US Rail Journeys Archives - The MrT Podcast Studio

The Sunset Limited (6) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 17 Near the Southern Border of the United States: The Sunset Limited (6) continues our journey across Texas. We are near the southern border of the US and will later start to see the agriculture made possible by the Rio Grande. The land certainly … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (6)" The post The Sunset Limited (6) appear...

The Sunset Limited (5) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 16 A disagreement: The Sunset Limited (5) starts with a disagreement. A lady has been verbally abusing some passengers. They’ve complained and the conductor has arrived to ask the lady to be quiet and return to her seat. She resents this and is extremely, … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (5)" The post The Sunset Lim...

The Sunset Limited (4) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 15 Leaving Houston: The Sunset Limited (4) starts as we leave Houston, where the station is located below motorways. The city has the sixth largest population in the US with over 2.3 million residents. The station opened in October 1959 when it replaced Houston … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (4)" The post The Sunset Lim...

The Sunset Limited (3) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 14 Lake Charles, Louisiana: The Sunset Limited (3) starts as we approach the City of Lake Charles. The city is home to just under 72,000 (2010 census). It is the fifth largest city in Louisiana. The major activities include petroleum refining, gaming, tourism and … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (3)" The post The Sunset L...

The Sunset Limited (2) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 13 Morgan City: The Sunset Limited (2) begins as we cross the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City. The river is a tributary of the Mississippi. There are two road bridges and one rail bridge crossing the river here. The population peaked in the 1970s … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (2)" The post The Sunset Limited (2) appea...

The Sunset Limited (1) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 12 At the station: The Sunset Limited (1) begins when I arrive at the station in New Orleans, its quite early in the morning and I need breakfast. I’m able to get something to eat and drink in the Magnolia Room. The Magnolia Room … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (1)" The post The Sunset Limited (1) appeared first on...

A day in New Orleans – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 11 To the hotel: A day in New Orleans begins with our late arrival at the station, a taxi ride to our hotel and a good night’s sleep at the French Market Inn. Get more details here. Morning: I woke refreshed, dressed and went … Continue reading "A day in New Orleans" The post A day in New Orleans appeared first on The...

The City of New Orleans (3) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 10 The bus journey continues: The City of New Orleans (3) begins as we reach Arkansas on our bus. The train has no stops in Arkansas so I wonder whether this is an extra state! We soon pass Osceola. The town is … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans (3)" The post The City of New Orleans (3) appeared first on The MrT P...

The City of New Orleans part 2 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 9 Carbondale: The City of New Orleans part 2 begins as we realise that the train will go no further. It is 6.30 am and we are in Carbondale. We are given the options of returning the way we came or … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans part 2" The post The City of New Orleans part 2 appeared first on The MrT Podca...

The City of New Orleans part 1 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 8 The first part – Departure from Union Station, Chicago The City of New Orleans part 1 starts as I board the train in Chicago Union Station. We leave on time. After a short distance the train stops. We then reverse. … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans part 1" The post The City of New Orleans part 1 appear...

The Southwest Chief part 6 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 7 The first part – From Mendota into Union Station, Chicago The Southwest Chief part 6 starts as I interview two fellow travellers in the Observation car. The observation car is a very sociable area on an Amtrak long distance train. As we … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 6" The post The Southwest Chief par...

The Southwest Chief part 5 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 6 From La Plata, Missouri to Princeton, Illinois The Southwest Chief part 5 starts as we  pass wet and muddy farms and cross flooded level crossings. As we approach La Plata in Missouri the train is still running late. This morning, sadly, there … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 5" The post The Southwest Chi...

The Southwest Chief part 4 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 5 From Raton to nearing La Plata The Southwest Chief part 4 starts as we approach Raton. The train is running late as we reach Raton. It is dusk and we are seeing the last of the sun. The total journey is advertised … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 4" The post The Southwest Chief part 4 appeared first on The MrT...

The Southwest Chief part 3 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 4 From Albuquerque to Las Vegas, New Mexico The Southwest Chief part 3 starts as we leave Albuquerque. We stopped in Albuquerque for enough time for everyone to have a decent ‘air’ break. It is a beautiful day as we return to the … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 3" The post The Southwest Chief part 3...

The Southwest Chief part 2 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 3 From San Bernardino to Albuquerque The Southwest Chief part 2 starts as we leave San Bernardino. Night has fallen and I retire to my Roomette to sleep. The total journey is advertised as taking 40+ hours – click  here for more details.  … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 2" The post The Southwest...

The Southwest Chief part 1 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 2 I spend some time investigating the history of Los Angeles Union Station in the Southwest Chief part 1 . This magnificent building was the last of the Union stations to be built. Find out more about Union station here. I then went … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 1" The post The Southwest Chief part 1 appeared...

From London to LA – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 1 I travelled from Heathrow to Los Angeles in From London to LA. I flew with British Airways from their flagship Terminal 5 on a Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’. The flight to took nearly 11 1/2 hours. Find out more about flying with BA here. … Continue reading "From London to LA" The post From London to LA appeared first on The...

Series 1 Episode 16 From the Sierra Nevada to Richmond is the last part my journey westwards on the California Zephyr. I left you at the end of the last episode at the top of the Sierra Nevada. Today we come down the mountain and travel through California to Richmond. The speed limit is 30 … Continue reading "US Rail Journeys – From the Sierra Nevada to Richmond, Ca" The post US Rail J...

Series 1 Episode 15 Across the Sierra Nevada to the Donner Pass continues my journey westwards on the California Zephyr. I left you at the end of the last episode as we started the climb across the Sierra Nevada. Today we continue the climb, through spectacular scenery, to the Donner Pass. Building the route required … Continue reading "US Rail Journeys – Across the Sierra Nevada to th...

Series 1 Episode 14 In  episode fourteen I travel on the California Zephyr from The Middle of Nowhere in Wyoming to Reno. We continue along the diversion to Salt Lake City and then, having rejoined the usual route, on to Reno . The route takes us through some pretty desolate desert. I certainly wouldn’t like to … Continue reading "US Rail Journeys – From the middle of n...

In  episode thirteen I travel on the California Zephyr from north of Denver, Colorado,  then along our diversion across Wyoming to Rawlins, an oil town in Carbon County. The diversion is to allow engineering work on the California Zephyr’s normal route. We are travelling along the historic Overland route last regularly used by a passenger train over … Continue readi...

In  episode twelve I travel on the California Zephyr from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, through Denver and then northwards to our diversion through Wyoming.  The diversion is because there is engineering work on the normal route between Denver and Salt Lake City. The diversion takes us along the historic Overland route. The last regular passenger service to … Continue reading "US Rail...

In the eleventh episode I travel from Chicago to Burlington on the California Zephyr. The episode starts at the historic Drake Hotel in Chicago where I stayed for a night. After a restful night I took a taxi to Union Station for the start of my journey on the California Zephyr. Our journey takes us from … Continue reading "US Rail Journeys – Chicago to Burlington on the California...

We travel from Milwaukee to Chicago in the tenth episode of US Rail Journeys. This is the last part of our journey on the Empire Builder as the train travels along the  Milwaukee Road. Originally a plank road for horses and carts Milwaukee Road became the name given to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The first … Continue reading "US Rail Journe...

In the ninth episode of US Rail Journeys we journey on the Empire Builder from Red Wing to Milwaukee. For much of our journey we are on the Milwaukee Road. The Milwaukee Road was the name often given to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The first stop in this episode is at Winona where … Continue reading "US Rail Journeys – Red Wing to Milwaukee – S...