Aug 27, 2024 - 2024 NRHS Convention - Strasburg Rail Road: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Strasburg Rail Road (reporting mark SRC) is the oldest continuously-operating railroad in the western hemisphere and the oldest public utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Chartered in 1832, the... Read More>> |
Aug 26, 2024 - City Park Railroad and Harris Tower: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. A 63 acre island and city park, City Island, in the middle of the Susequhanna River, is home to the Harrisburg Senators, the AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Walnut Street Bridge, an old steel truss street bridge that is... Read More>> |
Aug 24, 2024 - The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Pennsylvania Railroad freight house was built circa 1895 and home to the Winchester Little Theatre. This group was organized in 1929 "...to present, produce and encourage the production, acting and writing of plays..." by a... Read More>> |
Aug 21-24, 2024 - The Three-Day Driving Trip to the National Historical Society Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This year's National Railway Historical Society Convention took place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from August 26th to 31st. I bought tickets for... Read More>> |
Aug 4-5, 2024 - Alliance, Nebraska to Home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Chicago and North Western Bassett station built in 1921 was moved from its former location on the north end of Clark Avenue in Bassett to Rock County Historical Museum, where it is now home to countless artifacts and... Read More>> |
Aug 3, 2024 - The Journey From Billings, Montana to Alliance, Nebraska: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Hardin station built in 1922. Hardin's first railroad depot was moved from Fort Custer after being cut into small sections and transported by train over the... Read More>> |
Aug 2, 2024 - The Journey From Deer Lodge to Billings, Montana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Deer Lodge was the division headquarters for the Milwaukee Road, officially known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, until their demise in 1980. Here, the Milwaukee Road was... Read More>> |
Aug 1, 2024 - Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Reardan, Washington: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth drove us to the downtown location of Frank's Diner in Spokane. She first learned of this restaurant in a railcar a couple of years ago from a posting on Facebook by an acquaintance, while I had never... Read More>> |
Jul 31, 2024 - Cranbrook Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Canadian Pacific Cranbrook water tower built in 1946 and moved here in 1994. Its original location was across the tracks and about 1,500 feet southwest closer to the railway's... Read More>> |
Jul 30, 2024 - Nelson Electric Tramway Society: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Canadian Pacific Railway Nelson station is a two-storey, wood-frame structure located near the lakefront, at the foot of the main thoroughfare, on the edge of the City of Nelson. The Canadian Pacific tracks arrived in... Read More>> |
Jul 29, 2024 - Along The Canadian Border from Agassiz to Castlegar, British Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We used the Canadian Trackside Guide to assist us in finding preserved railway equipment and displays, since neither of us have ever been east of Hope and while we knew of stations, there was much else... Read More>> |
Jul 28, 2024 - A Day In Greater Vancouver Featuring Burnaby Central Railway and Two B.C. Electric Railway Interurban Cars: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Coach "E&E Taylor", ex. West Coast Railway Association 990603 1997, exx. British Columbia Railway 990603 1995, nee Gulf, Mobile and... Read More>> |
Jul 27, 2024 - Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. For Elizabeth, this was her return after four-and-a-half years. From May 2014 to December 2019, she volunteered here usually twice a month, on the station side, becoming a Station Master then Station Master Coordinator. In 2018, she... Read More>> |
Jul 26, 2024 - Railway Museum of British Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Founded in 1961, the West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of the railway history of British Columbia. We operate the Railway Museum of British Columbia. Membership is... Read More>> |
Jul 26, 2024 - BC Ferries from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Until Spring 2008, the Queen of Cowichan was the main Route 2 (Horseshoe Bay - Departure Bay) vessel based out of Nanaimo. In March she was... Read More>> |
Jul 25, 2024 - Alberni Pacific Railway Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We left the Best Western Barclay Inn and drove to the Canadian Pacific staton and waited for David Hooper to arrive. Elizabeth had been in contact with him because while the Alberni Pacific Railway operates on weekends on... Read More>> |
Jul 25, 2024 - Duncan to Port Alberni, British Columbia Featuring Duncan Forest Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two of us arose at the Super 8 in Duncan and after our Internet duties, at the Dog House Family Restaurant where Elizabeth had a veggie omelette and I had French Toast and bacon. It was... Read More>> |
Jul 24, 2024 - British Columbia Legislature Tour, Victoria Roundhouse, Cliffside and Kinsol Trestle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. For this day and the next two, Elizabeth would be my tour guide as she grew up in Victoria and had wanted to show me the railway highlights of Vancouver Island... Read More>> |
Jul 23, 2024 - The Journey from Lacey, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Today Elizabeth and I would take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. We arose at the Quality Inn and ate at the hotel then drove Interstate 5 to US 101 to State Route 8 to the town of... Read More>> |
Jul 22, 2024 - Amtrak Cascades and Steilacoom Railfanning: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The route of the Tacoma Streetcar. The T Line, formerly known as Tacoma Link, is a light rail line in Tacoma, Washington, part of the Link light rail system operated by Sound Transit. It travels 4.0 miles and... Read More>> |
Jul 21, 2024 - South To Tacoma Featuring Great Northern and Cascade Railway and Dacca Park in Fife: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Great Northern & Cascade Railway Railway offers free train rides to the public as well as a railroad education program. The Railroad operates May through October, every... Read More>> |
Jul 20, 2024 - Pendleton, Oregon to Skykomish, Washington Featuring Northern Pacific Railway Museum and South Cle Elum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose, then following our Internet duties, checked out of the Hotel Pendleton and went to Shari's for a great breakfast. She drove us to... Read More>> |
Jul 18-19, 2024 - To Pocatello and Pendleton: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the Quality Inn in Craig and following our morning preparations, we had breakfast at Cool Water Grille. We then departed Craig and drove towards Interstate 80 but Elizabeth pulled off after I spotted a train... Read More>> |
Jul 16, 2024 - The Great Pacific Northwest Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. It had been four-and-a-half years since Elizabeth was last at the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Surrey, British Columbia. She has remained a Director on the Board and has the Communications portfolio. There have been... Read More>> |
Jul 6, 2024 - Our Fourth Anniversary Branson Scenic Railroad Dinner Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We walked into the depot and picked up our tickets with a car number on the recipt then waited for our car to be called. We would be in BSRX 9320 "Silver Terrace", a 1952 Budd dome-observation from the Chicago, Burlington and... Read More>> |
Jul 6, 2024 - Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The line on which the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad runs has a long history, stretching back over 100 years to the late 1800's when railroads were branching out in all directions. There were actually two railroads that... Read More>> |
Jun 9, 2024 - Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose in Gainesville and after our Internet duties, went to International House Of Pancakes before finding the steam engine on display. Seaboard Air Line caboose, number unknown, built by... Read More>> |
Jun 5-8, 2024 - The 2024 Railroad Station Historical Society Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Hosted by Don Wickersham and Ted Xakellis, this year's convention will be based in Gainesville, Georgia. We shall visit depots of the Atlanta and Florida, Central of Georgia, Georgia Railroad, Louisville and... Read More>> |
Jun 4, 2024 - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Trains and Atlanta Streetcar: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority was started with a commitment to making public transit a reliable service -- one that boosts economic development and enhances the lives of... Read More>> |
Jun 3, 2024 - Blue Ridge Scenic Rail Bikes: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Embark on a new and exciting journey through the Blue Ridge Countryside aboard a custom-built, four-person electric Rail Bike! Sit back and explore as you leisurely pedal your motor-assisted rail bike through the foothills of North Georgia. Leave the depot in historic downtown Blue Ridge and... Read More>> |
Jun 2, 2024 - Blue Ridge Scenic Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Railroads played a vital role in the development of this area between the 1800's and the early 1900's. They determined the routes of local roads, saved an ailing mining industry, contributed to the growth of small towns as resort communities, and... Read More>> |
Jun 1, 2024 - Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Copperhill Excursion: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The railroad over which Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum trains travel on its Hiwassee River Rail Adventures was formerly part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad's Atlanta... Read More>> |
May 31, 2024 - Great Smoky Mountains Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad delivered thousands of mountaineers from the wilderness of their landlocked hills. A year after iron rails reached Asheville in 1880, workers scattered to the west of the... Read More>> |
May 30, 2024 - Big South Fork Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. When Coal, Lumber, and Railroads Were King... In 1902, Justus S. Stearns of Ludington, Michigan bought 30,000 acres of virgin timberland in southern Kentucky. When coal was discovered soon afterwards, the... Read More>> |
May 29, 2024 - Rail Explorers Railbikes on the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad. Built in 1888, this section of the Louisville Southern Railroad once carried passengers from Lawrenceburg to Versailles and Lexington. Now you can ride the rails through the picturesque Kentucky countryside with Rail Explorers. Passing the... Read More>> |
May 20, 2024 - Colorado Railroad Museum Dak Dillon Photography Steam Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the Quality Inn in Durango and following our Internet duties, went to Denny's for a good breakfast then I drove us through Pagosa Springs where we found a.. Read More>> |
May 18, 2024 - Dak Dillon Photo Charter on the Durango and Silverton Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We arose at the very early hour of 4:30 AM and after our morning preparations, drove to Denny's where I enjoyed French Toast with bacon and sausage. After a fulfilling breakfast, we drove the... Read More>> |
May 15-16, 2024 - Kansas Depots On The Way To Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Earlier in the year, Dak Dillon announced two Colorado photo charters, one on the Durango and Silverston and two days later, at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. We planned a route to include... Read More>> |
May 6, 2024 - National Railway Historical Society Iowa Interstate Inspection Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose and we sat with John Goodman and enjoyed the hotel's breakfast in our building. Iowa Interstate Information. One of the pictures in the second floor hallway in the... Read More>> |
May 2-5, 2024 - Iowa Depots On The Way to Cedar Rapids: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This year's National Railway Historical Society spring conference was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and apart from the meetings, a very rare inspection trip was planned on the Iowa Interstate Railroad. Elizabeth is Secretary of... Read More>> |
April 25-29, 2024 - Our Spring Trip to Van Buren for a Frisco Caboose Ride: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth saw a posting on the Arkansas-Boston Mountains Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society's Facebook page about the southbound maiden voyage of our... Read More>> |
Apr 2-4, 2024 - The Journey Home From Roanoke: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the Best Western Plus Valley View and after doing our Internet duties, checked out and I drove us to the Waffle House where we enjoyed a good breakfast. After that, I drove us west on Interstate 81 to... Read More>> |
Mar 31-Apr 1, 2024 - Stations on the Way to Roanoke and Carl Jensen's Funeral: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose and following our Internet duties, went to Cracker Barrel for an excellent breakfast before we took the Bluegrass Parkway and exited to go to Stanton... Read More>> |
Mar 30, 2024 - Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum in Versailles, Kentucky: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Operating out of the Woodford County Park, the railroad offers an eleven mile round-trip excursions through the horse farms of Kentucky to Tyrone, where the train stops at Young's High Bridge and allows... Read More>> |
Mar 30, 2024 - Kentucky Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Kentucky Railway Museum owes its beginning to a small number of rail enthusiasts who formed a local chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1948. In the early 1950's, the Chapter asked the Louisville and... Read More>> |
Mar 29, 2024 - My Old Kentucky Dinner Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our train consisted of RJ Corman GP38-2 5580, nee Norfolk Southern GP38 2725 and GP15 1560, RJC 003, RJC 021 and RJC 777 and RJC 607. The tracks we would be on were built in 1860 as the Bardstown and Louisville, later to... Read More>> |
Feb 19-22, 2024 - A Mid-Week Visit To Sallisaw, Oklahoma: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The St. Louis and San Francisco Crocker station is in Crocker, Missouri. The depot was the last in Pulaski County and served as the mail pick-up and drop-off point for the rest of the county. Now a museum, the... Read More>> |
Feb 4, 2024 - Depots East of Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We decided to go for a drive and made a plan to photograph some new stations. Elizabeth drove us out to Hermann via Interstate 70 and soon we were at our first depot. Hermann station is the visitor information center and the... Read More>> |
Jan 15-17, 2024 - The Drive Home From the Railroad Passenger Car Alliance Conference : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Columbus Union Station built in 1901 and used by Central of Georgia, Seaboard Air Line Railroad and Southern Railway. It was designed in the Second Empire style by the architectural firm of... Read More>> |
Jan 14, 2024 - SAM Shortline Eastbound Excursion : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The story of the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway illustrates New South boosterism, boom, and bust in Georgia during the 1880s and 1890s. Founded in Americus by Samuel Hugh Hawkins and other... Read More>> |
