Thank You Galesburg for Expanding Your Amtrak Station

Many of us have visited Galesburg, Illinois, situated on the historic Santa Fe and Chicago Burlington and Quincy.  Through the years, we have attended Galesburg Railroad Days and watched the trains of Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, BNSF and Amtrak as they make their transcontinental trek.
Many of us, myself included, have boarded the Amtrak Southwest Chief and California Zephyr from Galesburg’s venerable depot.  At that, I would like to take a moment to say, “Thank you,” to the City of Galesburg for making a much needed expansion to their town’s Amtrak station.
We all enjoy riding Amtrak, and with much needed improvements to stations, cities such as Galesburg ensure that our Amtrak experience is truly second to none.  Thank you Galesburg.
Amtrak was designed to serve the communities of America.  Each community working together with Amtrak makes a teamwork of service to Amtrak’s riders.  With Galesburg’s improved station, that teamwork is truly winning.
Galesburg’s expanded station was financed in part by funds set aside for Amtrak in Illinois Jobs Now! and by funds for Rural Transportation Assistance in a Federal Transportation Administration 5311 Grant.  With projects such as the Galesburg Depot expansion, we truly can look forward to a greater Amtrak of today and tomorrow.

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.

The Art Deco Era of the E and F Unit Locomotive

E and F-unit locomotives are accredited with the era of brightly painted, streamlined passenger trains across America.  The elegant lines of these locomotives complimented the new, lightweight aluminum passenger cars that appeared.

America was on the move, and its streamlined passenger trains took us there.  These Art Deco locomotives stood with the spires and clock towers of train stations and cities from an era that truly marked an elegant age of design.

Freight and Passenger Railroads Compose Our Rail Network

Our freight railroads connect our industries, manufacturing, ports and consumers.  They provide a critical artery for commerce.

Our freight railroads also provide key corridors for Amtrak.  Freight railroads provide critical maintenance to infrastructure for our rail system to operate effectively.

As a Union Pacific intermodal train passes my vantage at the Davis, California Amtrak Station, I prepare for the arrival of the Amtrak California Zephyr.  Our railroads working together truly make America's great rail network possible.

Watching a BNSF Freight at Denver Reminds Me of the Legacy of the California Zephyr

It is very inspiring when I sit in the Amtrak lounge car and watch America's trains pass by the window as I draw.  Here, as I head west on the California Zephyr, I watch a BNSF intermodal train just outside of Denver Union Station.

As our California Zephyr heads into Denver, we have been traveling over BNSF's former Chicago Burlington and Quincy mainline from Chicago.  Today's Amtrak California Zephyr is rooted in the history of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy which, together with the Rio Grande and Western Pacific railroads, first ran the California Zephyr.  From Denver, we will be traveling west on the tracks of the former Rio Grande, which today are owned by Union Pacific.

Amtrak Personnel-Always There For Their Passengers

While waiting for the California Zephyr, A heartwarming scene unfolded as an Amtrak California Capitol Corridor commuter train stopped at the Davis, CA depot.  One of the train's conductors assisted a blind woman and her service dog from the train towards the station.
Whenever I ride Amtrak, I am impressed with the care Amtrak personnel have for their passengers.  Amtrak personnel are always there to go above and beyond the call of duty when needed.  Thank you to all at Amtrak.  Your work is greatly appreciated.

Metra-Chicago's Commuter Railroad

Part of the thrill of visiting Chicago is seeing the brightly painted Metra Trains. I always enjoy arriving at Union Station and seeing the Metra locomotives hard at work moving Chicago's commuters throughout Chicagoland.

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 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.

Giving My Santa Fe GP9 Drawing To Carol at La Junta Amtrak Station

As we approached La Junta on the Amtrak Southwest Chief, our car attendant, Cynthia, told us about an older woman, Carol, who sells jewelry at the La Junta Amtrak station. I was delighted to meet Carol and see her strong will.

Carol reminded me much of my grandma.  My grandma worked as nurse to buy my first pens and support my becoming a railroad artist.  It truly made my day to give this Santa Fe drawing to Carol.