am taking the California Zephyr to Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg and thinking about my return trip home on the Amtrak Southwest Chief.  Both trains are spectacular.

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.

Dinner Aboard The Amtrak Southwest Chief

I always enjoy mealtime while aboard Amtrak. Here I am sitting down to dinner on the Amtrak Southwest Chief. Amtrak's Dining Car is a great place to relax and get to know your fellow passengers.

Cynthia, Our Great Car Attendant on the Amtrak Southwest Chief

Cynthia, our car attendant on the Amtrak Southwest Chief did a great job making us feel welcome.  She informed us of points of interest along the way and always had fresh coffee brewed. Our car was also decorated Red, White and Blue for the Fourth of July. Great job, Cynthia!

The Amtrak Depot at Lamy, New Mexico

The Amtrak depot at Lamy, NM truly is historic.  As the Amtrak Southwest Chief stopped at this former Santa Fe depot, I felt as if we had stepped back into history.  The baggage cart stood at attention under a beautiful blue New Mexico sky.

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.

Drawing a Santa Fe GP9 Aboard Amtrak Southwest Chief

As we approached La Junta, Colorado on the Amtrak Southwest Chief, I put the finishing touches on a Santa Fe GP9 freight locomotive drawing. The BNSF tracks we traveled upon were built by the Santa Fe.  The landscape we travel through is rich with the beauty of the Southwest.  

The Joy of Being a Railroad Artist

I always enjoy meeting with the public at Amtrak Train Days.  Here I share stories with those who attended Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg.  We talk about riding Amtrak and about our love of railroading.
I have always enjoyed that my artwork allows me to begin great conversations with rail enthusiasts of all ages.  We all love seeing Amtrak's proudly painted Veterans and Heritage locomotives.  Some remember taking the Santa Fe Super Chief many years ago.  Railfans love seeing the trains as they pass by headed across America.
With each new drawing I do, I find another story I am able to share.  That is the greatest gift of all for being a railroad artist.

Boy Scouts Make The Journey to Philmont Scout Ranch Aboard Amtrak

As I attended Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg, I watched as several troops of Boy Scouts prepared to board the westbound Southwest Chief for Raton, New Mexico with the ultimate destination of Philmont Scout Ranch.  In a few days, I would be taking the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles, and several additional troops of Boy Scouts made the westward trek to New Mexico aboard that day's Southwest Chief.
While drawing Amtrak logos in the lounge car, I asked them about their journey to New Mexico.  I learned that making the summer trip to Philmont Scout Ranch aboard the Southwest Chief is a long standing tradition for Boy Scouts across America.

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.

Amtrak Connects Communities Across America

Amtrak connects communities across America.  Trains such as the Southwest Chief, the California Zephyr, the Empire Builder and the Texas Eagle link our Western States to destinations throughout the East Coast.

Drawing a Santa Fe Super Chief aboard the Amtrak Southwest Chief

Drawing aboard Amtrak is truly an experience I cherish.  Here I am drawing a Santa Fe Super Chief F7 as the Amtrak Southwest Chief heads toward Albuquerque.  Much of the scenery and landmarks, and many of the stations and business remain as they were years ago.
This journey along the historic Santa Fe route helps me be at one with my muse.  Not only will this journey inspire this drawing, but it will inspire many drawings to come.

Amtrak Train Days-The Experience of a Lifetime

I truly enjoy attending Amtrak Train Days.  Attending Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg, Illinois was a trip down memory lane.
The event centered around Galesburg Train Days, an event I had last attended twenty years ago.  I got to meet fans who worked for the railroad who were only kids so many years ago.  Collectors told stories of my magnets that had been on their refrigerators for years and how they were to glad to see me again.
I always love to draw new trains, and I am very grateful to take Amtrak to connect with fans both young and old, many whom have stories and memories to share.  America is a beautiful country, and seeing it by Amtrak is truly the experience of a lifetime.