The Amtrak exhibit anniversary train is in St. Louis this weekend and I understand it will be coming back to Chicago this week and then on to Galesburg next weekend. Does anybody have any information on the trains routing and times, etc. from St. Louis to Chcago and then Chicago to Galesburg next weekend…I’d like to go trakside to see it come through. Thanks.
Hi! Jim (Eolafan):
This link will answer some of your questions and is replete with a map.
http://www.amtrak40th.com/exhibit-train
“Celebrate with Amtrak
America’s Railroad for 40 Years” Exhibit Train
The schedule of stops seems a little crazy. It runs all over the midwest and then straight to Seattle and then is done? What about us in the rest of the country?
And why last stop in Portland? No swing down into California (and the rest of the Southwest)?
Or, are they only posting 6 weeks or so at a time? But, you’d think they have to make the arrangements further out than that.
My reason for asking for the specific routing is so I can position myself trackside to see it come by me.
Jim, it looks like you will want to be trackside on Friday morning for the westbound “Carl Sandburg” as it will deadhead the trainset down to Galesburg for this weekend’s display.
I think the trainset will return to Chicago late on Sunday night, again deadheading on the Carl Sandburg.
Lance
Thanks Lance, I appreciate your letting me know…BUT:
I made the early morning trip down to Eola yard to see Amtrak 381 come through with the display consist as you suggested. When I got there I as pleasantly surprised to see a BNSF westbound freight switching with NINE units including four GP60B cabless units in a row (when was the last time you saw even one?). Then came an eastbound of solid empty auto racks behind a single CN Dash 9. THEN my scanner came to life with Amtrak 381 calling the East Eola signals and I got ready with my camera…I saw her headlight (female engineer) and THEN (ready for this) the BNSF Eola East Yard switch job decided to come down the industrial lead and blocked my damned view!!! Well, between the freight cars I was able to see the normal 381 consist followed by the ENTIRE 40th anniversary display train consist including the refurbished F40 and one of the Genesis Heritage units (not quite sure which one, couldn’t read the number)…AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH! Sorry folks, no pictures possible.
Not 100% sure on this but a friend on Facebook told me that it made a surprise stop in Beech Grove and will be on today’s Hoosier State to Chicago. Like I stated though, not 1005 sure on that.
I’m not quite sure how it could be coming into Chicago from Indy on the Hoosier State when I just saw it two hours ago heading west through Aurora towards Galesburg in the consist of the Carl Sandburg !!!