Midland Valley
Lead Service Attendant
On Friday, July 29, we picked up the In-laws at Wellington, Ks and arrived at the old Santa Fe Station in Oklahoma City by 7:45 AM. The first problem encountered on a gloriously beautiful morning was the fact that a parking lot attendant told me it would cost $46.00 to park at the station untill the 3 of August to which I retorted, "Thats a load of Bat Crap"! $46 bucks to park in an unsecure lot right at the station? I'd like to know who the Godless thief is that owns that little strip. There is no other options either.
Anyway, the station is quite interesting and intact. We got to the platform and had to show id and have all (even backpack and briefcase) tagged. The train was a P42 followed by a stunning but well used Santa Fe High Level "El Capitan" car, a Superliner with cafe in the lower level, another High Level, and an old converted, (baggage compartment/cab for push pull)P 40. They boarded all through passengers in the Superliner. We left the station on time at 8:25 AM. Beautiful trip through the Arbuckles and along the river. We were running on time untill somewhere between Gainsville and Ft. Worth, the train came to a screeching halt. Seems a trucker ran through the crossing guards and came about three inches of being struck by the engine. The conductor had to walk the train following an emergency brake stop like that so we were there about twenty minutes. There was a BN signal man right there, I hope he got a tag number or a company name on that guy. Following a backup into the station. Ft. Worth was about 25 minutes late. The Eagle took off on time on former AT&SF tracks with the through coach and sleeper for the Sunset. Temple, Texas I noticed several museum peice locomotives and rollingstock. There it was, the AT&SF 2301, an ALCO 600 HP high hood switcher in zebra paint. built July of 37, one of only two in its class. From there on we must have been on UP tracks. Several delays for freights. There was a gruff old conductor on board who when asked by epople how much longer would answer "could be several hours"! He was just being jovial in his own way.
As we came into San Antonio we passed the old MOP station which I think is being or has been restored. Downtown was on the left side of the coach. We kept going out into the darkness untill we finally stopped, switched to another track and began a very long back up that had the downtown on the right side of the train. Arrived about twentyfive minutes late.
On Tuesday, we walked to Sunset station to see it in the day. The through sleeper and coach from the Eagle was there, they had been there since 11:45 on Monday. The Westbound Sunset Limited was running about 13 hours late.
Wednesday, we arrived at the station, boarded the train and left San Antonio on time. Did a back up move but not as far as inbound and didn's go by the old MOP station. We were on time untill we were placed on a siding between San MArcos and Austin for 1:26 minutes due to UP congestion although there was no freights that passed or met us. The conductor opened the door to the car in front of us so smokers could get off. I took advantage of the opportunity to stretch my legs and visited with him for several minutes. He said the UP was killing them. He also said he would sell me a standard bedroom, (roomette) for $54.00 from there to Chicago. That would have been a great deal if I would have been going on. We were 1:09 late into Austin and continued to lose time untill Ft. Worth at 1:05 late. The other Eagle was in the station also, plus our Heartland Flyer. Made for some good photos. The Chicago bound Eagle made a long back up from the station here also for the trip to Dallas I guess.
The Hearland Flyer left on time with all through passengers in the Superliner. We got stopped between Gainsville and Ardmore for a BN train that was fouling the main due to a dead crew waiting for a fresh crew. That cost us about 34 minutes. We arrived into OK City 42 minutes late. Not Bad! Delightful little train. Amtrak can be proud of it. I hope they extend it on to Wichita and Newton.
Anyway, the station is quite interesting and intact. We got to the platform and had to show id and have all (even backpack and briefcase) tagged. The train was a P42 followed by a stunning but well used Santa Fe High Level "El Capitan" car, a Superliner with cafe in the lower level, another High Level, and an old converted, (baggage compartment/cab for push pull)P 40. They boarded all through passengers in the Superliner. We left the station on time at 8:25 AM. Beautiful trip through the Arbuckles and along the river. We were running on time untill somewhere between Gainsville and Ft. Worth, the train came to a screeching halt. Seems a trucker ran through the crossing guards and came about three inches of being struck by the engine. The conductor had to walk the train following an emergency brake stop like that so we were there about twenty minutes. There was a BN signal man right there, I hope he got a tag number or a company name on that guy. Following a backup into the station. Ft. Worth was about 25 minutes late. The Eagle took off on time on former AT&SF tracks with the through coach and sleeper for the Sunset. Temple, Texas I noticed several museum peice locomotives and rollingstock. There it was, the AT&SF 2301, an ALCO 600 HP high hood switcher in zebra paint. built July of 37, one of only two in its class. From there on we must have been on UP tracks. Several delays for freights. There was a gruff old conductor on board who when asked by epople how much longer would answer "could be several hours"! He was just being jovial in his own way.
As we came into San Antonio we passed the old MOP station which I think is being or has been restored. Downtown was on the left side of the coach. We kept going out into the darkness untill we finally stopped, switched to another track and began a very long back up that had the downtown on the right side of the train. Arrived about twentyfive minutes late.
On Tuesday, we walked to Sunset station to see it in the day. The through sleeper and coach from the Eagle was there, they had been there since 11:45 on Monday. The Westbound Sunset Limited was running about 13 hours late.
Wednesday, we arrived at the station, boarded the train and left San Antonio on time. Did a back up move but not as far as inbound and didn's go by the old MOP station. We were on time untill we were placed on a siding between San MArcos and Austin for 1:26 minutes due to UP congestion although there was no freights that passed or met us. The conductor opened the door to the car in front of us so smokers could get off. I took advantage of the opportunity to stretch my legs and visited with him for several minutes. He said the UP was killing them. He also said he would sell me a standard bedroom, (roomette) for $54.00 from there to Chicago. That would have been a great deal if I would have been going on. We were 1:09 late into Austin and continued to lose time untill Ft. Worth at 1:05 late. The other Eagle was in the station also, plus our Heartland Flyer. Made for some good photos. The Chicago bound Eagle made a long back up from the station here also for the trip to Dallas I guess.
The Hearland Flyer left on time with all through passengers in the Superliner. We got stopped between Gainsville and Ardmore for a BN train that was fouling the main due to a dead crew waiting for a fresh crew. That cost us about 34 minutes. We arrived into OK City 42 minutes late. Not Bad! Delightful little train. Amtrak can be proud of it. I hope they extend it on to Wichita and Newton.