Jan 12 & 13, 2024 - Cater-Parrott Azalea Sprinter & Our Activities on Seminar Day: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. CaterParrott Railnet is a Georgia based company created in 2005. It was founded by two business leaders, Jamie Cater and Christopher Parrott. CPR is set apart from other rail carriers because of our... Read More>> |
Jan 11, 2024 - The Historic SAM Shortline Railroad Presidential Flyer : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The story of the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway illustrates New South boosterism, boom, and bust in Georgia during the 1880's and 1890's. Founded in Americus by Samuel Hugh Hawkins and... Read More>> |
Oct 21-23, 2023 - Central Missouri Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. BNSF 5370 West was our first train at the bridge. The railroad originally incorporated as the St. Louis & Keokuk Railroad on February 16, 1857. The Civil War and various depressions and recessions prevented its actual construction until... Read More>> |
Oct 21-23, 2023 - East Home to Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Norfolk Southern 3633 West at Wellsville. The Calhan Depot, 704 Fourth Street, was initially built and owned by the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railroad, a separate, but associated company of the Chicago, Rock Island and... Read More>> |
Dec 6, 2023 - Christmas in Our New House: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You probably remember that Elizabeth and I moved to Columbia, Missouri in the second half of the year, to be more centrally-located in the country. We would like to share our home and its decorations this Christmas season... Read More>> |
Oct 20, 2023 - Dak Dillon's Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Photo Charter Day Two: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Rio Grande 168 will pull a mixed consist for the first time on the Cumbres & Toltec. You won't want to miss this unique opportunity! The train will be dated to the World War I era on the DRG&W... Read More>> |
Oct 19, 2023 - Dak Dillon's Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Photo Charter Day One: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We will celebrate the Mudhen's 120th birthday with a throwback to the 1950's and 168's 140th birthday with a mixed train for the first time ever on a charter. Rio Grande 463 will feature... Read More>> |
Oct 16, 2023 - Tuesday Charter Train on the Durango and Silverton Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose and following our Internet duties, walked over to the Elevated Coffee Company for breakfast as this was the end of the season and no restaurants were open for breakfast. After that, we... Read More>> |
Oct 15, 2023 - Monday Charter Train on the Durango and Silverton: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In commemoration of our cherished K-28 locomotives turning 100 years old, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is pleased to offer a very rare and unique opportunity to experience an... Read More>> |
Oct 13-15, 2023 - To Durango: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In May, Elizabeth and I decided to participate in the two-day photo charter in October, then in July, Dak Dillon announced his two-day photo charter on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad the same week. With the opportunity to once again ride these... Read More>> |
Oct 4-7, 2023 - Our House in Columbia and Area Exploration: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arrived at our new home in Columbia and here are some photographs before our belongings were delivered. After a good breakfast at the hotel, we came home to find the Allied Van Lines truck in front of... Read More>> |
Oct 1-3, 2023 - Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad Trip and the Journey to Columbia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Colorado Pacific 1923 on a grain train at Boone, Colorado. Colorado Pacific Railroad is a rail line that runs from Towner, Colorado to NA Junction, east of Pueblo. It was purchased by... Read More>> |
Sep 29-30, 2023 - Starting Our Move East To Missouri With A Stop at Soldier Summit: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Move day was upon us! We were eagerly anticipating moving from a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Ana, California to a three-bedroom house in Columbia, Missouri. After Allied Van... Read More>> |
Sep 15, 2023 - Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad's Santa Fe 3415 Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The railroad was founded in 1993 as a heritage railway, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the railroad industry in Kansas by highlighting the inter-connectedness of railroads, the people, and the land in... Read More>> |
Sep 11-14, 2023 - Columbia, Missouri and Kansas Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Missouri-Kansas-Texas Sedalia station built in 1872. Sedalia station, also known as the Katy Depot, was designed by New York architect Bradford Gilbert. It is two-and-a-half stories and was built in the... Read More>> |
Sep 10, 2023 - Kansas City Streetcar and Missouri Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Chicago and Alton Independence staton was built in 1879. Independence was the start of the Oregon Trail this town that was the frontier, a place as far as steamboat and rail could come, the place that the pioneers came to but from... Read More>> |
Sep 9, 2023 - Iowa and Missouri Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific West Chester station which has been relocated to Greiner Farms in Keota. Next we proceeded to Oskaloosa for more than we planned. The Oskaloosa Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific station was built in 1888 on the... Read More>> |
Sep 8, 2023 - Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Boone & Scenic Valley is operated by the Iowa Railroad Historical Society, a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization which is dedicated to the preservation of, and educating the public about, the history of Iowa's railroads. Besides the... Read More>> |
Sep 9, 2023 - National Railway Historical Society Convention Gold Coast Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Museum was founded in 1956 and built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond. With over three miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal place to build a... Read More>> |
Sep 4, 2023 - National Railway Historical Society Convention US Sugar Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately-owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades and... Read More>> |
Sep 3, 2023 - National Railway Historical Society Convention Brightline Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an... Read More>> |
Sep 1-2, 2023 - Tri-Rail and Miami Metro Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Planning for a new commuter rail line began in 1983 and building the organization began in 1986. The current system was formed by the Florida Department of Transportation and began operation January 9, 1989, to provide temporary... Read More>> |
Aug 30-31, 2023 - The Journey To Florida For The NRHS Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Tri-Rail train P689 was two trains combined in one movement. Our train came in six minutes late and we took this 18.2 miles to Deerfield Beach and detrained after five stations. I led the way as we trudged the... Read More>> |
Jun 25-28, 2023 - Oklahoma to Home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. n Durant was Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railway post office/coach 376 "Pikes Peak" built by Budd Company in 1938 and rebuilt into a diner-lounge-dormitory car. We would then find the freight station... Read More>> |
Jun 24, 2023 - Motor Cars from McAlester to Red Oak, Oklahoma: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. North American Railcar Operators Association, or NARCOA, is a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation and the safe, legal operation of railroad equipment historically used for... Read More>> |
Jun 20-23, 2023 - The trip from South Holland, Illinois to Sallisaw and McAlester, Oklahoma: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The St. Louis-San Francisco Jim Crow coach 563 was built by Barney and Smith in 1883. It is primarily wood and has a clerestory roof but during its life, the windows were... Read More>> |
Jun 19, 2023 - Wendella Boat Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Experience the city/legendary architecture from the best seat in the house the river. Our experienced tour guides the 130-year long history behind the skyline, while our bartenders and staff keep you comfortable and entertained. This comprehensive tour... Read More>> |
Jun 19, 2023 - Pullman National Historic Site: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The park tells the story of one of the first planned industrial communities in the U.S., the sleeping car magnate who helped create it and the workers who lived there. The district is significant for its nfluence on urban planning and design, as well as... Read More>> |
Jun 18, 2023 - Nickel Plate Road 765 Tri-State Excursion: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Following a successful season of memorable events and recent recognition as Indiana's "Best New Experience from the Indiana Tourism Association, a 1940s-era railroad attraction has expanded its... Read More>> |
Jun 17, 2023 - Rides on the Jones & Laughlin Steel Narrow Gauge Railroad at the Steel Heritage Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, the J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad is a 24 inch gauge steel mill demonstration railroad where historic narrow gauge rail equipment... Read More>> |
Jun 16, 2023 - Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Frostburg Flyer: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Frostburg Flyer departs from Cumberland, Maryland and traverses the scenic Allegheny Mountains to Frostburg. During your ride, you will pass over creeks, steams, bridges, travel though... Read More>> |
Jun 15, 2023 - Stations, Meyersdale and Salisbury Viaduct: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Western Maryland station is home to the Westernport Heritage Museum which recounts the community's industrial history and showcases a collection of railroad artifacts. The Westernport Heritage Society Museum was... Read More>> |
Jun 14, 2023 - Greenbrier Express Cass to Durbin and return: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Cass is the home to the world's largest fleet of geared Shay locomotives. Five Shays, one Heisler,and one Climax reside here. The legendary turn-of-the-century class C-80 Shay, 5 has been... Read More>> |
Jun 12-13, 2023 - West Virginia Stations on the way to Cass Scenic Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Baltimore and Ohio Point Pleasant station now used by CSX. Point Pleasant is located approximately 55 miles downstream from Charleston where the Kanawha River empties into the Ohio River, as well as... Read More>> |
Jun 11, 2023 - Hocking Valley Scenic Railway and Stations to Gallipolis, Ohio: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway History - The original railroad line we operate over was founded as the Mineral Rail Road on April 14, 1864, to build a railroad from Columbus to Athens, Ohio. In... Read More>> |
Jun 7-10, 2023 - The Railroad Station Historical Society Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two travellers, who were now conventioneers, awoke and following our Internet duties, took the elevator downstairs and partook in the hotel's breakfast then returned to the room before boarding the bus and... Read More>> |
Jun 6, 2023 - The Drive to Toledo with Station Along The Way: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Wheeling and Lake Erie Lodi station was built in 1882. According to the original blueprints, the depot originally stood closer to Railroad and Harris Streets. A passing siding ran between the depot and Railroad Street. The... Read More>> |
Jun 5, 2023 - Lake Shore Railway Museum, Steam Engines and Covered Bridges: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Meadville Railway station built in 1881 is the original Meadville Railway (later Meadville & Linesville Railroad and later Pittsburgh Shenango and Lake Erie Railroad in 1891) station plus a... Read More>> |
Jun 4, 2023 - The Gettysburg National Military Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Cumberland Valley Chambersburg station built in 1906 was originally chartered in 1831 to connect with Pennsylvania's Main Line of Public Works. Freight and passenger service in the Cumberland Valley in south central... Read More>> |
Jun 3, 2023 - Steamtown ride and the Electric City Trolley Museum ride: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Electric City Trolley Museum is a collaborative effort among many different partners. Working together, they have created a premier electric railway museum in Scranton. Back in 1887, Scranton was... Read More>> |
Jun 2, 2023 - The Rockhill Trolley Museum and Over To Scranton: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Rockhill Trolley Museum is a museum and heritage railway in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania that collects and restores trolley, interurban and transit cars. Founded in 1960, the museum operates what has... Read More>> |
Jun 1, 2023 - Copley, Ohio to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Akron, Canton and Youngstown caboose 63 was built by International Car Company in 1947. In 1984 the caboose was slated for retirement but when the Copley Historical Society found out, they asked AC&Y if they could... Read More>> |
Jun 1, 2023 - The National New York Central Museum and Indiana Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. New York Central Chesterton station built in 1914 which replaced a wooden structure built in 1852 for the Northern Indiana and Chicago Railroad, a predecessor road of the Lake Shore and... Read More>> |
May 30, 2023 - From La Plata, Missouri to Chesterton, Indiana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke and after our Internet duties, checked out of the Depot Inn and Suites and I drove us north to Kirksville where we had an excellent breakfast at Pancake City. After that, we made our way north on US 63 to Queen City and our first station of the day... Read More>> |
May 29, 2023 - The Journey From Wichita, Kansas to La Plata, Missouri: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose and after our regular morning preparations, checked out and I drove us to IHOP for an excellent breakfast, after which I drove us east to Augusta to our first station of the day... Read More>> |
May 26-28, 2023 - The Journey East As Far As Wichita: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. While in Indiana, we planned a visit to the National New York Central Museum then more depots on the way to the Rockhill Trolley Museum, followed by Steamtown to ride the train and the adjacent Electric City Trolley Museum to... Read More>> |
May 20-23, 2023 - Sparks Yard, Two Stations and the Drive Home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Union Pacific GP40-2 1372 working a freight. Union Pacific yard engine SD40N 1539 with SD40N 1488 and SD40N 1372 working in Sparks yard. Union Pacific SD40M 1539 working the tracks below my... Read More>> |
May 19, 2023 - Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel and Truckee Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Trip Information -- The Third and Last Railway and Locomotive Historical Society/Southern Pacific History Centre/National Railway Historical Society event of the 2023 joint conference. Buses will... Read More>> |
May 18, 2023 - The Tour of the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and Quincy Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Trip Information -- The Second Railway and Locomotive Historical Society/Southern Pacific History Centre/National Railway Historical Society event of the 2023 joint conference. Buses will load at... Read More>> |
May 17, 2023 - The Tour of the Nevada State Railroad Museum and Virginia & Truckee Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Trip information - The First Railway and Locomotive Historical Society/Southern Pacific History Centre/National Railway Historical Society event of the 2023 joint conference. This... Read More>> |
