A rare daylight northbound Texas Eagle, Amtrak No. 22, arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:17 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2011, 12 hours late. The lateness was due to the train being rerouted around a freight wreck in east Texas near Mineola the day before that was caused by the excessive heat in that area with temperatures around 110 degrees. We at Little Rock also had a record hot day on August 3 when the temperature hit 114 degrees. (Ken Ziegenbein photos, thundertrain@gmail.com)


Info board shows eta 11:25 a.m.


Little Rock's active Union Station seen through leaves. Most offices are leased to businesses on weekdays.


Texas Eagle 22 arriving 11:17 a.m. August 5.


Amtrak locomotive 134 headed the Eagle this day.


11:17 a.m.


11:18 a.m. almost stopped.


Richard Finch, one of two full-time Amtrak agents at Little Rock, hauling baggage to the train at 11:18 a.m. A Union Pacific Special Agent's car is also in this photo. They are somewhere around the station every time the Texas Eagle comes through.


Passengers starting to de-board at 11:18 a.m. Just so you know, I'm not on the platform, but on the outside of the fence.




Hauling garbage from one of the Amtrak Superliners to the garbage containers at the station.


Line of Little Rock passengers waiting to board at 11:19 a.m. Nice to see so many people in daylight once in a while since it's usually around midnight when this train comes through.




Loading and taking off baggage.


Wish some of our Washington Representatives and Senators could see the crowds of people riding Amtrak these days, even a small stations like Little Rock.


A wider shot at 11:22 a.m.


11:22 a.m.


Full baggage card, 11:23 a.m.


Closer look at a couple of passengers.


I climbed up the spiral staircase to the balcony on the east side of the station to get this shot at 11:25 a.m.


Bird's eye view.


Richard driving the baggage carts back to the station at 11:26 a.m.


Engineer ready to leave at 11:27 a.m.


Heading north, 11:27 a.m.


Sightseer Lounge car, a great way to see the countryside.


From the balcony.


Sharp looking train had 7 cars this day.


The train is about to cross the Arkansas River on the Baring Cross Bridge to the left. From the bridge it will head past UP's Jenks Shops and then the North Little Rock yards on its way north on the Hoxie Sub to points north, like St Louis and Chicago.


11:28 a.m.


The tracks left to right are: Little Rock Western line to Perry and Danville, Arkansas, mostly on the old Rock Island, called the Vinegar Spur here. It's also used by UP and the nightly BNSF local. The next track is UP's Main 1 and then UP's Main 2, which Amtrak is on.


My new pet cat, Posey, which I bought at an antique store later in the day.

   You may contact me by email - thundertrain@gmail.com - or by using this CONTACT FORM  - If you use the contact form, please be sure to type your email address correctly in the form, otherwise I can't respond. You will also be asked to enter a sequence of letters and numbers to help me try to avoid spammers.  If you want to view more of my train pictures, click on: http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html
   You can also find me on FACEBOOK. If you want to become Facebook friends, send me a direct message when you send your friend request and tell me who you are. I try to  post these same photos and links on Facebook.