Sunday morning we headed out early for a specially arranged tour of the LA Amtrak shops. It was very cool (to a bunch of railfans) to get to do this and see the workings of this facility. Here are a couple of shots…

After, we grabbed some lunch a local place called Filipes. Then we headed off to ride the Gold Line of the LA Metro system. We rode it out and back in to Union Station.

At this time, we were getting too close to our departure time of our train, so we said farewell to our new friends who were off to ride the blue line.

Dad and I waiting in Union Station for our train. When it got close to time, I went on down to the platform just in time to see our train being backed in. I was the first to board our coach so I was able to get the best seats. Dad got a ride from a red cap and was close behind.

The train ride was fairly uneventful, but of course, fun. I sat up late in the lower level of the lounge car talking to a guy who lives south of LA. He was using the train for the first time for a trip to Phoenix. Dad showed up wondering where I was and we had a nice conversation with the guy. After he left, Dad decided the benches we were sitting on looked kinda comfortable and decided to sleep there for the night (no one else around!). That left our two coach seats for me to “stretch out” across. Both of us slept better this time that last, but it was still not as good as having a sleeper.

We were on time the whole way and arrived into Lamy right on time.

It was a fun trip and good to meet new people who have the same interest I do in trains. It was also a good for me and my dad to get to share time doing what we both love to do, ride trains.

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully, I will be back next summer with another Mashburn family adventure.

Today was a long, fun, yet simple day. It was all about riding trains and hanging out with new friends.

We started to day at Union Station at 8:30 where we caught a Surfliner train to San Diego.

We arrived in San Diego around 11:30.

We ate lunch nearby and then spent the afternoon riding the local trolley system. That included a line that took us right up to the Mexico border.

We then boarded a return Surfliner back to LA.

The last hour of the return trip was a great time with several of us talking trains.

Tomorrow, something special before we board the Southwest Chief back to Lamy at 6:15 pm. Not sure if I will get to post again before we return to Amarillo. We shall see.

Let me begin by saying that riding coach overnight is quite an adventure in not sleeping. While the coach seats are superior to 1st class airlines, they are still not that great for sleeping. I am running on empty right now so this is going to be short.

We got on the train in Lamy and grabbed a couple of seats. We inquired about an onboard upgrade to sleeper but there were none, the train was sold out. So, we sat in the lounge and enjoyed the scenery. Here is a shot of dad at the Albuquerque station…

We went and ate dinner in the dining car at 6:00 and it was very good. Then after some more time in the lounge, we hit the sack, I mean seats. We reclined and did our best to sleep.

At around 2:00 in the morning, we were awakened. The conductors were attepting to throw off a passenger for not buying a ticket. He refused and while the conductor waited for the police, the guy went and hid somewhere on the train. They finally found him and the police took him away.

We got up early and ate breakfast in the dining car…

We arrived at LA Unions Station right on time at 8:15 AM.

We stowed our bags at the hotel and hung out until our first meeting with the group. We met at 12:15 and boarded a Metrolink commuter train.

We rode that for a couple of hours. After, Dad decided to go back to the hotel for some sleep, while I met several people from the group. We rode the Subway over to Universal City and had dinner.

Now, I am back at the hotel and very tired. So until tomorrow.

We arrived in Lamy at 11:30 mountain time. We got our tickets and then went down the road and ate lunch at Subway. We are now back at the station waiting for our train that is due to arrive at around 2:30. The eastbound train will be coming through a little before so we will get to enjoy that first.

This might very well be my last post before getting to LA on Friday. Not sure if we will get a connection anywhere along the route.

My Dad and I are hopping on Amtrak for a quick trip to Los Angeles. A group of Amtrak fans I am a part of are having a get together and I thought this would be a great opportunity for my Dad and I to ride a train together.

We are getting on in Lamy, NM on October 9th. We are going coach to save money so this will be my first overnight not in a sleeper.

In LA we will be riding trains with my group. (what else do you expect from a bunch of railfans?) We will board the train back to Lamy on Sunday.

Hopefully, I can update this blog with pics during this trip.