May 15-16, 2023 - The Trip to Sparks, Nevada: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The purpose of trip is to attend the joint conference with the Southern Pacific History Center, the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society and the National Railway Historical Society which was being held at the Nugget Hotel and... Read More>> |
May 7, 2023 - Cass Scenic's 60th Anniversary Rail Heritage Photography Weekend Part 2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We drove down the mountain to Cass for the last time and joined the others at the depot. There we organized a photo line and soon Day 2 of the event commenced... Read More>> |
May 5, 2023 - Cass Scenic's 60th Anniversary Rail Heritage Photography Weekend Part 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. American Log Loader and Skeleton Log Car 25 former Meadow River B-1 was built by American Hoist & Derrick Company in St. Paul for Elk River Coal & Lumber Company. The... Read More>> |
May 5, 2023 - To Cass Scenic Railway and the Shop Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The City of Philippi was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War on June 3, 1861. Built in 1852, the Philippi covered bridge was heavily utilized by both armies during the Civil War. During the... Read More>> |
May 4, 2023 - A Visit to West Virginia: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Chesapeake and Ohio Covington station was built in 1891. Established in 1958, the Allegheny Historical Society preserves the history of the Allegheny Highlands region, but the building itself plays a role in the historic story. The society is... Read More>> |
May 3, 2023 - Stations, Virginia Museum of Transportation and C&O Heritage Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Cheasapeake and Ohio station in Crozet was built in 1923. This is not an active Amtrak station and the Cardinal does not stop to receive passengers at this location. Nevertheless, because of... Read More>> |
May 02, 2023 - Maryland and Virginia Stations: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Pennsylvania Railroad Aberdeen station built in 1940. Baltimore and Ohio Aberdeen station built in 1885. Cheasepeake and Ohio caboose 90512 built by the railroad in 1929. Baltimore and Ohio RDC. Buffalo Creek &... Read More>> |
May 01, 2023 - Princeton Junction, New Jersey Transit River Line and Other Locations: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Princeton Junction station is eponymously in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, located in West Windsor Township. It serves New Jersey Transit and Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor, as well as... Read More>> |
Apr 30, 2023 - Electric City Trolley Museum and Stations: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Electric City Trolley Museum is a collaborative effort among many different partners. Working together, they have created a premier electric railway museum in Scranton. Back in 1887 Scranton was the first city in... Read More>> |
Apr 29, 2023 - A Visit to Steamtown and Other Items: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Reading Railroad Tremont station built in 1924. Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven Railroad Branch Dale station, Reading Railroad Minersville station built in 1913. Central of New Jersey 0-6-0 113 built by... Read More>> |
Apr 28, 2023 - Peter Lerro Photo Charter East Broad Top Day 2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. ...the train came into the station and the participants boarded two of the four coaches. We travelled over new trackage in the yard to the new coaling facility then detrained, using our umbrellas today as it was raining... Read More>> |
Apr 27, 2023 - Peter Lerro Photography Charter East Broad Top Day 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Operating from 1871 to 1956, it is one of the nation's oldest and best-preserved narrow-gauge railroads and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The railroad is now preserved for use as a... Read More>> |
Apr 25, 2023 - Maryland and Pennsylvania Stations: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My wife and I learned of the Cass Scenic Railway's Rail Heritage Weekend to celebrate their 60th Anniversary and signed up for the event. Later, we received Peter Lerro's e-mail newsletter announcing a... Read More>> |
Slideshow Presented at Winterail 2022: A Year Of Trains In The Life Of Chris Guenzler - 2022... Read More>> |
Mar 23, 2023 - Peter Lerro Photo Charter With Southern Pacific 18 at Laws Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Southern Pacific 18 was originally built in 1911 for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway and was sold to Southern Pacific in 1926. Number 18 worked the rest of its career on the... Read More>> |
Mar 19-22, 2023 - The trip to Laws: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Santa Maria Valley Number 205, a recently-restored 2-6-2 that had not steamed in 71 years, will make its photographer's train debut in a Trains Magazine-sponsored event at the Albany & Eastern on March 18, 2022... Read More>> |
Mar 17-18, 2023 - Railfan and Railroad Magazine Pizza Party and Slide Show and Winterail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arrived at the Days Inn in Corvallis and checked in. I realized that the memory stick that I was going to use to put my Friday night show on did not have enough space so I went to Office Max and bought a 32 gigabyte memory stick which... Read More>> |
Mar 16-17, 2023 - Pre-Winterail Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society is an Oregon 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 1992 for preserving and interpreting Lincoln County's railroad history, with a focus in making artifacts and information accessible to... Read More>> |
Mar 12-15, 2023 - Pre-Winterail Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip's purpose was to attend Winterail 2023 via finishing visiting the covered bridges in Oregon, the Oregon Coast Historic Railway in Coos Bay and the next day, visiting Yaquina Pacific Railroad Museum in Toledo. We hoped to find... Read More>> |
Jan 24-25, 2023 - The Drive from Valdosta, Georgia to Greenwood, South Carolina and the Trip Home : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The origins of the Georgia and Florida Railroad date back to 1906, when a former president of the Seaboard Air Line Railway developed the company for purchasing, building and... Read More>> |
Jan 23, 2023 - Driving Day Clewiston, Florida to Valdosta, Georgia : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Holiday Inn in Clewiston, had the hotel's breakfast and saw Bart and Sarah Jennings there. Following our Internet duties, we left with Elizabeth driving west out of Clewiston. She... Read More>> |
Jan 22, 2023 - U.S. Sugar Clewiston to Fort Pierce Route : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We left Clewiston by moving forward then reversing to reach the mainline before heading east toward Fort Pierce. Once we reached the junction at Keela and took the switch, I and the majority of the other riders, were on new... Read More>> |
Jan 21, 2023 - U.S Sugar Clewiston to Sebring Route with Diesels : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We were at the back of the line to board so had to ride in the "Lake Okeechobee" coach today. At 7:30, after the safety meeting, we were allowed to board. The train left at 8:00 AM heading towards Sebring and... Read More>> |
Jan 20, 2023 - U.S. Sugar 148 Steam Charter Clewiston to Okeelanta Route : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately-owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach. It is the... Read More>> |
Jan 19, 2023 - Driving From Fort Pierce to Clewiston, Florida : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Florida East Coast Vero Beach station built in 1903, enlarged and remodelled in 1916 and 1936. Prior to the station, the railroad stop was known as mile marker 350. Until a series of train terminations in the 1950's and... Read More>> |
Jan 18, 2023 - Orlando's Leu Gardens and the Driving Trip to Fort Pierce, Florida : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Harry P. Leu Gardens are semi-tropical and tropical gardens in Orlando. The gardens contain nearly 50 acres of landscaped grounds and lakes, with trails shaded by 200-year-old oaks and forests of... Read More>> |
Jan 16, 2023 - Driving Day to Kissimmee, Florida and Riding the TECO Streetcar : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In their heyday, Tampa's streetcars whisked passengers to and from Ybor City, Ballast Point, Hyde Park, Sulphur Springs and points beyond. Operated by uniformed conductors, the... Read More>> |
Jan 16, 2023 - Driving Day to Zephyrhills, Florida : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Seaboard Airline Line station Williston station was built in 1920 which is now used by a real estate agent. Elizabeth consulted the Surviving Steam Locomotives printout for Florida and found there were some steam engines in Williston so she... Read More>> |
Jan 15, 2023 - The Journey From North Charleston to Jacksonville featuring Georgia State Railroad Museum : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Georgia State RR Museum is located at the former Central of Georgia RR Savannah Repair Shops. The Central of Georgia Rail Road & Canal Company was chartered by... Read More>> |
Jan 14, 2023 - A Day of Stations From Salisbury, North Carolina to Magnolia, South Carolina : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Winston-Salem Southbound station in Albemarle, was built circa 1910. The Winston-Salem Southbound Railway Company operates 87 miles of track from Winston-Salem through... Read More>> |
Jan 13, 2023 - Dinner at the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Shop : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Southern Railway station was built in 1908. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, but was nearly demolished until it was bought by the Historic Salisbury Foundation in... Read More>> |
Jan 13, 2023 - Railroad Passenger Car Alliance Conference at the North Carolina Transportation Museum : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Around 1902, the Southern Development Company began building a new subdivision, Fulton Heights, located a mile south of Salisbury. J. M. Maupin, William Murdoch Wiley and... Read More>> |
Jan 11-12, 2023 - To Charlotte and Railroad Passenger Car Alliance Conference at North Carolina Transportation Museum : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I bought our tickets for the three-day Bart Jennings' rare mileage charter on the U.S. Sugar Railroad when they went on sale in October. We then... Read More>> |
Nov 26, 2022 - Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the Best Western and after a good night's sleep, checked the Internet then packed and checked out. I drove us to the Black Bear Diner where I enjoyed French Toast and bacon while... Read More>> |
Nov 24-25, 2022 - The Journey North and the Monterey Branch Sunset Handcar Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip was planned very quickly after I received an e-mail from Mason Clark of Handcar Tours about a sunset trip riding the handcars in Marina over Thanksgiving weekend. Elizabeth and I then checked the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad in Felton and they were running trains up the mountain on weekends. We arranged our hotel reservations and were all set to go! Thanksgiving morning 2022 we were up and ready to leave following our internet duties and finishing packing. We loaded the car and Elizabeth drove us to the rest area at Tejon Ranch on Interstate 5 on a light traffic morning; I then drove the rest of... Read More>> |
Oct 24, 2022 - A Trip to Ride the New San Bernardino to Redlands Arrow Service: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Redlands Passenger Rail Project is an innovative nine-mile regional rail project that provides additional transportation choices through the introduction of a new rail service, known as... Read More>> |
Oct 9, 2022 - A Trip to Ride Metro's K Crenshaw Light Rail Line: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Metro K Line will extend light rail from the existing Metro E Line at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards to the Metro C Line. While the rail line includes eight new stations, only seven will be open in the... Read More>> |
Oct 1, 2022 - The Grand Canyon Railway and the trip home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Since 1901 the Grand Canyon Railway has enchanted millions of people from all over the world. From its yesteryears of transporting ore to our present-day journeys to the canyon with the help of... Read More>> |
Sep 30, 2022 - The Road to Williams, Arizona: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Denver and Rio Grande Western Pagosa Springs station built in 1900. Our routing took us through Durungo and Cortez. We turned onto the road leading to the Four Corners National Monument and about nine miles from our... Read More>> |
Sep 29, 2022 - Cumbres and Toltec Galloping Goose Westward Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. If the Rio Grande Southern Railroad had ever been a profitable endeavor with the changing economy of its fledgling days, the "Galloping Goose" might never have been "hatched" to accommodate travel by rail in the... Read More>> |
Sep 28, 2022 - Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Chama to Antonito: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Cumbres and Toltec K36 2-8-2 484 built by Baldwin in 1925 as Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 484. The engine was featured in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". I boarded the train and... Read More>> |
Sep 27, 2022 - The road to Santa Fe, New Mexico and the New Mexico Railrunner Express: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a commuter rail system serving the metropolitan areas of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is administered by the... Read More>> |
Sep 26, 2022 - The road to Dalhart, Texas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The location of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific station in Enid, built in 1928, prompted a year-long railroad war. The Rock Island tried to stop in North Enid and bypass the government town of South Enid. A statute signed by... Read More>> |
Sep 25,2022 - Arkansas and Missouri Railroad Rare Mileage Trip to Monett: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I chatted with John Goodman until I saw good friend Bart Jennings who showed me his new book. Everyone then boarded the same two cars as Friday ("Explorer" and dome "Silver Feather")... Read More>> |
Sep 23, 2022 - Arkansas and Missouri Railroad Shop Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The bus of National Railway Historical Society autumn conference members arrived back in Springdale and I toured the Museum of the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad before waiting for the tour to start. After a slight delay we... Read More>> |
Sep 23, 2022 - Fort Smith Trolley Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Fort Smith Railway Company began operation in 1883 with three mule-drawn rail cars, offering the area's first public transportation. As these cars progressed through the unpaved streets, the "Gee" and "Haw" from the... Read More>> |
Sep 23, 2022 - The Arkansas and Missouri Train Trip to Van Buren: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Arkansas & Missouri may be one of the most documented shortline railroads in the country. Articles on it, and its large fleet of Alco locomotives, have been published in many magazines such as... Read More>> |
Sep 22, 2022 - Branson Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The comfort of the vintage passenger cars is quite a contrast to the harsh realities the railroad pioneers found when they undertook bringing rail service to the Ozarks. Laying the tracks for the White River Railway was possibly the... Read More>> |
