Truly westward at last!
Finally I was aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr… bound for
my destination - Reno, Nevada. It
departed from Chicago “on time,” with
about 14 folks I know well, most riding
aboard the same sleeping car. I enjoyed
seeing them again, since last year I was not able to attend this meeting.
For a while, the group gathered in the “sightseer lounge” car
(think traditional full-length dome car, though it isn’t quite like one of
those.) That gave a good vantage point
for looking up, and also due to its position in the train right behind the
baggage car, a view to the front as well. That's quite unusual in today's passenger train world.
From Denver to Winter Park, the views were spectacular and
ever-changing, from sun to clouds, lack of snow to snow cover, blowing snow to falling snow, and wind to
calm. As we climbed the grade to the
continental divide, snow levels
increased, though not to the amounts desired by residents of water-starved
states to the west. And we passed through
the “tunnel district” which has 28 short tunnels shoehorned into 30 minutes of time!
At the summit lies Moffat Tunnel, approximate maximum track
elevation 9239 feet above sea level.
It’s over 6.2 miles long and takes about 10 -12 minutes to traverse the
distance. The shot below would not have
been possible with other positions of the dome car in the train.
The following picture is of the east portal of the Moffat
Tunnel, in the snow.
Next are some pictures of sights seen enroute west on my excursion. Here is Glenwood Canyon, in Colorado.
And one of the train at the Glenwood Springs (Colorado)
station. This is a lovely resort town I'd really enjoy visiting someday...
Next is the arid high desert at sunrise. The light on a clear day at sunrise is always so warm and photogenic:
And finally...we arrived at our destination: "Reno – the biggest little city in the World."
There were even a few holiday lights near the casinos…
There's more to follow…
Mandy
Mandy
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