Heading for Union Station at 7:16 a.m. on Markham Street westbound from downtown Little Rock.
Union Station at 7:21 a.m.
An Amtrak conductor checks tickets at 8:05 a.m.
Finally, the Amtrak Agent Richard is taking the baggage truck out, 8:36 a.m.
Luggage.
Waiting, 8:41 a.m.
Eagle 21 rounding the curve having just crossed the Arkansas River on the Baring Cross bridge, 8:41 a.m. The workers are waiting on the Eagle and other trains to pass before replacing ties on that curve.
Hitting the Amtrak platform at 8:42 a.m. by my camera's time.
Stopped 8:43 a.m.
Starting to unload at 8:43 a.m. Little Rock is also a smoke break for passengers.
I'm sure some of the passengers are saying "Finally!". By the way, I'm using a 300mm zoom lens on my Nikon D5200 camera for these photos.
Wider angle at 8:45 a.m. This scene would have been identical at 3 a.m. except a few less taking a smoke break.
Amtrak agent Richard unloading luggage from the Superliner Coach/Baggage car. By the way, Little Rock is supposed to have 2 agents, but for the past month or more, Richard has been the only one here and has to work 7 days a week. Why the delay in filling that position? Amtrak has occasionally sent temporary help from St Louis on weekends, but hasn't recently.
8:51 a.m. at the west/south side of the platform.
Number 50 is the lone locomotive on the Eagle, which is normal for the route. The train usually has 7 Superliner cars, including a diner, club/lounge, sleepers and coaches. The Little Rock station handled 22,000+ passengers in 2013, earning over $2 million. Not bad for only2 trains a day, both in the middle of the night. The Superliner cars on today's Texas Eagle were numbers 39035, 32007, 37009, 33024, 31028, 34022 and 34116. Texas Eagles 21 and 22 connect with the Sunset Limited in San Antonio, Texas.
A hint of Fall colors in the trees.
On it's way to Texas, 8:54 a.m.
Amtrak locomotive 50. Keeping fingers crossed that it doesn't fail en route.
Off the platform at 8:55 a.m.
A bee getting a tasty meal.