Sep 21, 2022 - Showboat Branson Belle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Showboat Branson Belle operates regular two hour lunch and dinner sailings on the waters of Table Rock Lake, built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers during the late 1950s. The lake impounds the White River, which starts along the... Read More>> |
Sep 21, 2022 - Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway was started by the late Robert Dortch, Jr., and his wife Mary Jane in 1981. Robert Dortch, Sr., had built the Scott and Bearskin Lake Railroad as part of the... Read More>> |
Sep 20, 2022 - Railfanning in the Sallisaw Area: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Cantlin's son-in-law James and Rebekah's house in Sallisaw and after showering and preparing for the day, amended yesterday's story then did our Internet duties. We drove to Ruger's Grill for... Read More>> |
Sep 19, 2022 - The Drive From Oklahoma City to Sallisaw: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Texas Electric Railway was chartered on July 15, 1916 to consolidate the Texas Traction Company and the Southern Traction Company, effective January 1, 1917. The merged company operated three routes out of... Read More>> |
Sep 18, 2022 - The trip to Oklahoma City: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Fort Worth and Denver Northern Railway Company was chartered by the Burlington system on May 20, 1929. The road was built from Childress north to Shamrock in Wheeler County and then northwest to Pampa in... Read More>> |
Sep 17, 2022 - The Sandia Peak and on to Amarillo: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Sandia Mountains sit directly east of Albuquerque, in the Cibola National Forest. The highest point is Sandia Crest, 10,378 feet, exactly where the tram cars deliver passengers. From the ground, the cables are... Read More>> |
Sep 15-16, 2022 - The Two-Day Drive To Albuquerque: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip's destination is Springdale, Arkansas and the Autumn Conference of the National Railway Historical Society, where Elizabeth will become Secretary of the Society's Advisory Council. On the way there, we will ride the... Read More>> |
Aug 25-28, 2022 - The Four-Day Trip Home From Alliance, Nebraska: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We arose at the Holiday Inn Express in Alliance and had the hotel's breakfast then after checking the Internet, I drove us to Henry and just in Wyoming, found our Nebraska station... Read More>> |
Aug 24, 2022 - Depots and Trains in Nebraska: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Ralroad SW1200 1219 nee Chicago and North Western 319 built by Eloctro-Motive Division in 1962. The Eastern Nebraska Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (now known as... Read More>> |
Aug 22, 2022 - Depots in Missouri and Depots and Covered Bridges in Iowa: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Depot Inn and Suites, relaxed, and after doing our usual morning Internet browsing, I drove us to Pancake City in Kirksville where we had a very good... Read More>> |
Aug 21, 2022 - A Stay at the Depot Inn and Suites: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up in the Pullman Suite and we had their hotel breakfast then walked out to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point with our computers. he first train snuck up on us but I was able to... Read More>> |
Aug 21, 2022 - Monticello Railway Museum Featuring Southern Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Monticello Railway Museum is a not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1966 as "SPUR"; Society for the Perpetuation of Unretired Railfans. SPUR's goal at that time was to maintain and... Read More>> |
Aug 20, 2022 - Age of Steam's Ferrequinologist Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum History: The roundhouse was built by Jerry Joe Jacobson, former CEO of the Ohio Central Railroad System (OCRS). In October 2008, Jacobson sold his interest in OCRS to... Read More>> |
Aug 19, 2022 - Dennison Railroad Depot Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, The Dennison Railroad Depot is the most significant remaining example in the nation of a railroad canteen still reflecting its World War II heritage. During WWII, 1.3 Million service... Read More>> |
Aug 19, 2022 - Warthers Carving Museum, Dover, Ohio: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. It all started when Ernest Warther lost his father at the age of three, in 1888, forcing him to take his first job at the age of five. It was during that cow-herding job that Ernest earned the nickname "Mooney", Swiss for... Read More>> |
Aug 17, 2022 - Cleveland RTA Light Rail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Cleveland Rail Lines: Four rail lines join at Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland, the former Cleveland Union Terminal. Three lines share their tracks at Tri-C-Campus District and East 55th stations. This sharing of one route by... Read More>> |
Aug 17, 2022 - Cleveland Goodtime III Harbour Tour and Stations: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The first Goodtime tour took place on the Goodtime I in 1958 when brothers, Vince and Herb Fryan started taking the 150-passenger boat out for tours on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. The Fryan... Read More>> |
Aug 17, 2022 - Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Based on a track bed and rails originally laid down around 1880, right-of-way ownership transitioned over the years from Valley Railway to Cleveland Terminal & Valley Railroad, to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to the... Read More>> |
Aug 16, 2022 - Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Streetcars served America through two world wars and a depression, but affluence and automobiles caused the end of the Trolley Era and a greatly diminished role for public transportation. As streetcars were... Read More>> |
Aug 14, 2022 - Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, operating from Historic Downtown Lebanon, offers scenic train rides through Southwestern Ohio in Warren County. These nostalgic train rides present passengers with the opportunity to... Read More>> |
Aug 14, 2022 - Ohio Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Founded in 1948, the Ohio Railway Museum is one of the oldest railroad museums in America and began with the acquisition of Ohio Public Service Interurban Car 21, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The... Read More>> |
Aug 12-13, 2022 - Champaign/Urbana, Illinois to Marion, Ohio and Summerail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company, or THI&E, was the second largest interurban in the Indiana during the 1920s height of the interurban era. This system included over... Read More>> |
Aug 12, 2022 - Topeka, Kansas to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Union Pacific Great Overland Station built in 1927 which is on the National Register of Historic Places was built over three years starting in 1925 and designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, whose firm... Read More>> |
Aug 10, 2022 - Dodge City to Topeka: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Best Western in Dodge City and after doing our Internet duties, checked out and walked over to the International House of Pancakes for breakfast, after which we started our day of stations and steam engines. We did not... Read More>> |
Aug 9, 2022 - Clovis, New Mexico to Dodge City, Kansas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at 7:00 AM and after our Internet duties, we went to International House of Pancakes for breakfast. Afterwards, there were three photographic opportunities in Clovis this morning and I drove us to them... Read More>> |
Aug 7-8, 2022 - Home to Clovis - A Two-Day Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I had talked about going to Summerail 2022, an event that neither of us had ever been to before. We found out that it was to occur on August 13th this year. Elizabeth looked at the Age of Steam Museum's website and... Read More>> |
Aug 3, 2018 - Princeton Jct New Jersey Railfanning WITH UPDATED PHOTOS: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Robin slept in and I walked over to get the name of the restaurant where we ate last night, which was Dayton Diner's. Robin arose and we drove to Princeton Jct and paid to park then walked up to... Read More>> |
Aug 3, 2018 - New Jersey Museum of Transportation Pine Creek Railroad WITH UPDATED PHOTOS: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. New Jersey Museum of Transportation is a museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, and operation of historic railroad equipment. The organization runs... Read More>> |
July 10-11, 2022 - Niles Canyon Railway East of Sunol: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The California Western Railroad (aka The Skunk Train) used to have four railbuses - M80, M100, M200 and M300. One of them, M-200, still exists and is still running but not on the Skunk Line. She has been completely... Read More>> |
July 9, 2022 - Finishing up the VTA and San Jose Trolley Barn: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Electric trolleys were the main source of public transportation in San Jose between 1880 and 1938. These streetcars operated on nearly 130 miles of track throughout Santa Clara Valley. Automobiles were too... Read More>> |
July 8, 2022 - Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad and Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Roaring Camp Railroads operations began in 1963 under the guidance of F. Norman Clark (1935-1985), who was the founder and owner. His purpose was to keep a family tradition of... Read More>> |
July 7, 2022 - Redwood Valley Railroad, Depots and Winchester Mystery House: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Redwood Valley Railway was established in 1952 by Erich Thomsen as the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway, on a 12 inch gauge, and has since expanded to... Read More>> |
July 4, 2022 - Mount Lassen National Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Lassen Volcanic National Park is an American national park in northeastern California. The dominant feature of the park is Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano in the world and the southernmost volcano in the... Read More>> |
July 3, 2022 - Western Pacific Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In 1983, the Feather River Rail Society was formed with the goal of preserving the legacy of the Western Pacific Railroad. The Union Pacific graciously donated several pieces of equipment and granted use of the... Read More>> |
July 2, 2022 - Great Western Steam Up: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Held in the heart of Nevada's Capital City, make the Carson Railroad Museum's Great Western Steam Up your locomotive this summer. Hosted by the Nevada State Railroad Museum - Carson City, this once-in-a-lifetime event celebrates the... Read More>> |
July 1, 2022 - Virginia and Truckee Railroad from Virginia City to Gold Hill and Beyond: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. 35-Minute Round-Trip Train Ride from Virginia City to Gold Hill. Take a fascinating 35-minute ride back into history over the scenic Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Hear the... Read More>> |
June 30, 2022 - The start of our Second Anniversary Trip and the Laws Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I wanted to participate in at least one day of the four-day Great Western Steam Up at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. Since neither of us had been to... Read More>> |
A Look Back At Chris Guenzler Reaching One Million Rail Travel Miles. Includes a video, photos and reports of the rail trip and celebration April 25-27, 2007 and reaching his Amtrak millionth mile on April 7, 2008. Many people rode Amtrak to this event providing photos and reports of their rail trips that are posted here. This is the first time we have posted the video to TrainWeb... Read More>> |
Slideshow Presented at Winterail 2021: A Year Of Trains In The Life Of Chris Guenzler - 2021... Slide Show>> |
June 25, 2022 - A Trip to Cajon Pass to Photograph Santa Fe 5704: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip started after looking at Trainorders.com and learning that Santa Fe Bicentennial Unit 5704 was coming into California on Saturday June 25th on its way from Kansas City, Missouri to its final home of... Read More>> |
June 22, 2022 - An Afternoon Trip to Fullerton (California): Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After reading on Trainorders that the Southwest Chief was having another daylight run through California from Kingman, Arizona, Elizabeth and I decided that a visit to Fullerton was in... Read More>> |
June 12-13, 2022 - Sierra Railroad and the two day trip home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Railtown 1897 SHP and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation are pleased to welcome guests aboard the historic Sierra Railway. Ride behind a historic steam or diesel locomotive on a train trip through... Read More>> |
June 11, 2022 - Trip to the former Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Santa Clara and after doing our Internet duties, we checked out and Elizabeth drove us to Denny's where we enjoyed breakfast. Afterwards she drove us to... Read More>> |
June 10, 2022 - An evening at the Santa Clara Depot: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After a good Friday evening dinner at The Habit, I drove us the short distance to the Santa Clara station where we parked in front and met Steve Ferrari, who would show us around. Steve is the President of the... Read More>> |
June 9-10, 2022 - Home to Santa Clara: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In November 2021, Elizabeth joined the Central Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and became their National Representative on the NRHS Advisory Council, changing from her At-Large membership. It was... Read More>> |
May 30 - June 1, 2022 - A Trip Home from Chicago: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We boarded the Car 0330 with Pinky as our sleeping car attendant. Our room was "B" and we settled in, with the train departing on time and the conductor scanned our ticket. Elizabeth then headed to the lounge car... Read More>> |
May 29, 2022 - Another trip on Metra to Elburn: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. What is Metra? You may think there's an easy answer to that question, and in one sense, there is. Metra is the label we've been putting on commuter rail service in the Chicago area since 1984. Behind that simple name, however, lies a... Read More>> |
May 28, 2022 - Mendota to Aurora and a weekend Saturday pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke up at the Quality Inn in Mendota, checked the Internet and packed then checked out. We went to Cindy's on 34 Restaurant where I had French Toast with sausage links and... Read More>> |
May 27, 2022 - Iowa and Illinois Depots plus Medota Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Milwaukee Road Luana station. We returned to the car and headed to Maquoketan where the station from La Motte is now located. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Narrow Gauge Depot in LaMotte is a... Read More>> |
May 26, 2022 - Chicago Great Western Railway Depot Museum and more: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The objectives of the Hub City Heritage Corporation are to encourage and promote the preservation and restoration of railroad memorabilia as pertinent to the Oelwein area. To establish, furnish and... Read More>> |
May 26, 2022 - Chicago Great Western Railroad Museum in Elizabeth, Illinois And More: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Amboy Depot Museum is located in a former depot and division headquarters of the Illinois Central Railroad located in Amboy, Illinois. The building is an architecturally-unique... Read More>> |
May 25, 2022 - A trip to Rochelle Railroad Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Holiday Inn in Aurora and cuddled before we went downstairs for breakfast. After we returned, we did our usual Internet browsing and watched trains from the room's window until check-out time.... Read More>> |
