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.

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.

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.

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.  

California Zephyr poster at Grand Junction, Colorado

As our eastbound California Zephyr made a crew change at Grand Junction, Colorado, I explored the Amtrak station.  It was great to find the California Zephyr poster that matches the T-Shirt that I love to wear.