I boarded Amtrak’s Cardinal, train 51, at Trenton.
A little more than 28 hours later, having traveled through 10 states plus the District of Columbia, I arrived in Chicago, where I had 45 minutes to walk to my next train.
I enjoyed the seemingly endless panorama, but was happy to get some fresh air upon arrival.
Here are some views from my journey exposed with my Lumix LX7.
Amtrak 51 arrives on Platform 4 at Trenton, New Jersey. Lumix LX7 photo.Amfleet 2 to Chicago!Philadelphia Zoo at Zoo Junction.30th Street Philadelphia.Wilmington, Delaware.I thought I saw a ghost! Here’s one of Amtrak’s AEM-7s working out its final miles on Maryland MARC at Baltimore.I’ve had bad luck catching Amtrak’s ACS-64 642 painted in a special livery for America’s Veterans. Here it is at Ivy City in Washington D.C. One of these days I’ll get it on the move!K-tower Washington Union Station.I got a bit of air at Washington D.C. while 51 exchanged its electric for a diesel.Amtrak’s logo represent tracks on a rolling landscape.Here’s my car on the platform at Washington Union Station.Manasass, Virginia.13 months ago I was here to see Norfolk & Western J-Class steam locomotive 611.Rural Virginia.A view at Gorduonsville, Virginia.This preserved Chesapeake & Ohio GP7 was on display at Clifton Forge, Virginia.CSX GE diesel at Clifton Forge. I saw quite a few freights on the move on the old C&O route. More than I expected include several unit coal trains.
In West Virginia I saw considerable evidence of recent floods.Hinton, West Virginia-one of several small towns still served by the train.Hinton, West Virginia. We were here for at least ten minutes.Old C&O signal tower west of Hinton.Rolling along the New River Gorge. I used a relatively slow shutter speed to capture the effect of motion.Work trains to help repair flood damage. Train 51 was blocked at several locations as repairs were still underway.Fixer upper, West Virginia.Upon leaving Alexandria all the way to Chicago my train was fully occupied. I was surprised at the large numbers traveling to and from intermediate stations. I’d guess 50 or so got on in Cincinnati when we stopped at about 2:30 Am. Why not run a day train?Sunset in the New River Gorge.Black tea at sunrise crossing the Indiana corn fields.Monon, Indiana.Chicago.Crossing 21st Street Bridge, Chicago.Cardinal’s Chicago passengers at Union Station.
