Sunset Limited -- September 15, 2015

Saint Martinville Louisiana Weekly Messenger, January 31, 1914

The Sunset Limited was the premiere passenger train from New Orleans to Los Angeles on the Southern Pacific Railroad's Sunset Route.  Southern Pacific operated it from 1894 to 1971.  Since 1971, Amtrak has run it. 

Train Station #68 -- August 9, 2014

On our recent trip to New Orleans, we took the the New Orleans Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour.  The bus went by the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT), a modern station which opened in 1954.  Today the station serves three Amtrak trains, the City of New Orleans, the Crescent and the Sunset Limited, and Greyhound buses. 

I did not get to ride the new Loyola Avenue streetcar line to visit the NOUPT.  The line opened in January, 2013. 

Read more about our trip:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-saturday-july-19-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-sunday-july-20-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-monday-july-21-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-tuesday-july-22-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-wednesday-july-23-2014.html

Train Station #65 -- November 5, 2013

In October, we visited beautiful San Luis Obispo for the dedication of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum and the 2013 Central Coast Railroad Festival. We parked near the 1942 Southern Pacific station.  It is still served by Amtrak with the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliners. 

National Train Day 2013 -- May 11, 2013

Amtrak started National Train Day in 2008.  Railroads are import to our country and our world.  Anything that raises awareness in a positive way is good.

Visit the National Train Day website to find out about this year's events.

Train Station #59 -- May 8, 2013

Today I took a photo of a train station without trains.  This is the Amtrak Station behind the California Agriculture Building, next to the Ferry Building.  Amtrak California buses come here. 

Train Station #54 -- December 6, 2012

The train station in San Luis Obispo was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1942.  It now serves Amtrak trains 11 and 14 (Coast Starlight) and Pacific Surfliner.  It is the northern terminal for the Surfliner from San Diego.  I took the photo during our visit in July. 

You Go Great When You Go Great Northern -- July 16, 2012

The Great Northern was the second transcontinental built by James J Hill and its best train, the Empire Builder, was named after him.  The Empire Builder carries on today for Amtrak.  Note the mountain goat carrying his luggage.  The trains runs from Chicago to Spokane, with sections going on to Portland and Seattle.

Train Station #43 -- February 5, 2012

The Reno Amtrak station was built next to the 1926 Southern Pacific station as part of the ReTRAC project, which put the tracks underground through downtown Reno.

Train Station #42 -- January 6, 2012

The Southern Pacific built this depot in 1926. The Virginia and Truckee shared the depot until 1950. In the late 1970s, my family took the California Zephyr from Oakland 16th Street to Reno. We arrived at this station. A few years ago, the ReTRAC project eliminated grade crossings by putting the tracks into a trench. At the same time, the station was expanded. The new Amtrak addition has many relics that archaeologists dug up during the project.

I took the photo in July, 2011, but the sign over the door advertises National Train Day in May.