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Most Scenic Amtrak Route - Train Photos and Guide.

9/22/2020

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Amtrak's California Zephyr train operates from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, California, and is, in my opinion, the most scenic Amtrak train ride currently operating. In this post, I'll share photos and highlights from my journeys onboard the Amtrak California Zephyr train. At the end of the post, I'll offer a few tips that will help you plan for the best possible train ride.
Interior of Chicago Union Station.
The Great Hall of Union Station, Chicago, Illinois.
The California Zephyr route departs Chicago's Union Station and travels through the suburbs of Chicago before crossing the Mississippi River and entering Iowa. After a trek through the farmlands of Iowa, the California Zephyr crosses the Missouri River before arriving at Omaha Nebraska. The California Zephyr train will cross the state of Nebraska overnight and arrive in Denver, Colorado the following morning. While the spectacular scenic views start West of Denver, traveling through the farmlands and over 2 great rivers seems like a fitting start to a great American train ride adventure.
Illinois Farmland.
Farmlands of Illinois as seen from Amtrak's California Zephyr Train.
Following the departure of Denver, Colorado, the California Zephyr route climbs into the Rocky Mountains. Seeing the Rocky Mountains by Rail is nothing short of spectacular. While enjoying the scenery, keep your eye out for animals, I've seen a variety of wildlife from this train including deer, elk, red fox, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. One of the highlights of this route is the 6 miles long Moffat Tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide. ​​
Exterior of Moffat Tunnel Railroad Tunnel.
Amtrak train in the snow at Winter Park, Colorado.
The California Zephyr travels through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon before making a stop at Grand Junction, Colorado. After departing Grand Junction, the train will enter the Ruby Canyon filled with Red Rocks and Cottonwood trees, this is one of my favorite parts of the journey. 
Amtrak Train on platform.
As you cross into Utah, you'll see desert scenery as the sun sets over the horizon. The California Zephyr departs Salt Lake City, Utah around 11:30 PM and you'll sleep as you cross into Nevada and wake up before arriving in Reno, Nevada. 
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Moab, Utah scenery seen from Amtrak's California Zephyr train.
Departing Reno, Nevada the train will enter California and travel through the Sierra Nevada Range. In addition to the amazing scenery, this is also a historic line as it follows the original Transcontinental Railroad route that was built to link the United States in 1869.
The California Zephyr makes a stop at Sacramento, California before heading for its final destination of Emeryville, California which is just across the bay from San Francisco, California.
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Amtrak Station in Sacramento, California.
Here are a few tips for you to consider when riding Amtrak's California Zephyr train. 
- Emeryville, California is across the bay from San Francisco. The California Zephyr also stops at Richmond, California where you can board a BART (Bay Area Regional Transportation) commuter train that will take you directly into the city of San Francisco without any transfers. If you are traveling with lots of luggage, this may not be a practical idea, but it has worked for me in my travels a few times.
- Sacramento, California offers connections to Amtrak's Coast Starlight and San Joaquin corridor trains. Sacramento is also home to the wonderful California State Railroad Museum. 
- Grand Junction, Colorado is a great stop if you would like to rent a car and visit Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Verde National Park,  and Durango Colorado with the world-famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
- Denver, Colorado can be a good place to begin and end your California Zephyr trip as the most spectacular scenery is West of Denver. There is a convenient rail connection from Denver Union Station to the Denver International Airport. 
-I've ridden the California Zephyr in both directions and if I had to make a choice I would ride westbound from Chicago to Emeryville. This way, you are sure to see the Rocky Mountains in full light.
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So there's a quick whirlwind tour of Amtrak's California Zephyr route. Do you have further questions about riding the California Zephyr Amtrak train? Leave a comment below and I'll be happy to reply, I'm here to help you plan the best railroad vacations! 
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The 3 Oldest American Built Steam Locomotives in Preservation.

9/15/2020

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The Oldest American Built Steam Locomotive in Preservation today, the John Quincy Adams built in 1835.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was America's first Common Carrier Railroad and the builder of the first American-built steam locomotives. The Atlantic, a 4-wheeled steam locomotive was built in 1832. This would be the first American-built steam locomotive to enter service on a common carrier railroad in the USA.
​The original Atlantic was built by its inventor, Phineas Davis, and was not preserved. Nicknamed the "Grasshopper" for its unique vertical piston movement, the B&O continued to build around twenty of these locomotives of this same basic design in their Mt. Clare Shops in Baltimore, Maryland, (now home to the B & O Railroad Museum). Three of these historic "Grasshopper" locomotives are preserved and on public display appropriately enough in Baltimore and Ohio. These are the oldest American Built Steam Locomotives surviving today.
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Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #8, the John Hancock, was built by the B&O Mt. Claire Shops in 1836.
3. B&O Steam Locomotive #8, the John Hancock​, is on display at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum which is the location of the Mt. Clare Shops where all of the B&O Railroad Grasshopper Locomotives were built.  Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #8 was built in 1836 and was in continuous service at the Mt. Clare shops until 1892 when it was retired from service and put on display at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Illinois. 1
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Displayed as B&O's "the Atlantic" sice 1892, this locomotive was built in 1836 as B&O #7, the Andrew Jackson.
2. B&O Railroad Steam Locomotive the "Atlantic" is on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore Maryland. But remember when I said the Atlantic was not preserved? Well, this locomotive on display is actually -
​Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #7, the Andrew Jackson, which was built in 1836. It was rebuilt and re-lettered as the Atlantic in 1892 when it went on display at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Since the original Atlantic had been scrapped, the #7 was modified and backdated to represent the original B&O Steam Locomotive the Atlantic, which it has done at various locations since 1892, up to to the present day. 2
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Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #6, the John Quincy Adams is on display at the Carillon Park in Dayton Ohio. This locomotive was built by the B&O Mt. Clare Shops in 1835.
1. This leads us to the oldest Steam Locomotive, built in America and surviving today...
B&O Railroad Locomotive #6, the "John Quincy Adams" which was built in 1835.
This locomotive is on display at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton Ohio. The Carillon Park was developed by Edward Deeds who acquired the locomotive from the B&O Railroad in the 1940s. It's been on display at the Carillon Park since 1950.  3

This locomotive is displayed at the Carillon Park as “B&O #1” which is the number that it was given since it represents the oldest surviving Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Steam Locomotive.
​
1- 
http://www.borail.org/John-Hancock.aspx
2- http://www.borail.org/BO-Atlantic.aspx
3- http://thedaytonmagazine.com/DM/Articles/Dayton_History_5716.aspx
​
4- http://www.borail.org/The-Mt-Clare-Shops-Historic-Site-and-Buildings.aspx
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