BLESS ME, THIS IS PLEASANT, RIDING ON THE RAIL. I marked off to attend the 2010 O Scale National Convention, which took place in Santa Clara, California, near an Amtrak station and an amusement park. The simple way there is the California Zephyr to Emeryville with a transfer to a Capital Corridor train there. The fun way is by way of Portland.

Portage, Wisconsin, 25 June 2010.

The wine is from dinner, the champagne a gift from Amtrak to the sleeper passengers.

That Friday was the first day of Taste of Chicago, and the White Sox were hosting the Cubs. Passenger loadings on the commuter trains were large, but the trains were running close to time.

Amtrak Empire Builder 27, Chicago to somewhere in Minnesota, 25 June 2010: Amtrak Genesis locomotives 21-84, baggage car 1753 (converted from a passenger car), transition sleeper 39010, sleepers 32073, 32045, diner 38048, coaches 34080 and 31020 completing the Seattle section; coach 34027, Sightseer Lounge 33049, coach 31027, sleeper 32048 completing the Portland section; coach 34041 for the Twin Cities.

Leave Chicago 2:14 (although I matched my watch to a monitor in the Metropolitan Lounge, I'm about a minute slow). Glenview 2:36:00 - 2:38:39, Milwaukee 3:35:36 - 3:54:07. The coach attendant made an announcement that passengers would be getting new friends at Milwaukee. Note the 81 minute running time inclusive of the Glenview stop on 79 mph track. Station work was done well in advance of departure time.

Stop 4:16 west of Barker Road at end of double track to clear an eastbound freight train. Freight by 4:28. After a few minutes the conductor announces a brake problem on the diesel, with a possible 25 minute delay. Short patrol by around 4:50. Moving again at 4:57, brake test 4:59, continuing but at slow speed. Pass Duplainville 5:02, stop 5:07 with a freight train in siding to our north, initially recessed to clear us. Conductor announces we are borrowing a diesel from the freight train. For reasons that will soon be clear, I did not get its number. Diesel has freight gearing, train will continue at 55 mph. Head end power back on 5:39, go 5:45:39. I have a 5:30 dinner reservation. Meet 8 at CP 137 6:30, Amtrak business car with senior management on hind end. Columbus 6:47:55 - 6:55:22, double stop for mechanical department inspection. Portage 7:36:00 - 7:37:24, Wisconsin Dells 7:57:10 - 7:59:23, dusk at Camp Douglas with threatening weather moving in. Tomah 8:50:28 - 8:53:55, stop again 8:54:44, conductor reports a signal failure account thunderstorm, maintainer called. Clear Tomah 9:32:46, maintainer working in relay case under heavy rain. La Crosse 10:22 - 10:25, no smoke stop, rain, buy a glass of wine in the lounge car and turn in prior to Winona.

(to be continued)