Trip on the Texas Eagle: February 2021

I've been wanting to ride on the Texas Eagle for quite some time. Last year's East Coast trip cancellation resulted in a good deal of Amtrak credit, and I decided that I would schedule an alternative trip if:

  1. I could choose a date less-travelled, between the Holidays and Spring Break, and
  2. I could book a full bedroom instead of the usual roomette.
I leave Flagstaff on the Southwest Chief on Tuesday night, and spend a long Wednesday at Union Station in Los Angeles. Because of the situation in LA, I decide not to try to leave the station. Fortunately, not many people are in the lounge, and facemask restrictions are pretty strictly enforced. I also spend some time outside in the courtyard, and subsequently lose the case for my reading glasses.

Thursday, February 4

By sunrise we are east of Yuma. Already we are way behind schedule, and this will remain the case until San Antonio.

It is really nice to have a full-size room with a sink, toilet, and shower. There's enough room to keep the bed down, and still be able to get around. Plus, the bed makes a good footrest.

My sleeper car is right at the end of the train, so I can see the tracks through the back door. I assume the door is secured from accidental opening; I decline to give it a try.

For being the main connection to Phoenix, the station at Maricopa doesn't look like much.

Tucson, AZ

Here's my sleeping car:

And a view of the rest of the train. From back to front, the train comprises:

At San Antonio, the train will split into two, the Sunset Limited continuing on with the observation and dining cars to New Orleans, while the Texas Eagle surprisingly receives a single combination dining and café car and no observation car.

Pima Air and Space Museum: it looks pretty junky from this angle, but it's actually a really neat place to visit.

Crossing Willcox Playa.

El Paso

"Dinner in the diner...." Times could be much finer. A significant part of the Amtrak experience in the past has been the dining car, featuring good meals prepared on site, and good company with fellow railroad buffs. Now the meals are TV dinners, with enforced distancing, and most people eating in their rooms. I try eating in my room once, and don't like it. After that, I'm in the dining car for every meal. Let's hope this doesn't last forever.

Friday, February 5

San Antonio

Dallas

The infamous former Texas School Book Depository.

East Texas seems to be mostly trees and water. A lot of the countryside resembles Wisconsin, while some parts resemble bayou country.

Saturday, February 6

St. Louis

Soldiers Memorial

View from Chris' @ The Docket, my only true restaurant meal this trip: smoked bacon breakfast fried rice with eggs over easy. Yum!

Crossing the Mississippi River to East St. Louis. While a day pass on the Metro only costs $7.50, I promptly lose mine and end up having to buy a return pass.

House of Miles EStl

Gateway Arch National Park

And that's it for the photos. That evening, I take the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City, and return to familiar territory via the Southwest Chief.