I took a train trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle from Little Rock, AR to Fort Worth, TX and return from Thursday night, January 13/14 through Sunday, January 16, 2011.  The purpose was to go to the Plano, Texas train show and to go to the Railspot Yahoo Group luncheon at Love and War Restaurant in Plano on Saturday, January 15 at 1 p.m.  I also visited with my friend from way back in college days while there and we went train watching a couple of times. I also got a photograph of waitresses at the Flying Saucer Restaurant in Fort Worth (since I sometimes do this at the Little Rock Flying Saucer, I thought I'd do the same in Fort Worth).  I also have a photograph of the 60+ Railspot members at Love and War Restaurant in Plano, and yes, I also got a photo of one of our waitresses there as well.
   Also included are scenes of my Amtrak trip to and from Fort Worth from Little Rock, including two movies taken from my sleeping car window as the train sped through a town near Wills Point, Texas Friday morning.

Included:
1) Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 and 22 Jan 13, 14 and 16. Icy photos on Jan 13. Lots of people at the station in Little Rock.
2) Amtrak dining car menu
3) Railspot group at Love and War Restaurant
4) Sleeping car photos
5) Two movies as train sped through a Texas town
6) UP Genset 2616
7) UP 6644, 6549 - Kennedale TX
8) UP 4328 - Fort Worth
9) CN 5556 - Fort Worth
10) FRA Inspection Car DOTX 220 - Fort Worth
11) BNSF 4474, 9289, 5483, 7823 - Rio Vista TX
12) Fort Worth Flying Saucer waitresses
13) Love and War Restaurant waitress

CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE Or, to view all images in a larger format, click on: http://thundertrain.org/amtrak-trains-tx-jan2011-bb.html

LEFT-Icy parking lot as I arrived at the Little Rock Amtrak station Thursday night, January 13 at 11:13 p.m. Amtrak #22, the northbound-St Louis/Chicago bound Texas Eagle waits at the station for its scheduled departure time (11:39 p.m.)  It arrived about 30 minutes early. It was in the 20s, expected to get down to 12 degrees before dawn.  RIGHT-Remaining snow that fell 4 days ago on Sunday, January 9. The whole week was kinda chilly.


LEFT-A cold Moon above the train. RIGHT-Another picture of the ice at 11:17 p.m. The path to the Amtrak platform and the platform itself was cleared of ice, but since this parking lot is on the north side of Union Station, it remained in shade all day, so very little melting occurred the entire week.


LEFT-My train, Texas Eagle train #21, arrived at 3:55 a.m. RIGHT-Nearly 50 people got off this train, which came from Chicago. There were 3 taxis here, not bad for a 3 a.m. train on a Thursday night!


LEFT-A car was approaching, which gave an eerie white glow to the ice. RIGHT-Heading to my sleeping car, which was the second car behind the engine, at 3:59 a.m. The train had 7 cars.


LEFT-More people on the platform. This is the same platform I take UP freights from during the day. Some of these were off the train taking a smoke break since there's no smoking on board any Amtrak passenger train. RIGHT-Just a casual stroll through the snow at Little Rock. Remember, this was the 4th day after the snow ended.


LEFT-More people getting off. I had to stop here before I reached my sleeping car due to the passenger congestion. Out of courtesy to the sleepy passengers, I did not use any flash. RIGHT-A fellow photographer on the platform. I have no idea who this lady was, but she was getting a shot of the station.


LEFT-A fully loaded baggage cart.  The Amtrak agent, Larry, was earning his pay tonight. (Little Rock has two full-time agents who work 10-hour shifts between 10:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. seven days a week, plus they also staff the station during the daytime on Mondays.) RIGHT-Finally inside my warm sleeping car room, an economy room. These chairs fold down into a bed and there's also one bed above that can be pulled down if needed.


The Arkansas State Capitol as seen from my window at 4:09 a.m. Friday, January 14, 2011.

Click the link below to see us speeding through a town just east of Wills Point, Texas at 10:27 a.m., crossing a turnout and also crossing two streets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zGhNIrDctk

Click the link below to see us passing a truck on the nearby highway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHBGLEyKzLk


LEFT-UP Genset 2616 from my train window, between Dallas and Fort Worth at 12:02 p.m. Jan 14. RIGHT-At the Fort Worth, Texas Amtrak station at 1:14 p.m.


LEFT-We had Federal Railroad Administration's car DOTX 220 on the rear of our train. RIGHT-Three Fort Worth Flying Saucer waitresses on Friday, Jan 14. We walked here from the Amtrak/Fort Worth Transportation Center. Since I sometimes take photos from the Flying Saucer in Little Rock, I thought I'd do the same here. The Fort Worth Saucer is the chain's headquarters.


LEFT-At Rio Vista, Texas now with two railfan friends at 4:33 p.m. as a BNSF southbound approaches. RIGHT-BNSF 4474 and 9289, Rio Vista, 4:33 p.m. Amtrak's Texas Eagles also use this track, which is south of Cleburne.


LEFT-BNSF 5483 was the dpu. RIGHT-Green board for a northbound!


LEFT-At 4:58 p.m. the northbound shows up. RIGHT-BNSF 7823, 4:58 p.m.


LEFT-Our group at the Railspot luncheon, Saturday January 15, 2011 about 1 p.m. RIGHT-One of our waitresses at the Love and War Restaurant, where the Railspot luncheon was held.


LEFT-This was taken at Kennedale, Texas, just south of Fort Worth, on Sunday morning, January 16, 2011. UP 6644 at 10:55 a.m. RIGHT-UP 6549, dpu.


LEFT-Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22, with locomotive 817, arrives at the Fort Worth station at 2:42 p.m. Sunday, January 16, 2010, ready to take me back to Little Rock. RIGHT-Fort Worth sign.


LEFT-CN 5556 and UP 4328 taken from my train window south of Fort Worth at 3:14 p.m. RIGHT-Inside the train's diner, called the Cross Country Cafe, about 6 p.m. The meal was very good. They have a chef onboard which makes the meals to order.


LEFT-The menu. Although a little blurred since the train was moving and I wasn't using flash, but you get an idea of what's available and their prices. RIGHT-Front of the menu showing the children's menu and limited wine and beer menu.


LEFT-The table at a window. Nothing finer that to be on a train diner while eating a good meal and enjoying the countryside as it rolls by. RIGHT-My sleeping car isle.


LEFT-Arrived at Little Rock at 3:17 a.m., about 3 1/2 hours late. There was a delay at Hope, Arkansas. RIGHT-Nearly 50 people were getting on.


It was drizzling and cold, but above freezing.

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