The purpose of the trip is to close out the chapter on this historic line, with its T-2 upper quadrant semaphores, Automatic Train Stop (ATS), jointed rail and spectacular scenery. The current Amtrak/BNSF contract is up next April and there are more and more hints that Amtrak and the BNSF are close to an agreement which would allow Trains #3 and 4 to begin using the transcon via Amarillo and Clovis. If this takes place passenger service via the historic Raton Pass line will
soon be a thing of the past.
The trip will close out with a chase of the eastbound AAPRCO passenger special which will depart ABQ early on the morning of Friday, September 17 enroute to Alamosa. Although the consist for this run is still incomplete at this time, several cars of note are scheduled to be on the train, including a Santa Fe Big Dome car and the J. Pickney Henderson from the Katy's TEXAS SPECIAL. That day we will chase the train east through the last bastion of Santa Fe T-2 semaphores in the country, up Apache Canyon, over Glorietta Pass, through Shoemaker Canyon and past Wagon Mound. Arrival back in DFW will be late Friday evening.
Events we plan to include:
Two full days of photographing Amtrak's Southwest Chief passing numerous semaphores.
Dinner inside the Rio Grande "Chili Line" depot in historic downtown
Santa Fe.
Two meals aboard the Southwest Chief's dining car.
More semaphores.
A possible meal inside the dining car restaurant at Lamy, MN.
A roundtrip aboard New Mexico's Railrunner between ABQ and Santa Fe.
And did we mention, more semaphores.
The September 2010 Semaphore Safari is scheduled to be our last one. Each year we have been able to knock off more locations and this year we will finish up that quest. Last year there were 64 semaphores remaining. This year the number is down to only 58. Next year???
Can you afford to wait until next year?
Contact Skip Waters or Steve Goen off line for more details.
Santa Fe.
Two meals aboard the Southwest Chief's dining car.
More semaphores.
A possible meal inside the dining car restaurant at Lamy, MN.
A roundtrip aboard New Mexico's Railrunner between ABQ and Santa Fe.
And did we mention, more semaphores.
The September 2010 Semaphore Safari is scheduled to be our last one. Each year we have been able to knock off more locations and this year we will finish up that quest. Last year there were 64 semaphores remaining. This year the number is down to only 58. Next year???
Can you afford to wait until next year?
Contact Skip Waters or Steve Goen off line for more details.
