On December 26, 2009, all Amtrak Texas Eagle passengers were bused from San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas and points north to Little Rock, Arkansas to get on the waiting Eagle #22, which had arrived that morning as Amtrak #21, then turned to head back north as Amtrak #22. Reason for all this busing was a washout that occurred Christmas Eve on UP's line north of Little Rock. On Christmas Day, the southbound Eagle #21 had been stopped at Bald Knob, AR due to this flooding, and passengers bused to Little Rock and points south.  Bald Knob is about 50 miles north of Little Rock. This stopped train eventually made it through to Little Rock at 7:33 a.m. December 26 and headed south. But since Amtrak #21 had been stopped in Bald Knob on Christmas Day, it could not make it to San Antonio in time to become the northbound #22, so on December 26, no trainset was available out of San Antonio. Thus the busing.

I understand 160 passengers were bused and all got on at Little Rock in the middle of the night. It took 5 buses. The train was full out of Little Rock. Below are some photos and one Youtube movie of the activity.

CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE Or, to view all images in a larger format, click on: http://thundertrain.org/amtrak-buses-122609-bb.html

LEFT-One of the Lone Star Coaches at Union Station at 9:56 p.m. December 26. Two other buses had just pulled out and 2 more buses were yet to arrive. RIGHT-Lots of luggage. Note the Christmas lights on the Arkansas State Capitol in the background.


The waiting Texas Eagle #22 at 10:01 p.m.


The waiting room was packed with Texas passengers.


10:08 p.m.




LEFT-Getting ready to board. RIGHT-Cars and hundreds of people in the middle of the night at Little Rock, just to ride a train!! Where was the media? I guess I'll spread the word.


The line stretched from the platform to inside the waiting room. It was COLD too, 30 degrees and windy.


Starting to board about 11 p.m. The passengers kept coming and coming. Here's a video of this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb7toTSYyxQ


LEFT-The waiting room finally cleared out at 11:26 p.m. The train was still waiting on another bus, so it didn't leave until 2:13 a.m. RIGHT-For consist buffs, the consist of Texas Eagle #22 this night was: Locomotive 184, Superliners 39019, 32028, 37006, Lounge 33005, 34116, 31015, 34139.


That's me in the ghostly yellow jacket in the center. I had the camera on a 10-second delay but I didn't make it there in time to stop, thus the invisible effect OR the camera has a secret xray function! Amazing effect. I'll try to reproduce it sometimes.


I got stopped in time.

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