May 24, 2022 - Metra Trip to Joliet: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I were awoken at 6:35 to a fire alarm and I quickly dressed and went downstairs, only to be told it was a false alarm. I went back upstairs and not long after, it happened again so we went downstairs and had breakfast. After that we... Read More>> |
May 21-23, 2022 - Post-NRHS Private Car Trip from Fullerton to Chicago: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our next trip would be aboard private cars on the Southwest Chief to Chicago. Carl Jensen invited us to ride to Chicago because there was open space on the cars that had come out from New York and... Read More>> |
May 20, 2022 - 2022 NRHS Travel Town and Walt Disney Carolwood Barn: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke early at the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel as we planned to drive over to Black Bear Diner for breakfast this morning. Since Elizabeth had a bus host meeting at 7:15, we arrived just after... Read More>> |
May 19, 2022 - 2022 NRHS Convention Nethercutt Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After a fantastic behind-the-scenes tour of the railway at Knott's Berry Farm and having breakfast at McDonald's, I went downstairs to wait for the bus to load. I was the first to board Bus 1 and then... Read More>> |
May 19, 2022 - 2022 NRHS Convention Knott's Berry Farm Shop Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. When I picked up my convention registration package, I was surprised to learn about three behind-the-scenes tours of Knott's Berry Farm which were being offered on Thursday morning to... Read More>> |
May 18, 2022 - An NRHS Trip to the Southern California Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Today's trip was to the Southern California Railway Museum, a place I had been many times. After I finished the story from yesterday, Elizabeth and I went to the Amber Waves Restaurant in the... Read More>> |
May 17, 2022 - A NRHS Trip to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This year's National Railway Historical Society convention was in Buena Park, California and therefore was very close to where Elizabeth and I live. I signed up for all the convention activities as... Read More>> |
Apr 9, 2022 - A Trip to RailGiants Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. RailGiants in Pomona, California, former home of Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 4014, was a museum that Elizabeth had never been to before. Since they opened to the public two months ago after being closed due to the pandemic, this was... Read More>> |
Mar 18-22, 2022 - Two Days of Winterail 2022 and the Railfan & Railroad Magazine Pizza Party and the trip home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After arriving at the Days Inn in Corvallis, we settled in to our room and Elizabeth and Robin walked to Corvallis High School while I went to Kentucky Fried Chicken to... Read More>> |
Mar 18, 2022 - Trains Magazine Charter on Albany and Eastern: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at 6:00 AM and met Robin, then went to McDonald's and had to use the drive-through as the lobby was not yet open. After breakfast, we drove to the Lebanon station and parked across the... Read More>> |
Mar 14-17, 2022 - Before Winterail in Oregon and Washington: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept in at the Days Inn in Newport and after morning preparations, we checked out and went to the Pancake Mill Restaurant. As we left town I spotted a train so we turned off the... Read More>> |
Mar 10-13, 2022 - The Driving Trip to Winterail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This year Elizabeth and I planned on driving to Winterail 2022 in Corvallis, Oregon. Since there were places to visit on the way, we decided to take our time. We would drive to Stockton the first day, then ride the... Read More>> |
Mar 5, 2022 - A Trip to Ash Hill: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. None of us had been to Ash Hill for quite a while, so arrangements were made with Bill Compton, who picked Elizabeth and I up at 6:30 PM and after loading our gear into his truck, we left Santa Ana, taking CA Highway 55 to the toll lanes on... Read More>> |
Feb 21, 2022 - BNSF Shippers Special to San Diego: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. On February 19th 2022, I posted my picture of the Super Bowl Train at Commerce, California on Trainorders.com and asked if anyone knew when it may be leaving. That evening, "sfdrrfan3", who is known as... Read More>> |
Jan 20, 2022 - Our Trip to Florida on Amtrak: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I decided that we would participate in the late January Trains Magazine photo charter featuring US Sugar 4-6-2 148, in Clewiston, Florida on its first such event after restoration. To get to Florida, we would ride... Read More>> |
Feb 24, 2022 - Special Trains through the years 1971-1999: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This and the following pages show the special train moments that I have caught through the years which I have photographed or rode the trains. Let me take you back in time to some of these special moments... Read More>> |
Feb 24, 2022 - UPDATED - Shortline Railroads Thruogh The Years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Photos and captions of Shortline Railroads through the years... Read More>> |
Feb 13, 2022 - BNSF Super Bowl Train and Amtrak: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. There were two events coming to our area of California. First was Amtrak 203 on the Southwest Chief and then on Super Bowl Sunday, the BNSF Super Bowl train with some of its executive fleet would come north from San Diego... Read More>> |
Jan 30, 2022 - Trains Magazine Photo Charter U.S. Sugar 148 Trip Day 2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western in Clewiston and after another hotel breakfast, we checked Internet then checked out. The temperatues where in the high 30s with the wind blowing just a little. We drove... Read More>> |
Jan 29, 2022 - Trains Magazine Photo Charter U.S. Sugar 148 Trip Day 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Best Western and after our morning preparations, we went downstairs and had the hotel's breakfast. After we checked the Internet, we drove down to the U.S. Sugar Railroad... Read More>> |
Jan 29, 2022 - Pre-US Sugar 148 Charter plus other trains: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately-owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach. It is the... Read More>> |
Jan 28, 2022 - Seminole Gulf Murder Mystery Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Seminole Gulf Railway is a short line freight and passenger excursion railroad headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, that operates two former CSX Transportation railroad lines in Southwest Florida. The company's Fort Myers... Read More>> |
Jan 28, 2022 - Florida Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The museum was founded in 1981 as the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum and has been operating weekend excursions out of Parrish since 1992. The museum is also active in the ghost town of Willow, where it has maintenance facilities... Read More>> |
Jan 28, 2022 - Naples Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Long-hidden on the fringe of Florida's Gulf Coast and overlooked by developers until well into the 1880s, Naples' catalyst for settlement finally arrived forty years later when two rival railroads rolled into town within ten days of each other... Read More>> |
Jan 27, 2022 - Everglades National Park Tram Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Although it varies from year to year, dry season is typically December through April and wet season lasts from May to November. Dry season is also the busy season because of the warm winters that attract the largest... Read More>> |
Jan 27, 2022 - Gold Coast Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Gold Coast Railroad Museum was founded in 1956. The museum was built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond. With over three miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal place to build a railroad museum... Read More>> |
Jan 26, 2022 - Brightline Trip - Miami to West Palm Beach: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the... Read More>> |
Jan 26, 2022 - Miami Metrorail Trips: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Metrorail is the heavy rail rapid transit system of Miami and Miami-Dade County. Metrorail is operated by Miami-Dade Transit. Opened in 1984, it is Florida's only rapid transit metro system, and is currently composed of two lines of... Read More>> |
Jan 24, 2022 - TriRail Trips: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Planning for a new commuter rail line began in 1983 and building the organization began in 1986. The current system was formed by the Florida Department of Transportation and began operation January 9, 1989, to provide temporary commuter rail... Read More>> |
Dec 9-10, 2021 - Railbikes on the Nevada Southern Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This was the second attempt at experiencing the RailExplorers railbikes in Boulder City, Nevada. We originally had planned this event in October on the way home from the Nevada Northern Railway photo charter but... Read More>> |
Nov 25, 2021 - Magic of Lights at Anaheim Stadium: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Returning home from this month's Train Travel Meetup Group, Elizabeth and I saw the Magic of Lights in the Anaheim Stadium parking lot and decided we should go to this during the Christmas season. Over the course of a... Read More>> |
Nov 13, 2021 - Another Trip To Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. It had been several months since the last visit to Cajon Pass. Bill Compton and I arranged for an outing on November 13th and early that morning, he arrived at our apartment complex and Elizabeth and I boarded his truck and we... Read More>> |
Nov 06, 2021 - San Diego Blue Line Extension Pre-Opening Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at 5:45 AM and after a great breakfast and checking the Internet, I drove us down to the Santa Ana train station and parked the car in the northeast parking lot. We walked into the... Read More>> |
Oct 31, 2021 - Hillcrest Farms' Hillcrest & Wahtoke Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the Best Western Village Inn and after eating their hotel breakfast and finishing our Internet duties, we checked out. I drove via CA Highway 41 to CA Highway 180 to Reed Avenue which took... Read More>> |
Oct 30, 2021 - Amador Central Railroad History and Geology Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We received a telephone call from Mark Denler of the Amador Central Railroad, informing us of a speeder trip on this railroad, which would cover the full line and incorporate history and geology of the... Read More>> |
Oct 23, 2021 - A One-Way Trip Aboard the Tioga Pass to San Diego: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I saw this classified advertisement on Trainorders: "Well, it appears that the schedule changes on the Surfliner routes on October 25th will probably end private car trips to San Diego. Here's a last minute opportunity to ride a real business car on the rear of a... Read More>> |
Oct 15, 2021 - A Tioga Pass Trip To Remember the Late Chris Parker 1956-2021: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My dear friend Chris Parker passed away suddenly on June 26th, 2021. With no public service planned, Elizabeth came up with the idea of chartering the private car "Tioga Pass" in memory of Chris on his birthday, October 15th. She discussed the idea with me and I heartily agreed as the "Tioga Pass" and the "Pony Express" were Chris' two favorite cars in which to ride. We e-mailed Norm Orfall, owner of the "Tioga Pass", who was also good friends with Chris, and... Read More>> |
Oct 10-11, 2021 - Trains Magazine 81st Anniversary Nevada Northern Photo Charter Day 3 and the trip home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We slept well at the Holiday Inn in Ely and after our morning preparations, we ate breakfast at the hotel. After some computer working, we headed down to the... Read More>> |
Oct 9, 2021 - Trains Magazine 81st Anniversary Nevada Northern Photo Charter Day 2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We arose at 6:30 AM and following doing our Internet morning routinues, Elizabeth drove us to McDonalds whose lobby was closed as usual, so we went though the drive- through and... Read More>> |
Oct 8, 2021 - Trains Magazine 81st Anniversary Nevada Northern Photo Charter Day 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We walked into the station and in the second room we found Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains Magazine and talked to him for a while. Elizabeth checked us in as I told Jim about our trip. She returned and... Read More>> |
Oct 8, 2021 - Pre-Nevada Northern Photo Charter Day 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This morning we woke up at the Ramada Inn in Ely and first went to the Nardi's Family Restaurant where I had French Toast and bacon. We returned to the room and both checked our Internet. After that I drove... Read More>> |
Oct 7, 2021 - Onward to Ely, Nevada: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western Mountain View Inn in Springville, Utah and after our morning preparations, we walked across the road to Denny's where we had an excellent breakfast. We returned to the inn and we finished up... Read More>> |
Oct 5-6, 2021 - Onward to Springville, Utah: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Clarion Hotel and after our morning preparations we had breakfast at the Village Inn next door. While Elizabeth did our laundry, I wrote the Leadville story. After the laundry was finished, we loaded the car and... Read More>> |
Oct 4, 2021 - Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railway Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Branding Iron Motel in Chama and after our usual morning preparations and breakfast, we checked out with me driving. We took Highway 17 to Antonito and US Highway 285 to Alamosa, stopping at... Read More>> |
Oct 3, 2021 - Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is a 3 foot narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over 10,015 foot Cumbres Pass and through Toltec Gorge, from... Read More>> |
Oct 2, 2021 - Durango and Silverton Fall Colors Galloping Goose 5 to Durango: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. If the Rio Grande Southern Railroad had ever been a profitable endeavor with the changing economy of its fledgling days, the "Galloping Goose" might never have been "hatched" to accommodate... Read More>> |
Oct 1, 2021 - Durango and Silverton Fall Colors Trip with Southern Pacific 18: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. ur two travellers awoke at the Quailty Inn in Farmington and after our usual morning preparations, we checked out and drove across the highway to the Village Inn for an excellent breakfast. I then drove us to... Read More>> |
Sep 29-30, 2021 - Two Day Trip to Durango, Colorado : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. For this trip we received an e-mail from the Durango and Silverton Railroad about a photo charter on October 1st with Southern Pacific 18 pulling a mixed train north and returning south aboard,.. Read More>> |
Sep 26, 2021 - Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway Trip : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western Plus in Gilroy and after our morning preparations we checked out then met Robin and Bill at the car. We went to Longhouse Restaurant where I had a waffle and bacon this... Read More>> |
Sep 25, 2021 - Monterey Branch Handcar Tours Plus More : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept very well in Salinas at the Quality Inn. After our morning preparations we met Bill and Robin at the car and drove to the Black Bear Diner for breakfast. After that, we filled the car with petrol and made our way to... Read More>> |
Sep 24, 2021 - River Fox Train Railbikes Excursion : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Woodland and did our usual morning preparations before meeting Robin and Bill at the car at 7:00 AM. We drove to the Black Bear Diner for breakfast then had a ten minute... Read More>> |
