NM #34--Amtrak to New Mexico, Part 1: The Journey by Train

         NEW MEXICO TRIP #34:  THE AMTRAK ADVENTURE (April 2014)

                PAGE ONE:  WESTBOUND ON THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF (19 Photos)

          We found a new way to get to Albuquerque!  Dearborn to Chicago on the Michigan Wolverine (271 miles).  Chicago to Albuquerque on the Southwest Chief (1341 miles).  That train continues on to Los Angeles.  The Wolverine is an older, almost crummy service.  However, upgrades are in progress, and part of the journey is at 110 mph (176 kph).  By next year the section from Dearborn to Chicago will also be high speed.  New cars are coming then, too.  All badly needed.  It currently takes 5 hours to reach Chicago.  After upgrades it will take 4 hours.  The Wolverine has a snack car and a business class section--we were in the business section!

 
          The Southwest Chief departs Chicago once per day.  It takes about 25-26 hours to reach Albuquerque.  This train offers sleeper cars, as well as a full dining car and a fabulous observation car, which also has a bar and snack car on the lower level.   We had a tiny roomette, which was perfect for us.  Daytime seats with an optional folding table were ours, and a huge window.  We divided our time between the observation car and our own room.  Dinners were included in the price, and by calling ahead we were able to have vegan choices!

 
          Sleeping was fun.  Deb took the upper berth, which was a bit confining.  The train was comfortable and the staff mostly excellent.  Our car had 4 restrooms and a shower, as well as free water, coffee and juices.

It was a painfully early departure from Dearborn, the 5th and final Detroit area station for the Wolverine.  We boarded on time at 6:50 am.  It was Easter Sunday, but the train was still busy.

We had four hours to kill in Chicago.  We had access to the first class lounge in Union Station.  We were able to leave our luggage with an attendant and wander around downtown for a while.  It was a beautiful sunny day!

Deb settles into our tiny roomette.  We had comfortable facing seats during the day, and
bunk beds at night.  We had our own climate control.  The nearest restroom was
steps away.

We left Chicago on time on the Southwest Chief, Westbound Train #3.  This photo was taken 8 minutes after departure.  There is no fanfare with train departures, no loud noise, no sudden acceleration.  Just a quiet, gradual commencement...

 We crossed the Mississippi River at Fort Madison, Iowa, on a very impressive
bridge.  We'd been on board the Chief about 3 1/2 hours.

We awoke next morning in Dodge City, Kansas.  We were about an hour behind schedule, and we never really made up much of that time.  We had bedded down last night in Kansas City, Missouri.  This passes for a river in the west.  In fact, it is the less than mighty East Bridge Creek, which feeds the Arkansas River.

A cozy passenger on board Amtrak's Train #3, the Southwest Chief.

A sign painted on a building in La Junta, Colorado.

There is a crew change in La Junta, and passengers are allowed out to stretch.
A fellow passenger took our picture.  It was 10:20 am, and we had been
 on board for over 19 hours.

Rear section of our train, in La Junta Station, CO.  The dining car is the nearest, followed by the observation car.  Next come three coaches.  Our three sleeper cars were in front of the diner, as well as a baggage car and our two amazing engines.

Deb enjoys the comfort of the observation car.  The eastern plains of Colorado speed by.  We saw antelope, deer, and later, in the mountains, elk.

The first station in New Mexico is also a crew change location, so once again we were outside, breathing our first genuine NM air!  In five hours we would be in Albuquerque.

The plains of New Mexico, looking east from the observation car.  Opposite us (behind) were the Rocky Mtns.

Wagon Mound, a NM landmark for early wagon trains heading to Santa Fe.

Looking west towards the Rockies.  There was snow in the higher elevations.

Mary's Bar has sentimental value to us, and we saw it as we glided through
Cerillos, NM.  We were drinking bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and we
toasted Cathy and Moreno.  We had been to the bar with them. 
It was a unique experience!

The Ortiz Mtns, one of my favourite ranges in NM.  The fun ghost town of Madrid is here, along with a wonderful saloon.

 The Sandia Mtns tower over Albuquerque.  We were on final approach!

Our first official stop in Albuquerque was Marble Brewing Co.  We
enjoyed pints of IPA, toasting our fun and successful journey
here by train.  I met Crown the dog.  He does tricks with beer
glasses.  We found out he would be on David Letterman in
one week, on "Stupid Pet Tricks."  Once home, we watched
him on TV.  He did really well!!