Amtrak Trains and Motive Power

Heartland Flyer crossing the Red River into Texas on a chilly mid October day

Northbound Heartland Flyer rolling at track speed south of Ardmore, just moments after a violent hail storm swept through the area

Southbound Heartland Flyer gliding across the north Texas countryside south of Gainesville, Texas on a very warm and muggy Memorial Day weekend

Southbound Heartland Flyer snaking its way through the beautiful Arbuckles on a warm mid June morning

Texas Eagle being serviced at Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center prior to departure to San Antonio

Southbound Heartland Flyer blasting its way past old Santa Fe Depot in Davis, OK on a dreary mid November day. The P42DC #13 locomotive is the same one that was seen leading the westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge from Chicago to Kansas City on October 21, 2006.

Northbound Texas Eagle, running about 3 hours late, working its way through beautiful Carondolet Park in St. Louis

Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle gliding through Cliff Cave County Park in far south St. Louis, MO on a very hot July afternoon, about 4 hours late

Northbound Texas Eagle on UP DeSoto Sub, through Cliff Cave County Park on a hot August day

Amtrak P42 DC #172 preparing to refuel as it gets ready to pull the eastbound Ann Rutledge to Chicago, IL

Eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge pausing at Kirkwood Station on an unusually warm late November afternoon

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge gliding through Maplewood, MO precisely on schedule

Eastbound Ann Rutledge gliding along Scott Street in Kirkwood, MO, about 45 minutes late

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge less than one minute from arrival at Kirkwood Station. The train is carrying 3 Superliner cars, instead of the usual consist of Amfleet and Horizon cars. This is the usual practice from early January through mid March.

Eastbound Ann Rutledge making its way past Kirkwood Junction on a cold, snowy early February day, approximately 1 1/2 hours late

Amtrak 174 blasting its way southward through Granite City, IL, leading Train #303 on its last leg to St. Louis on a beautiful, chilly February afternoon

Eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge loading passengers at Union Station in Kansas City, MO, in preparation for its daily trek to St. Louis

View from the rear car of the eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge as it blasts its way at 75 MPH along the UP Sedalia Sub, between Warrensburg, MO and Sedalia. As I stood in the open doorway to snap this photo, the clickety-clack of the wheels ag`inst the rails and the cold air whipping against my face brought back lots of fond memories!!! Note the snow being blown along the tracks by the turbulence generated from the train.

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge being led through Ballwin, MO along the UP Jeff City Sub late in the afternoon

Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle blasting its way through Cliff Cave County Park in far south St. Louis, MO, running about 2 1/2 hours late

Eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge working its way through the South Taylor Avenue Crossing in Kirkwood, MO

Eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge crossing the Meramec River in Sherman Beach Park in Ballwin, MO. The train was running about 2 1/2 hours late when I took this photo.

Amtrak train #313(westbound Ann Rutledge) coursing its way along Greenwood Boulevard, through Maplewood, MO on a beautiful early spring day with the Bradford pear trees nearing full bloom

Eastbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge coursing its way through Maplewood, MO along Greenwood Boulevard on a beautiful early spring day, as the Bradford pear trees are nearing full bloom

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge taking on passengers at Kirkwood Amtrak Station on a very nice, yet windy early spring day

Eastbound Ann Rutledge working its way along Greenwood Boulevard in Maplewood, MO on a beautiful spring day with the native redbuds in full bloom, along with plenty of dandelions to spice things up!!

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge(Train #313) blasting its way at track speed past the old Webster Groves commuter rail station on a beautiful 85-degree spring day

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge pausing at Kirkwood Amtrak station on a beautiful, yet chilly Easter Sunday as an eastbound Union Pacific intermodal passes on Track #2. Note that the Amtrak locomotive is very beat up, and in need of some TLC!!

A very beat up P42DC Amtrak locomotive leading the westbound Ann Rutledge through Kirkwood, MO--You might say that the pings, dents, rust, and bug splatters serve to give it special character!!!

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge, with P42DC #64 on the point, sitting at the St. Louis Amtrak station, about 30 minutes before departure for Kansas City, MO on a beautiful mid April afternoon

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge approaching North Grand Boulevard overpass, precisely on schedule, about 10 minutes after departure from downtown St. Louis on a beautiful spring afternoon

Westbound Amtrak #303("Lincoln Service") working its way through Granite City, IL at 34 MPH on its way to its final destination of St. Louis, MO on a balmy mid April afternoon

Amtrak Ann Rutledge less than one minute from arrival at Kirkwood Station on a very humid May afternoon

Westbound Ann Rutledge pausing at Kirkwood Station on a beautiful, yet very muggy, early May afternoon, running precisely on schedule

Westbound Amtrak Ann Rutledge slowly departing from Kirkwood on a very warm late afternoon in May

Northbound Texas Eagle blasting its way through Cliff Cave County Park in far south St. Louis, MO on a very warm morning in May, running about 1 1/2 hours late