Sep 23, 2021 - Double T Ranch History Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My wife and I had learned about the Monterey Branch excursions using hand cars and wanted to partake in this unique event. Our summer plans did not allow for an earlier participation than the last weekend of their season. As we were... Read More>> |
Sep 08, 2021 - Updated Tribute To Amtrak 1971 To The Present: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Let's go back in time to look at Amtrak from the early days to the present. We will see what Amtrak looked like when it started and how it changed. From the days of my Kodak Instamatic Camera and my days of... Read More>> |
Sep 5-7, 2021 - The Three-Day Trip Home from Antonito: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After Elizabeth and I visited the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad gift shop for magnets, Greg drove us west over Cumbres Pass on Highway 17 to Chama where we stopped at Speedway Gas to fill the car with petrol. He drove us the... Read More>> |
Sep 5, 2021 - Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 20 Trains Magazine Photo Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This steam engine was built in 1899 by the Schenectady Locomotive Works and first operated on the Florence & Cripple Creek (F&CC) line. At that time, it was nicknamed "Portland" after a... Read More>> |
Sep 4, 2021 - An Extra Day in Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Days Inn in Cortez and went to have breakfast at Beny's Dinner where I had French Toast and bacon and Elizabeth enjoyed a waffle with strawberries. After breakfast I worked on the story before we checked out and... Read More>> |
Sep 3, 2021 - Durango and Silverton Railroad Trains Magazine Extra 493 Photo Charter along with Southern Pacific 18: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Teller Hotel in Silverton and after some morning preparations, we went down and across the street to the Lone Spur Cafe where I... Read More>> |
Sep 2, 2021 - Durango and Silverton Railroad Trains Magazine Extra 493 Photo Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at 5:15 AM and after having our breakfast, I checked the Internet while Elizabeth packed. We met Greg and Marty at the car and we checked out then Greg followed our... Read More>> |
Sep 1, 2021 - The Royal Gorge Route: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In the late 1870s, miners descended on the upper Arkansas River valley of Colorado in search of carbonate ores rich in lead and silver. The feverish mining activity in what would become the Leadville district attracted the attention of both the... Read More>> |
Aug 31, 2021 - Westward to Canon City, Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western Plus and after a breakast at the hotel and finalizing packing, we met Greg and Marty at the car. Once the boot was packed with all the luggage, we left Dodge City for points west. In Ingalls, the... Read More>> |
Aug 30, 2021 - Atchison Railroad Museum and onward to Dodge City: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After packing up the car, our group left and headed to the depot at South Gifford. South Gifford Chicago, Burlington and Quincy station. From here Greg drove us to Marceline. Santa Fe Santa Fe SD40 5008 on... Read More>> |
Aug 29, 2021 - Milwaukee to the Depot Inn and Suites: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose at the DoubleTree Hotel and went downstairs to have our last breakfast in Milwaukee. Later we checked out and met Greg and Marty in the breezeway and our car was retrieved from the valet. Elizabeth... Read More>> |
Aug 28, 2021 - NRHS 2021 Metra Commuter Special Excursion: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Metra is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on... Read More>> |
Aug 27, 2021 - NRHS 2021 The Christopher Farm & Gardens: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Special attractions that were available for the group today included the 1899 Nevada Northern platform observation car "Ely" and the ability to go through Barns 11, 13 and 14 whichh housed Milwaukee Road... Read More>> |
Aug 25, 2021 - NRHS 2021 East Troy Electric Railroad and NRHS Banquet: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The East Troy Electric Railroad is an interurban heritage railroad owned and operated by the East Troy Railroad Museum. Passenger excursions run on a 7-mile stretch of track from... Read More>> |
Aug 24, 2021 - NRHS 2021 National Railroad Museum Green Bay: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The National Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in suburban Green Bay. Founded in 1956 by community volunteers, it is one of the oldest and... Read More>> |
Aug 22, 2021 - Fox River Trolley Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Fox River Trolley Museum is a railroad museum in South Elgin, Illinois. Incorporated in 1961 as R.E.L.I.C. (Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Co.), it opened in 1966 and... Read More>> |
Aug 22, 2021 - Rochelle Railroad Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Rochelle Railroad Park is the first park in the nation built just for visitors to see operating trains! The story of railroads in Rochelle begins in 1854 when the Air Line Railroad was... Read More>> |
Aug 21, 2021 - Mid-Continent Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The rail line used by the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is a spur off of the original Chicago and North Western Railway mainline. With the development of the Illinois Iron mine in early 1903... Read More>> |
Aug 20, 2021 - Fenelon Place Elevator Company Funicular Railway Dubuque, Iowa: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After we finished up at the Field of Dreams, we then drove into Dubuque and made our way to the top of the Fenelon Place Elevator Company so we could ride the Funicular Railway here... Read More>> |
Aug 20, 2021 - Sioux City Railroad Museum Plus A Few Depots: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We left the Ramada in Sioux Falls at 8:45 AM and drove south into Nebraska and just before we crossed into Iowa, Greg stopped for petrol. After that we crossed the Missouri River into Iowa. We drove straight to... Read More>> |
Aug 19, 2021 - Black Hills Central Railroad 9:00 AM Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Black Hills Central Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates the 1880 Train on the former Keystone Branch of the Burlington Northern Railroad between Hill City, and Keystone, South Dakota. This... Read More>> |
Aug 18, 2021 - Powder River Basin, Rawlins to Newcastle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke in Rawlins and we had a hot breakfast for $10 each which was filling. Greg and Marty joined us at the car and soon we were off to Casper with Greg driving... Read More>> |
Aug 16, 2021 - The Trip to Evanston and the Evanston Roundhouse: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up and had an excellent breakfast at the Quality Inn in Price. At 8:15 we left with Greg driving and headed west across Soldier Summit with no trains to be seen. We went through... Read More>> |
Aug 14-15, 2021 - The Two-Day Trip to Price, Utah: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This is the three-and-a-half week trip to the National Railway Historical Society 2021 convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We took fellow NRHS members, and friends, Greg and Marty Smith, with us and would have... Read More>> |
Jul 31, 2021 - Poway-Midland Railroad and Tom's Farm Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The centerpiece of the collection was built in 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company of Cowell, California. The locomotive... Read More>> |
Jul 19, 2021 - Los Angeles County Pacific Electric Bellflower Trail and Whittier Greenway Trail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Bellflower Bike Trail runs for more than 2 miles on the right-of-way of the old Pacific Electric transit system-also known as the Red Cars-across Bellflower. At its zenith in the... Read More>> |
Jul 19, 2021 - UPDATED Shortline Railroads through the years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Includes The Holly Sugar SW-1 1 at the plant at Dyer at Santa Ana, CA in 1976, National Metals on Terminal Island, CA GE 70 Toner in 1972, Longview, Portland and Northern S-2 112 at Reedsport, Oregon in... Read More>> |
Jul 8-9, 2021 - The Two Day Trip Home from Cortez, Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Days Inn in Cortez and after our morning duties we checked out. We went to MacDonald's and were finally able to eat inside instead of the car as we did all of last and this year. I drove us... Read More>> |
Jul 7, 2021 - Ridgway Railway Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After a good and filling Subway lunch, I drove us north up US 550 north towards Silverton. About thirty miles from Silverton a highway sign said "US 550 closed ahead". We drove north to where the cars were stopped and... Read More>> |
Jul 7, 2021 - Durango and Silverton 10:30 Roundhouse Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept in and then prepared for the day and packed up and left the key on the counter and walked out to the car and loaded it. Since there were no restaurants open in Chama, we did the same thing as we did... Read More>> |
Jul 10, 2021 - Engines that have pulled my Excursion Trains through the years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In this story we will look at all the train engines that have pulled my excursion trains through the years. My first excursion was pulled by the Union Pacific Challenger on its first excursion trip from... Read More>> |
Jul 6, 2021 - Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Chama to Osier: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up in Chama, did our usual Internet things before going in search of breakfast. However, Chama is a very small community and as restaurants were open for the Fourth of July weekend, they... Read More>> |
Jul 5, 2021 - First Anniversary Trip Aboard Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway 10:40 AM Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. While we stayed in Castle Rock as it was Independence Day in the United States, we took a walk before driving to the Castle Rock Service Center, parked and watched the... Read More>> |
Jul 4, 2021 - Fort Collins Municipal Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two travellers awoke at the Clarion Inn and went next door to the Waffle House for breakfast. We did our usual things on the Internet before checking out and I drove us to the Union Pacific station in Fort Collins... Read More>> |
Jul 3, 2021 - Forney Museum and Colorado Model Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Forney Museum of Transportation began as the private collection of Mr. J. D. Forney of Fort Collins, Colorado. From an early age Mr. Forney had an interest in cars, airplanes, and all modes of... Read More>> |
Jul 3, 2021 - The Tiny Town Railroad and Village: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at 7:00 AM and prepared for our day. After sampling the hotel's breakfast which was very poor due to no cereal, toast, waffles or hot items even though the equipment was in plain sight, we packed up and... Read More>> |
Jul 2, 2021 - Colorado and the Georgetown Loop Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up and after our morning rituals, we went to the Village Inn where I had a waffle and bacon and Elizabeth had French Toast with bananas and strawberries. We stopped by Walmart for batteries and film for... Read More>> |
Jul 1, 2021 - The Trip to Colorado and a Visit to Bryce Canyon National Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After a rough night due to a hot room and a four-hour power outage, neither of us slept very well. However, we arose at the Days Inn in Panguitch, did our morning routines before we ate a good... Read More>> |
Jun 30, 2021 - Day One of our Colorado Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip we decided to take because of our first anniversary. The day, July 5th, we planned to ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway with its new equipment and track. Putting this trip together was easy and I wanted Elizabeth to... Read More>> |
Jun 19, 2021 - A Final Trip Aboard The Fillmore & Western Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. It was announced that the Fillmore & Western Railway would be ceasing operations as of June 26, 2021 due to the owners' retirement and Ventura County deciding not to renew their lease. Even though... Read More>> |
May 26-27, 2021 - The Two Day Trip Home from Cortez, Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I started the day at the Days Inn in Cortez. After packing and checking out, we had breakfast at Beny's Diner. We left Cortez down US Highway 491 and headed south. Chimney Rock was off to the... Read More>> |
May 25, 2021 - Durango and Silverton Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our two intrepid travellers awoke at the Quality Inn in Farmington, New Mexico. After we checked out, we had an excellent breakfast at Village Inn. I drove Elizabeth and I up toward Durango. We drove the rest of the... Read More>> |
May 24, 2021 - A Second Day in New Mexico: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two travellers awoke at the Plaza Hotel and after doing our morning perperartions. I drove us to the Hillcrest Restaurant where I had a waffle with bacon and Elizabeth had French Toast. It was excellent at a good price. We returned to... Read More>> |
May 23, 2021 - Our First Day in New Mexico: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two travellers awoke at the Days Inn in Trinidad to a partly cloudy morning for a change. There was plenty of wind, though, which would play into the day. After checking out, we drove over to Tony's Diner and I had a.. Read More>> |
May 22, 2021 - A Day in Colorado Featuring Royal Gorge Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My wife and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Canon City and after our morning preparations, we checked out and drove the short distance to the Waffle Wagon Restaurant where I had a waffle and sausage patties and... Read More>> |
May 21, 2021 - A day in Nebraska and Colorado: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Alliance Hotel and Suites and after our morning preparations, we checked out and went to MacDonald's where we ate in the car. I then filled the car with petrol then drove us down to Bayard where we ... Read More>> |
May 20, 2021 - A Day in Nebraska Featuring The Rock Island Depot Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We awoke at the Best Western Crossroads of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs and after checking out, we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I then took Elizabeth to Kenefick Park in Omaha for her visit and... Read More>> |
May 19, 2021 - The Drive Across Iowa: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Best Western Steeplegate Inn and after we did our morning preparations, checked out and drove over to the Machine Shed Restaurant where I had French Toast and sausage patties and Elizabeth had... Read More>> |
May 18, 2021 - The Celebration Belle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our day started with us staying in due to the heavy rain that was pounding the Davenport area. We went to breakfast at the Machine Shed Restaurant where I had a waffle and sausage patties and Elizabeth had cinnamon French Toast. We returned to... Read More>> |
May 17, 2021 - A Day in Illinois: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I awoke at the Quality Suites in Paducah and after checking out, we ate breakfast at Bob Evans. We stopped for petrol before leaving Paducah heading to Mound City, Illinois... Read More>> |
May 16, 2021 - On the Road to Paducah, Kentucky: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Days Inn in Fort Wright and after our morning preparations, we checked out and went to Bob Evans for breakfast. I then drove us to Erlanger and the Historic Erlanger Depot Museum. This is a railfan and... Read More>> |
