The Extra Board #1

In October of 1994, a friend (Ward Christensen...author of XMODEM) and I traveled from Chicago, Illinois to Albequerque, New Mexico on Amtrak for the International Hot Air Balloon Festival. Typical on the SantaFe route through Raton Pass (which separates Colorado and New Mexico at this point along the border), the Amtrak train had to shut down for about 15 minutes to let the traction alternators and motors cool from the effort up the steep grade. Here's the Southwest Chief with two Genesis-2000 4000hp units on the point "stalled" on Raton grade near the Dick Wooten Ranch and the old Santa Fe Trail.

We had "deluxe" accommodations on this trip, which included a private toilet and shower facilities. Being a rather large person, using such compact facilities is always a challenge. Here we see moi wedged into those same facilities in an image we're calling: "Amtrak Business Class."

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All images Copyright 1995 Darryl Van Nort