Traveling on Amtrak's Texas Eagle and Hiawatha Service-August 7-August 10, 2005
Author: Zach Pumphery
I rode on Amtrak with my Dad from Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Milawukee, Wisconsin on trains 22, 337, 334, and 21. We left on August 7th going north on trains 22 and 337, changing in Chicago. We came back south on trains 334 and 21 on August 10th, we got home early in the morning on August 10th. Dad and I made a similar trip in 2004 to Chicago from Poplar Bluff on July 13-15th. This was the farthest north we had ever been and was the first time we had to change trains en route. This was a very fun trip and saw lots of action along the way!
Photo Gallery
He is one of the conductors out of Little Rock, headed north, he'll get train 21 back tomorrow.
Told ya we'd see that again! We departed STL at 8:35 A.M., right on time!
The St. Louis Skyline looks good today, behind me on an overpass was Pat Scott, taking a photo of the train, see it here at: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=167869 .
These two ex-D&RGW units were parked in the yard.
On the Phase III Car we got on (YAY!), this decal stared us in the face by the vestibule.
Inside Milwaukee Union Station over the ticket counter.
We emerge into the light and see that switcher, lol. We left the platforms at 3:20, right on time.
It was shuttling 2 units around.
Here's a REAL switcher!
Not many of these are on the property anymore, but it sure was neat to see one, especially in Phase III!
More bluenoses parked.
I like those little fellers!
I lik these things but they're no F40.
These were switching in the yard, so great to see these GTW Locomotives before they're all gone.
I had a 5:00 dinner reservation. We arrived into Pontiac at 5:25, 23 minutes late. I ate the New York Strip Steak, vegetables, a baked potato (tater), and drank a Pepsi. All of this cost me about 20 bucks, but it was fricken good. I sat with a man from Chicago, and a woman from Detroit. They were a little bit amazed that I always knew where we were, what crops were planted beside the tracks, and what 4 lane highway we were right beside...which was I-55.
I talked to Bill, the former SP now Amtrak Conductor that I speak to often, along another woman conductor from Little Rock (he is also out of Little Rock) in the Dining Car, he allowed me to go down into the galley (kitchen) of the dining car, not much different than the cars of the 1950's but slightly longer and a little bit wider, but the overall stainless steel look was the same. This is looking towards the front of the train. (Notice the time, we were supposed to be in Poplar Bluff at 1:02, we're still 50 or so minutes out!)
Looking the other way we see some storage space in the galley when I was with Conductor Bill.