May 15, 2021 - Ohio Rail Exprience Cincinnati, Ohio to Greensburg, Indiana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This morning we slept in before we met Dave Smetko and Randy Jackson at Bob Evans where I had my usual of French Toast and sausage and Elizabeth enjoyed French Toast and strawberries. I drove... Read More>> |
May 14, 2021 - Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose later than we planned and checked out then went to Bob Evans for breakfast and they did a great job of giving us quick service. I then drove us over to Sugarcreek to the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum... Read More>> |
May 13, 2021 - Day 2 in Ohio Featuring Marion: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept in this morning and after we checked out, went to Bob Evans for breakfast. We stopped at Walmart as Elizabeth needed more film. We then drove to Marion Union Station where we parked our rental car and I showed... Read More>> |
May 12, 2021 - A Complete Day in Ohio Featuring the Mad River and NKP Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose early this morning in Fort Wayne and checked out then started the drive to Bellevue, Ohio. We stopped at Bob Evans in Defiance, Ohio and enjoyed a good breakfast. From here... Read More>> |
May 11, 2021 - A Second Day in Indiana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We awoke at Terre Haute, Indiana at the Drury Inn, a new hotel chain for us and we would easily stay here again. The two of us went to Bob Evans for breakfast before we drove east to Cloverdale. Here would be our first station of the day... Read More>> |
May 10, 2021 - A Day in Indiana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Another day, another mornining and more adventures to come. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Evansville, Indiana and after we checked out, we went to Bob Evans for an excellent breakfast. After that, we drove to... Read More>> |
May 9, 2021 - The Trip East Illinois into Indiana: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept in this morning at the Quality Inn in Charleston, Missouri. We checked out and drove down to try and find the station here on this cool, wet morning... Read More>> |
May 8, 2021 - Another Day in Arkansas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up in Alma, Arkansas and after our morning rituals, we checked out and had MacDonalds, which we ate in the car as there was nothing else around. I drove us east to our first station of the morning... Read More>> |
May 7, 2021 - The Trip East towards Ohio and Oklahoma plus more!: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We awoke at the Days Inn in Amarillo and after checking out, had a good breakfast at IHOP. From here we drove to our first destination of the morning in Shamrock, Texas... Read More>> |
May 5-6, 2021 - California to Texas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. An e-mail was received from David Smetko about a series of trips in April and May put on by Ohio Rail Experience. Elizabeth and I decided to do the one with the greatest mileage which would be a trip on the Big Four Railroad between... Read More>> |
Apr 30, 2021 - My 1,700,000.0 Rail Mile: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Today was my 9600 Day of Sobriety, a fact that is very important to me. In addition, I woke up with 1,699,912.2 rail miles. Today my lovely wife would pass her 75,000.0 rail mile. So today we would share a ride to Oceanside and... Read More>> |
Apr 22, 2021 - The Trip Home from St Louis: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We started the line to board the train and fifteen minutes before departure, we boarded a Horizon coach and I started working on the Arkansas Railroad Museum story as Elizabeth would enjoy the scenery along her new route to... Read More>> |
Apr22, 2021 - Back to St. Louis and a visit to the National Museum of Transportation: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Cape Girardeau. After checking the Internet and checking out we drove Interstate 55 to Perryville for our final MacDonald's breakfast which we... Read More>> |
Apr 21, 2021 - Arkanas Railroad Museum plus more from this state: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Best Western and after we checked the Internet, we went down the elevator and I had a waffle and sausage while my lovely wife had cereal. We both enjoyed the orange juice. We then... Read More>> |
Apr 20, 2021 - Memphis and then into Arkansas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at Holly Springs and after checking the Internet we drove north towards Collierville. On the road to Collierville. I drove us to the Perkins Restaurant and had a very good breakfast. Afer that we drove to the... Read More>> |
Apr 19, 2021 - A Day in Mississippi: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Hattiesburg then went to McDonald's and ate in the car again. This is because they don't want to spend the money to clean their dining area. We headed next to Laurel, our first stop of the morning... Read More>> |
Apr 19, 2021 - A Day in Mississippi: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn in Hattiesburg then went to McDonald's and ate in the car again. This is because they don't want to spend the money to clean their dining area. We headed next to Laurel, our first stop of the morning... Read More>> |
Apr 18, 2021 - Florida, Alabama and into Mississippi featuring the Wales West Light Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Quality Inn and after checking the Internet, we checked out and got McDonalds but ate in the car. We tried to find the station but had no luck so we drove north to... Read More>> |
Apr 17, 2021 - CaterParrott Railnet's Azalea Sprinter Trips Nashville to Valdosta: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After a Subway lunch, it was time for some pictures. The train getting ready to leave. CaterParrott caboose 638, originally Southern X638. CaterParrott SW1500 3000. It was time to board the train for the... Read More>> |
Apr 17, 2021 - CaterParrott Railnet's Azalea Sprinter Trip Nashville to Willacoochee: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Days Inn in Tifton and after checking out we drove to the Cracker Barrel for breakfast. After a good meal, we drove to the station and parked. Atlantic Coast... Read More>> |
Apr 16, 2021 - After the Calera Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After the fantastic visit to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, I drove us down to Clanton, to the next station of this trip. The Louisville and Nashville Clanton station built in 1870. From here we drove to Prattville... Read More>> |
Apr 16, 2021 - Heart of Dixie Ralroad Museum Calera & Shelby Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I got up and went to Cracker Barrel restaurant where I had French Toast and bacon while Elizabeth enjoyed sausage, eggs, harsh browns and toast with orange juice. We finished the... Read More>> |
Apr 15, 2021 - Our Visit to Alabama: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I slept in and then checked the internet as we do every morning before we checked out of the Doubletree Hotel in Decatur. We drove over to the Decatur train station just as a Norfolk Southern stack train was passing through... Read More>> |
Apr 14, 2021 - On To Alabama: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The two intrepid travellers left Enterprise in St. Louis, Missouri in our Nissan Altima and headed to Interstate 70 across the Mississippi River and then Interstate 64. We drove about 48 miles and exited onto Illinois 127. This took us to... Read More>> |
Apr 11-14, 2021 - The Trip to St Louis: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The purpose of this trip is to ride the Cater Parrot Shortline's Azalea Sprinter on its two trips in one day out of Nashville, Georgia. We take the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle to St. Louis, rent a car, then drive there taking pictures of... Read More>> |
Apr 11, 2021 - The Final Runs of Ventura County Railway 2-6-2 2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our friend, Marty Smith, called me Saturday morning with news that the Ventura County steam engine at Southern California Railway Museum (formerly Orange Empire Railway Museum) in Perris, California, was... Read More>> |
Apr 4-5, 2021 - The Two Day Trip Home from Sacramento: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After our lunch in Galt, I drove Elizabeth and I down to Keyes where we finally had an opportunity to shoot the plant switcher at A.L. Gilbert Grain Facility. When we arrived, we soon discovered there were... Read More>> |
Apr 4, 2021 - Sacramento Southern Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I arose rested at the Best Western Inn in Roseville. After checking out, we drove to the Black Bear Diner for breakfast but found they were not open until 8:00. We then decided to go and take pictures then have breakfast... Read More>> |
Apr 3, 2021 - The Rest of the Day after Railtown 1897: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After the Railtown 1897 trip, Elizabeth and I headed back west down CA Highway 108 to a place which saw on the way up but could not safely stop. We pulled in and were quite amazed at what we found... Read More>> |
Apr 3, 2021 - Railtown 1897 State Historic Park: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Holiday Inn Express in Oakdale and after checking the Internet and other things, we checked out and drove over to what we saw at a grade crossing on the way to dinner last night, but this time we had our cameras... Read More>> |
Apr 2, 2021 - Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We got up and checked out and after filling the car with petrol, we drove to the Train Depot Restaurant where I had French Toast and crispy bacon while my loving wife Elizabeth had egg, sausage, hash browns and... Read More>> |
Apr 1, 2021 - The Trip to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I were talking about excursion trains she had not ridden so with a free weekend and some extra time, we decided to ride the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, Railtown 1897 and the... Read More>> |
Mar 20, 2021 - A Trip to Cajon Pass with Bill and Elizabeth: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Bill picked Elizabeth and I up at 7:00 AM and we took CA 55 to CA 91 to Interstate 215 to Cajon Blvd, then hit light rain showers so we pulled under the Interstate 210 bridge as a train was coming toward us... Read More>> |
Mar 14-15, 2021 - The Trip Home From Roaring Camp Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Before we left Felton, we drove out of the front gate and turned left and stopped opposite the Felton station but there was something else here of great interest... Read More>> |
Mar 14, 2021 - Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We awoke and after preparing ourselves, drove to the Black Bear Diner for breakfast where I had French Toast and Elizabeth had blackberry French Toast. We then drove to Campbell where we gassed up the car before... Read More>> |
Mar 13, 2021 - Brightside Yard Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We found Glenn Fountain who led us over to the Brightside Yard. I became a member of Niles Canyon Railway in December 2020 and in the welcome letter was an offer for a yard tour when we were next in the area. This is something that is... Read More>> |
Mar 13, 2021 - Niles Canyon Railway Robert Dollar 2-6-2T 3 Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Best Western Plus and once ready, we went to MacDonald's for breakfast where I had hot cakes and sausage and brought it back to the room. After that, we checked the Internet as we... Read More>> |
Mar 11-12, 2021 - North to Niles: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Niles Canyon Railway offered their first trip of the year with a journey behind Robert Dollar 2-6-2T 3. Neither Elizabeth nor I had ever ridden behind it before but we did take photographs of it during a post-Winterail photographers special... Read More>> |
Feb 28, 2021 - Nevada Northern Winter Steam Spectacular: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our alarm went off at 6:00 AM but we stayed in bed until 6:15 AM when I turned on the computer and checked things. We had to scrape the ice off the windshield before we could drive to McDonald's on a very cold morning here in Ely and... Read More>> |
Feb 27, 2021 - Nevada Northern Railway Winter Photo Spectacular: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The alarm went off at 6:00 and we got ourselves ready. Upon our arrival at the Nevada Northern Railway, it was quiet and we found some of our fellow participants in the waiting room area of the... Read More>> |
Feb 26, 2021 - Nevada Northern Railway Winter Photo Spectacular: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The participants in this year's Winter Photo Shoot assembled at the Depot at 1:00. Mark Bassett, the President of the Nevada Northern, introduced himself and the crew and discussed safety, the... Read More>> |
Feb 26, 2021 - White Pine Public Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Our next stop in Ely was a place I had wanted to visit but they were closed on of my previous visits to this town. Today was my lucky day. White Pine Public Museum Information. Organized by the Ely Business and... Read More>> |
Feb 25-26, 2021 - Our Trip to Ely, Nevada: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Both Elizabeth and I had often seen the fantastic photographs from the Nevada Northern's annual Winter Photo Spectacular but neither of us had participated in this particular event before. I had been on a $50 photo session done around... Read More>> |
Feb 24, 2021 - Former Railroad Tracks turned into Bike and Hiking Trails in Orange County: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I found that the Venta Spur Trail was opened, Elizabeth and I invited Marty and Greg Smith to walk the trail where I once rode a train. I told them about my experience as we... Read More>> |
Feb 20, 2021 - Fillmore Western Railway : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth has been waiting to ride a local tourist train since she moved to southern California last spring. With COVID-19 happening, this was impossible. Finally, two weeks ago, we discovered that the Fillmore Western Railway was... Read More>> |
Feb 8, 2021 - San Diego Coaster Motive Power Over the Years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The North San Diego County Transit Development Board was created in 1975 to consolidate and improve transit in northern San Diego County. Planning began for a San Diego-Oceanside commuter rail line, then called... Read More>> |
Feb 3-4, 2021 - Two day driving trip home : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We checked out of the Best Western in Cottonwood and stopped by Walmart so Elizabeth could get film before we drove through Jerome then down to Prescott Valley where ate breakfast at a McDonald's outside in the warm... Read More>> |
Feb 2, 2021 - Verde Canyon Railroad : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We got up in Cottonwood then walked over to the Black Bear Diner on Elizabeth's birthday where she had Cinnamon French Toast and a hot chocolate and I had Classic French Toast. We checked things on the Internet before we drove to... Read More>> |
Feb 1, 2021 - Valley Metro Light Rail : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I got up at 6:45 AM, dressed and went to Denny's for breakfast down the hill from our hotel. We checked out, drove to Miami and checked for Arizona Eastern motive power at their yard. We looked up at the hill across and... Read More>> |
Jan 31, 2021 - McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up in Chandler and walked over to the McDonald's next door to get breakfast which we took back to the room to eat. We packed up, returned the key then drove north to Mesa to Pioneer Park... Read More>> |
Jan 30, 2021 - Arizona Railway Museum : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We left the Copper Stay Inn and headed to Mescal where the old coaling tower no longer exists. We then drove to the bridge at Vail so I could show Elizabeth this famous railroad photography location... Read More>> |
