Riggins with little brother Charlie and little sister Sadie.

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Saturday, August 14, 2010

Saturdays Shorts

Got up at 06:00am had my coffee and enjoyed the parade  of trains by the window, For as close as the campground is to the tracks the trains don’t really make much more than a droning sound and you sleep right through them all night, of course they aren’t blaring their horns either.

This morning I drove 16 miles north to Burlington IA. one of the guys here said they have a beautiful  Art Deco style Depot from just before WW2, When it was built the Burlington Route was the home road and ran many passenger trains through. Today Amtrak calls on Burlington twice a day with the California Zephyr, Just like the two Amtrak trains left on the Santa Fe here in Fort Madison. He also said the have a steam engine preserved there so I decided it was worth the trip.

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                 Burlington IA Depot.

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CB&Q Steam Engine 3003, pulled Passenger Trains.

What do you think Donna & Dennis is this what you would rather have than Amtrak in your back yard.

While I was walking around the depot I met the crew of a BNSF coal train that  they were due to relieve the crew coming in, they said to wait a few minutes as the train was due and it would have two brand new diesel’s on one of their first runs.

Sure enough it arrived with two shiny  new engines that still had the new paint and oil smell. The crew was really proud of it.

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New Locomotives with builder's plates saying made in London Ontario.

Hey for all my buddies up north, these were made in London Ontario. By EMD. Look’s like you guys have the one of two builder’s as GE’s are built in Erie PA.

Tomorrow I will head back to Dardenne Prairie, I have to say it will be nice to see Donna & Rigg’s after almost a week. Have to see how Adam is doing since he only has until the 19th of Aug before going back to school, Look’s like I might have to make a trip to the Lake with him before he’s back in school.

That’s about it for now,be safe out there. Sam & Donna…

5 comments:

  1. Well Sam, you've had a great trainman's holiday and it's been fun looking at, and learning about, all these trains and stations. I've enjoyed seeing all your pictures. You've encouraged me to plan a short trip on our great Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway(E&N)one day very soon. I'm just going to ride the 1.5 hour run from here down to Victoria.

    Have a safe trip back home!

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  2. Thanks for the shout out, and yes, I would rather have that steam engine riding by our house...I took a couple train photos for you today, and I will post them on my blog Monday....Be safe getting home!

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  3. Safe travels back to your home. Enjoyed the train ride with you, Sam.

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  4. Looks like you have had a terrific week of watching, listening and taking pics of trains. As Rick said....a trainman's holiday.
    That new engine sure is shiny and pretty!!

    You take care as you make your way back home. I know Donna and Riggs will be excited. Yes, you need to take Adam for one more nice trip to the lake before school starts. Gee, the summer flew by.

    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

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  5. The trains don't really make much more than a droning sound and you sleep right through them??? Now, Sam, I hope you don't also have a bridge to sell me in Brooklyn. :) Hope you don't mind my good natured ribbing about trains. I'm glad you get so much enjoyment out of them. :)

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