Amtrak Adventure: Canyons, Cliffs & Clouds

I just returned from a train trip on Amtrak's California Zephyr through the colorful canyons and gorges of Utah and Colorado. See my photo gallery "Canyons, Cliffs & Clouds" on the right sidebar, and two interesting trains I photographed along the route of the Zephyr (below). Three simple observations about the American railroading experience: Thousands of giant boulders perched on steep hillsides never tumble down when your train is passing by. People dump enormous quantities of trash alongside backyard fences and railroad tracks. People wave at arriving and departing trains, but not at buses and airplanes. If you want to see some of this gorgeous scenery for yourself, much of it accessible only by rail, get yourself an Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard and start racking up travel points for your next train ride.

John Maybury, Editor & Publisher

  Old Burlington Northern steam engine on display at Amtrak's Galesburg, Illinois train station. (John Maybury iPhone photo taken onboard westbound California Zephyr)

Airport shuttle train waits for passengers at Denver Union Station. (John Maybury iPhone photo taken onboard Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr)

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Comments

[Lyle]

I took the California Zephyr from the East to the West. Went through the Rockies in the daylight. WOW!!! The train crew acted like they really wanted you on the train, unlike airline attendants.

[John Maybury]

BRAVO, JOHN! As a fellow NARP member, I salute you for taking the train across the country to fight for better passenger train service for all of us. Amtrak is a national treasure worth saving.

[John Webb]

Looks like you had a great trip. I just completed a similar trip to the East Coast. It was on the more northerly route, The Empire Builder. Faster and on time. But less spectacular scenery, although on the first day out (eastbound) we did get a pretty good look at the Rockies.

As members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), we took the trip to participate in NARP's annual "Day On the Hill" event in D.C. We prowled the halls of Congress to get the politicians to Do the Right Thing, i.e., increased support for Amtrak service.

Anyone who wants to assist NARP in its mission can get more info at: www.narprail.org

John Webb
Trinidad, California (longtime friend of the editor)