RailRunners & Santa Fe relics

Ever since passing through the Albuquerque area during the last week of October about 8 years ago, I had wanted to get back and re-experience the fall color along the Rio Grande in that area. What better trains to photograph than the Albuquerque RailRunners, whose colors complement the cottonwoods, and which run on predictable schedules?

A southbound passes a colorful cottonwood near Isleta on November 4.

Mingling with BNSF traffic during a station stop at Belen

Departing Los Lunas, heading north in "push" mode...

A Southbound kicks up leaves as it approaches Isleta

Southbound in the late afternoon near Isleta.

Between RailRunner shots, we found time to discover a few Santa Fe relics around Albuquerque, including...

I thought I had found a nice GP30, until I came around to the engineer's side and discovered it had been hit by taggers. I'd love to see one of these repainted in BNSF "Heritage" colors (or even a fresh coat of blue and yellow) but its days on the BNSF roster are probably numbered.

SD40-2 # 6958 was in better condition...

Derelict Albuquerque shops building

Santa Fe logo at Albuquerque shops.

Coming next - more from Albuquerque, including ghost signs, fine dining, more fall color, and a flat tire. Check back in a few days... and Happy Thanksgiving.

WSC

np: Robert Nighthawk - "You call yourself a Cadillac" (from Mississippi Delta Blues Vol. 1)

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"