August, 2019

Being, perhaps, an unlikely trip from Omaha to Sacramento to watch the Sacramento Mile (flat track races) and then return.

I've been on most of the Southwest Chief (which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles) several times, but have not been on the California Zephyr (which runs between Chicago and Oakland). This will be a good opportunity and a good excuse.

Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska. The train is scheduled to arrive at around 11:00pm, which isn't too bad. Unfortunately, the train was running over three hours late due to heavy freight traffic in Iowa. Freight has priority.

The late departure (and subsequent delays) meant that I was able to see quit a bit of Nebraska and all of Colorado, when per the schedule, much of that would be done at night. I had a roomette for the entire trip. It's small, but comfortable enough. Naturally, my yellow duffle-bag was along.

Nebraska looks like Nebraska whether from a train or from a motorcycle.

Colorado

Lots of tanker cars on an extensive siding.

Denver, Colorado. You'll see a side of Denver that you might otherwise ignore.

Picking up more passengers at the Denver Union Station.

Winding up the grade to cross the Rocky Mountains. The eastern slope almost seems ready-made for the tracks to make the climb as gentle as possible.

Following Coal Creek.

Stunning rock formations. By this point, you have to admire the builders who found a way. You would expect plenty of tunnels, and there are.

The Moffat Tunnel (east portal). The train moves along at a good clip, so I was a bit lucky to get this shot just as we entered darkness (that lasts about ten minutes). I'd do the same coming back. This is the longest tunnel (6.2 miles) on the route, and one of the longest in the United States.

Stopping in Frazer for a short fresh-air break.

Following the Fraser River and then the Colorado River, much of the route is away from any roads.

With these steep canyon walls, it's a remarkable thing to put a railroad through here.

Stopping at Glenwood Springs for another break. The springs (and associated swimming pool) are across the river from where the train stops.

Utah

Still following the Colorado River.

Helper, Utah. By this point, we were several hours late, but at Helper it all came to a stop. A flash flood had covered the tracks as well as the highway. We'd stop for the night in Helper waiting for the tracks to be cleared.

The railroad repair crew worked faster than the road crew to open things up. By 11:30am, the tracks were open (albeit at a very reduced speed), but the highway was not due to be opened until 6:00pm later that day. The damage was widespread.

Dropping into Spanish Fork and the Provo Valley.

Salt Lake City is a refueling stop. The train is now following the route of the old Western Pacific (which was bought by the Union Pacific).

Across the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Nevada

Following the Humboldt River (while it lasts). As in Colorado, much of the route in Nevada does not follow the route taken by the highways. Because the train is running over half a day late, I'm able to see what would normally be run at night.

Reno, Nevada. Clearly, Amtrak knows that the time it takes for a train to get across the Sierra Nevada Mountains is much longer than it takes a bus driving along I-80. So, the train stopped at the Reno station, and we all transferred to our selected bus (depending on our final destination). It's 4:30am.

California

Sacramento, California. The train (meaning bus) arrived at the station at 7:30am when it was supposed to arrive the previous day at 2:30pm. It's not unheard-of for a train to be late, but this was something well beyond that.

The Sacramento Mile at the Cal-Expo track. Three classes are running: singles, production twins and twins.

The area for the support vehicles and team tents is rather long and thin, owing to the infield lake.

The final Twins class getting ready to start the race.

The next morning, I walked into old-town and had breakfast and coffee at Steamers--recommended.

The old Southern Pacific Station has been renewed as the Sacramento Valley Station.

The interior with the original mural showing the start of the transcontinental railroad. I began my journey in Omaha, and ended in Sacramento--the two end-points of the transcontinental railroad.

Now I'd have a chance to see what I didn't see on my outward trip.

That's the American River, far below.

Emigrant Gap is where the original settlers had to lower their wagons by ropes. It was a tough trail they were using until they found a better (easier) one.