abqdave
Train Attendant
Today was the first day I have really felt like 'foamer' or 'railfan' or whatever term one wants to use. My interest in taking trains instead of flying or driving started May 2008 and was really prompted by my increasing efforts to lower my carbon footprint. My first Amtrak trip from ABQ to LA and back (and LA to San Diego while I was in California) was a mixed bag, followed by a trip over this past Christmas/New Years to Washington DC that was enjoyable. But even though I have grown to like long distance train travel, enjoy the NM Rail Runner, and watch Extreme Trains on History channel and Trains & Locomotives on RFD-TV (and read this site regularly), I truthfully am hardly a rail fanatic.
I think that changed today. Taking my usual bus route from work to downtown crosses a bridge over the ABQ yard; there was the Southwest Chief (late), with a yellow coach attached to the baggage cars. Once we got to ATC, I decided to run over and see what it was..really run, as I have less than 10 minutes to connect with my 2nd bus the rest of the way home.
As I hurried to the front of the trainset to take photos, I literally stopped in my tracks (sorry). Just before the yellow Pullman coach was a second Pullman coach…a Boston & Maine coach named Salisbury Beach. Salisbury is a town in Massachusetts (looking at a map…right where Mass. and NH meet on the Atlantic Ocean) where I grew up.
What in the world are the chances of this happening? Not only seeing a B&M coach in Albuquerque, but one named after my hometown? Wow! Now I am really eager to see find more rail treasures out there. I think I am now a foamer!
Enjoy these pics of the trainset. http://picasaweb.google.com/abqdave/AmtrakSouthwestChief#
I think that changed today. Taking my usual bus route from work to downtown crosses a bridge over the ABQ yard; there was the Southwest Chief (late), with a yellow coach attached to the baggage cars. Once we got to ATC, I decided to run over and see what it was..really run, as I have less than 10 minutes to connect with my 2nd bus the rest of the way home.
As I hurried to the front of the trainset to take photos, I literally stopped in my tracks (sorry). Just before the yellow Pullman coach was a second Pullman coach…a Boston & Maine coach named Salisbury Beach. Salisbury is a town in Massachusetts (looking at a map…right where Mass. and NH meet on the Atlantic Ocean) where I grew up.
What in the world are the chances of this happening? Not only seeing a B&M coach in Albuquerque, but one named after my hometown? Wow! Now I am really eager to see find more rail treasures out there. I think I am now a foamer!
Enjoy these pics of the trainset. http://picasaweb.google.com/abqdave/AmtrakSouthwestChief#