10/24/1999 - The train from Oxnard CA to Los Angeles arrived and left Oxnard basically on time and arrived at the Union Station in Los Angeles on time, almost 5:00 PM. We had a couple of Tacos close to Union Station since all the resturants at LA's Union Station are closed on Sundays. We got back to Union Station very early since our train to Chicago was no leave at 7:15 PM and even early boarding for senior citizens (and other disabled passengers) is about a half hour prior to departure. As it turned out the train did not leave LA Union Station until 8:22 PM (an hour and 8 minutes late).
While we were waiting we struck up a convesation with another senior citizen couple and found that they had been on board that train that derailed at 2:15 AM or so Saturday 10/16/99 due to the earthquake.
We found that they were awakened by what they thought might be a derailment or earthquake. Quickly their car attendant had come by and asked them to put on pants and shoes. The wife ask the attendant if they had derailed and she said that they should not worry about it but just get shoes and pants on. They felt it was obvious that the attendant had been told not to say anything at that time and, sure enough, she was back shortly to inform them that the train had indead derailed. 21 of the 22 cars had derailed and all of them were still upright and all generators were working. Before 4:00 AM the Diner was serving meals and/or coffee and donuts to all of the passengers. The crew apparently did an excellent job of reassuring and helping all of the passengers quickly and well. Once we got on the Train we found that this other couple was in the same car as we were and went to dinner with them that evening. The train left LA Union Station at 8:22 and in less than an hour they had dinner ready to serve. As usual, this dinner was excellent in quality, preparation, and service.
10/25/1999 - We had an early breakfast around the time we got to Flagstaff, AZ and I started taking pictures shortly after that in the Arizona and New Mexico Mountians.
Click here for Arizona pictures.
Click here for New Mexico pictures (West of Albuquerque).
We had a maintenance stop in Albuquerque after Lunch where we could check out the vendors of "Indian" Jewelry that were set up at that station. They were no better than the same stop on the way out and we weren't really sure if the jewelry had been made by "Native Americans" or not.
These pictures were taken east of Albuquerque and Lamy New Mexico along I-25.
We had dinner in the Raton, NM area.
These pictures were taken in Colorado and Kansas.
We had dinner in the Raton, NM area.
10/26/99 - We had breakfast in the Tokeka KS area and then lunch about the time were were nearing the Mississippi River where Peg got some pictures of the river, the turnstile bridge, and a Riverboat at a dock before we crossed the river.
These pictures were taken of the Mississippi River.
Our scheduled arrival in Chicago was at 4:05 PM and actually we arrived before 4:00. A bit of dinner in Union Station and we got on the train and departed on-time at 7:20 PM arriving in Elkhart, IN a couple of minutes late at 9:45 PM.