Monday, November 24, 2008

Hard Amarillo railway

More from November 3 as we spend some time along the railroad, working our way toward Albuquerque...


Main track labels at Eastern Blvd. in Amarillo

An empty grain shuttle for Silvis, Illinois blasts out of Amarillo shortly after sunrise...

Serendipity at Puente: I had time to spend a couple hours north of Amarillo in the morning while Miss C. caught up on her sleep. One photo I've been wanting to get for years is a shot of a train crossing the massive Canadian River bridge about 20 miles north of the city.

In an example of fortuitous railfan timing, just as soon as I had hiked into a suitable vantage point, a southbound loaded coal train arrived and rumbled over the bridge. These are the Distributbed Power locomotives, shoving hard against the rear of the train as it begins the steep climb out of the river valley.

Run-around at Dawn: Early afternoon on the Hereford Sub, a Z-train passes a stopped stack train between Canyon and Hereford.

Now into New Mexico, we enjoy a sunset at Melrose...

An eastbound races through Melrose, just minutes away from a crew change in Clovis.

Melrose at dusk. Light on the horizon at far right is another approaching eastbound.

Thanks for looking... check back in a couple days for a look at the Albuquerque RailRunners, and fall color along the Rio Grande.

WSC

np: Townes Van Zandt - "Blue wind blew"

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

grain elevator gallery

A few photos of grain elevators seen during our drive west from Amarillo...

Producers Grain - Amarillo

Hi Plains Industries - Dawn, Texas

Hereford Grain Corp. - Hereford, TX

Hereford Grain Corp and BNSF locomotive

A closer look...

Looking down the tracks at Bovina

Coming next: a selection of Panhandle train photos...

WSC

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Hard Amarillo highway

"I ain't got no blood in my veins, I just got them four lanes of hard Amarillo highway" - Terry Allen

US Highway 60 - between Canyon and Hereford

Cowboy Motel - on old Route 66 in Amarillo

Zoot Suits / Tuxedo Rentals - Amarillo

irony in Bovina


Someone should tell her to stay off the tracks... ;-)

Stay tuned for more. Coming next... a gallery of grain elevators.

WSC

np: ESPN College GameDay - Texas Tech vs Oklahoma preview

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Friday, November 21, 2008

Amarillo sunrise

sunrise in Amarillo - November 3

There's something magical about waking up at sunrise in a different town. You arrived after sunset the night before, and the town's homes, storefronts, parks, and streets were obscured by darkness. Now, the rising sun illuminates all the sights that shadows obscured the night before. All is revealed -- the town's prevailing style of architecture, the color of its street signs and fire hydrants, even the expressions on its citizens' faces. From the beauty of a botanical garden to the ugliness of a scrap yard... from a uniquely-painted water tower to a carbon-copy Starbucks, nothing is hidden; nothing is concealed. The sights you're used to seeing every day of your life are gone, replaced by something new and different in the warm glow of early morning sunlight. The day is yours to experience and appreciate. Look around and enjoy the view.

Check back in a day or two as we hit the Hard Amarillo Highway...

WSC

np: Jill - "Just like Fonzie"

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Road trip 1: day one

A few photos from my recent trip to New Mexico with Miss C...

Gas prices before and after the trip. We couldn't afford NOT to go! Who could have predicted they'd be even lower when we got back?

Day One: Cleburne to Amarillo
(Sunday, November 2)


We didn't have to go far to find some fall color. BNSF 9943 passes colorful foliage near Alvord.

Heard's Hardware & Furniture - Bowie, TX. Ghost sign reads: "Matthew Heard & Cady. Implements - Buggies - Wagons - Stoves - Harness - Saddlery"

Hardware & Appliances

Matthew Heard storefront in Bowie


Kit's This and That / Perry Bros ghost sign

Ft Worth & Denver railway overpass west of Bowie

FW&D lettering and Burlington Route logo

We made it to Amarillo in time for a late dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. If you've ever driven I-40 across New Mexico, Oklahoma, or the Texas Panhandle -- or most other highways that lead to Amarillo -- you've undoubtedly seen their billboards, promising a free 72-oz steak dinner to anyone who can finish it off in less than 60 minutes. It's a mandatory stop for anyone who enjoys: A) tacky road trip kitsch, B) a celebration of Texas "excess", and C) fine steaks. And Miss C. had never been...

We were in luck: when we arrived, a contestant was on stage, attempting to conquer the legendary "72". The steak was bigger than his stomach, however, and it ultimately conquered him, to the tune of a $72 price tag.

Coming next: Day Two - from Amarillo to Albuquerque. Stay tuned...

WSC

np: Mazzy Star - "She's my baby"

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