Jan 29, 2021 - Tucson Streetcar plus Depots and more : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I got up and went to a McDonald's that was open to have a sit-down breakfast. We then drove to the Convento and Congress station of Sun Link and parked. A few minutes later, we saw our first Tucson Streetcar that... Read More>> |
Jan 28, 2021 - A Trip into Arizona : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I decided to celebrate her birthday on the Verde Canyon Railroad on February 2nd. We decided to make it a week-long trip, photographing depots and steam engines throughout much of Arizona. So we got up, had breakfast and... Read More>> |
Dec 14, 2020 - A Railroad Christmas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I would like to share our Christmas Tree with all readers of my web site. May you all have a blessed Christmas Season in this dark year of 2020. Our Christmas Tree 2020 version. Around the train is the Polar Express G scale train... Read More>> |
Dec 7, 2020 - The Trip Home From Niles Canyon: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Robin and Chris met us at 7:30 AM at our car and I drove us all to the Pleasanton station. Southern Pacific Pleasanton station. From here we drove over Altamont Pass as this was Robin's first trip to the pass... Read More>> |
Dec 6, 2020 - Ride the Number 7 for the 1744: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We got up early and made the template for the story after I checked things on the Internet. At 7:30 we took Chris Parker and Robin Bowers to McDonald's to pick up breakfast and bring it back to the room per their... Read More>> |
Dec 5, 2020 - To Niles Canyon: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Niles Canyon Railway sent out an e-mail announcing a photo freight charter with the Skookum with proceeds going to restore Southern Pacific 2-6-0 1744. Elizabeth and I both jumped at this opportunity and invited Robin Bowers and... Read More>> |
Nov 16, 2020 - The Trip Home from the Soo Line 1003 Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. While we waited at the Amtrak station in Milwaukee, we got on the Greyound internet and checked things. Elizabeth and our luggage at the Milwaukee Amtrak station. The security guard checked everyone's tickets to... Read More>> |
Nov 16, 2020 - The Trip Home from the Soo Line 1003 Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. While we waited at the Amtrak station in Milwaukee, we got on the Greyound internet and checked things. Elizabeth and our luggage at the Milwaukee Amtrak station. The security guard checked everyone's tickets to... Read More>> |
Nov 16, 2020 - The Hop The Milwaukee Streetcar: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After returning the rental car we took the shuttle back to the Amtrak station at the Milwaukee Airport. Amtrak 331 came into the Milwaukee Airport. We boarded this train and rode to the Downtown Milwaukee Amtrak station where we... Read More>> |
Nov 15, 2020 - Trains Magazine 80th Anniversary Soo Line Freight Charter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Yesterday evening we checked in with Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains Magazine, and received our driving directions, lanyards, 80th anniversary pin and special "80" cookies that his wife, Cate Katville-Wrinn, had... Read More>> |
Nov 13-14, 2020 - Two Days of Train Stations in Wisconsin plus other things: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After we left the National Railroad Museum, we drove straight into downtown Green Bay and we found two things to photograph. Former Seaboard Air Line 6 bedroom lounge car 15 "Red Mountain", which... Read More>> |
Nov 13, 2020 - National Railroad Museum, Green Bay Wisconsin: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth was excited as we crossed the Fox River as she had never been to this museum before and I had not been there since 2003. The sign you see from the freeway. We pulled in and parked before taking... Read More>> |
Nov 10-13, 2020 - The Trip East to Milwaukee Airport Plus More: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The day had finally arrived for this trip, one which I had been anticipating for weeks. On this trip, Elizabeth and I are taking the Southwest Chief to Chicago, Hiawatha Service to Milwaukee Airport, renting a car and on Sunday, participating in the Trains Magazine's... Read More>> |
Oct 24, 2020 - A Trip to Campo and Other Surprises Along The Way : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. At 8:15 AM, Elizabeth and I drove over to the Smith's house and picked up Greg and Marty Smith. With Elizabeth driving we headed south down Interstate 5 to Loomis Santa Fe Avenue and... Read More>> |
Oct 11-12, 2020 - Coast Starlight to home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the County Inn and suites in The Dalles after a restful night of sleep and after packing up and checking things on the Internet, we checked out. After McDonald's hot cakes and sausage while... Read More>> |
Oct 10, 2020 - Oregon Pacific Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We slept in and went to the Cousins Restaurant for a late breakfast where I had French Toast and bacon and Elizabeth had Cinnamon French Toast. I drove Interstate 84 to our first stop at Hood River. The Hood River Union... Read More>> |
Oct 9, 2020 - A Private Sumpter Valley Railway Photo Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The train returned us to McEwen. I then took another picture of Sumpter Valley 19. We walked to the south of the McEwen water tower. The engine backed by us. The engine then came out to switch. The steam engine then... Read More>> |
Oct 9, 2020 - Sumpter Valley Railway Fall Foliage Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Mill Inn and Suites and after checking out we headed to our first official stop of the day. The Oregon Trunk Bend station. From here we stopped at McDonald's where I had hot cakes and sausage but... Read More>> |
Oct 6-8, 2020 - Empire Builder Chicago to Portland: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I decided to sleep in and rest. I had had enough train riding so my decision was a good one. Once we got up we spent time on line before we checked out of the Holiday Inn & Suites. We walked back to... Read More>> |
Oct 5, 2020 - Denver to Chicago and Roosevelt Road: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I waited at Denver Union Station until 8:00 PM before we joined the line on the platform. They took all of the coach passengers first then scanned the sleeping car passengers' tickets. Our consist was... Read More>> |
Oct 4, 2020 - Alliance to Denver plus I finish up Denver Light Rail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I packed up the rental car and checked out of the Alliance Hotel and Suites having had a restful stay last night. We repeated MacDonalds then... Read More>> |
Oct 3, 2020 - Black Hills Central Railroad Steam Double Header: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Alliance Hotel and Suites and after we did our usual stuff in the morning, we left the hotel leaving our bags inside since we were coming back that night. We then went to McDonald's and Elizabeth went... Read More>> |
Oct 2, 2020 - McCook to Grand Island to Alliance: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Cedar Inn in McCook and after we checked our morning things, the first place we went after loading the rental car, was the McCook Amtrak station for pictures. We stopped at McDonald's for breakfast before... Read More>> |
Oct 1, 2020 - Denver to McCook, Nebraska: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Crawford Hotel at 6:30 AM and after we checked our Internet, we went down to the Snooze Eatery where I had French Toast and bacon while Elizabeth had sausages, eggs, hashbrowns and toast. After we paid, we... Read More>> |
Sep 29, 2020 - Onward to Denver: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I woke up at the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville and after packing up we walked to Denny's for a good French Toast breakfast under the tent behind the building. After that we walked back over to the Emeryville Amtrak station to... Read More>> |
Sep 29, 2020 - Off to Emeryville : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up in our apartment in Santa Ana and after breakfast, we prepared and finished packing for our trip to Emeryville. We then drove to the Santa Ana train station, parked in the northeast parking lot and walked over a bench on Track 2 with... Read More>> |
Sep 13, 2020 - The Trip Home from the Skookum Trip : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Days Inn in Merced and checked out then went across the road, gassed up the car and went to McDonald's for breakfast which we took down to the Amtrak station. We then discovered they did not... Read More>> |
Sep 12, 2020 - Sometimes Dreams Do Come True - A Ride Behind The Skookum : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Every once in a while in life, a dream can come true. The Skookum returned from the dead and before Winterail in 2019, there was a charter trip and we just happened to be... Read More>> |
Sep 12, 2020 - BART Antioch to Berryessa: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We started the morning by sleeping in late which was a mistake for what we wanted to do. On a time schedule, we would have to decide what we wanted to do today. So after morning preparations, a breakfast eating it in the car at... Read More>> |
Sep 11, 2020 - Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit SMART: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up on the Delta King after a good night's sleep and I decided to go and take some pictures on the deck so I did. The combined railroad and highway bridge across the Sacramento River to the north. The I Street lift... Read More>> |
Sep 10, 2020 - Through the Smoke As We Head to Sacramento: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I decided to ride the Skookum steam engine on the Niles Canyon Railway. By coming up here, it gave us an opportunity for Elizabeth to ride the Sacramento light rail, both of us the... Read More>> |
Sep 6, 2020 - Tioga Pass Trip from San Diego: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth saw Norm Orfall's posting on Trainorders that Tioga Pass was going to be making a round trip to San Diego on September 5 and 6. She contacted him and made arrangements for us to ride the northbound trip. We rode... Read More>> |
September 1, 2020 - Could I Still Ride Trains? Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. How could I still ride trains in the Covid-19 Era? I boarded the trains and found them empty. I thought this would be the safest place for me during the pandemic. But I would have to take precautions. First, I had to find a... Read More>> |
August 14, 2020 - Santa Fe Stations near the Sprinter: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Elizabeth and I had wanted to take pictures of the Vista and Escondido stations for a few months. Marty Smith and I went to Orange to ride trains the day before and saw some interesting things... Read More>> |
August 13, 2020 - My Concert Programs through the years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. These are the Concert Programs from the shows I've seen. Not all concerts had programs. I have sometimes taken the train to the shows... Read More>> |
July 28, 2020 - Train Enthusiasts Chris & Elizabeth Guenzler's Wedding On A Train & Honeymoon Railfanning Trip. 20 Rail Travel Reports With Photos by Chris Guenzler related to their July 5th, 2020, wedding on a Metrolink train and then their honeymoon and railfanning trip together... Read More>> |
Jul 18, 2020 - Our Honeymoon The Two Day Trip to Home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Ramada Inn in East Ely and wrote both stories of yesterday's two trips. We left the key in the room, loaded the car and left for the McDonald's down the road. After we ate in the car, we took... Read More>> |
July 17, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Nevada Northern Robinson Canyon Steam Trip plus more: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After we finished we packed up and checked out of the Riverside Motel then drove across Soldier Summit on Highway 6 with no trains at all. We stopped at Spanish Fork for... Read More>> |
July 17, 2020 - Honeymoon Trip Nevada Northern Star Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I went down to the Nevada Northern depot and the ticket window and asked if they had room for me on the Star Train tonight. They said yes and they even gave me the 10% off the ticket price since I was... Read More>> |
July 16, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Heber City via Evanston to Helper: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We left Heber City and headed to Evanston. Near Wasatch, Utah, we saw a train heading our way east and we pulled off at the exit and had to run over to the cut as this track was below ground at this location... Read More>> |
July 16, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Heber Valley Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Holiday Inn Express in Heber City. I showered and then packed up and we left and headed to McDonald's to go through the drive through then drove down to the old stations and parked across the... Read More>> |
July 15, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Laramie to Heber City: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We awoke at the Days Inn in Laramie and after taking breakfast back to the room, we packed up and checked out. We drove downtown to the Laramie Union Pacific station and LaBonte Park. The Laramie Union Pacific station... Read More>> |
July 14, 2020 - Our Honeymoon North Platte plus more: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Alliance Hotel and Suites and then went to McDonald's for breakfast. We decided to drive Highway 2 east of Mullen, something I had wanted to do for a long time and a chance to see BNSF coal trains in a... Read More>> |
July 13, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Newcastle to Alliance Black Hills Central Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Pines Country Inn and after preparing for our day, we left Newcastle, Wyoming and headed for Custer, South Dakota. Elizabeth making her first trip to South Dakota. After that... Read More>> |
July 12, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Powder River Basin: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up at the Super 8 in Douglas and after packing, went to McDonald's and used the drive-through, picked up breakfast and drove to the Douglas Railroad Museum and ate it in their parking lot. From here, we headed out on... Read More>> |
July 11, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Denver to Douglas: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up in our most comfortable bed and I converted the pictures and Elizabeth labelled them then wrote the story of the Georgetown Loop. After that, we checked e-mail and a few other things before... Read More>> |
July 10, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Georgetown Loop Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. From here, we drove to Silver Plume. We parked and first down toward the engine house. Georgetown Loop 2-8-0 111 inside the engine house. We heard a whistle and we both had big smiles on our... Read More>> |
July 10, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Colorado Rail Experiences: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. After waking up we loaded the car and checked out of the Best Western Rambler Inn. Neither of us wanted the modified breakfast which was breakfast sandwiches and granola bars. Since Elizabeth had never... Read More>> |
July 9, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up in Alamosa at the Best Western Alamosa Inn. We went first to McDonald's and brought breakfast back to the room. After we packed we drove down to Antonito and parked the car. The first picture was... Read More>> |
July 8, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Dolores to Alamosa: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We woke up and went to the Ponderosa Restaurant for breakfast where I enjoyed pancakes, bacon and orange juice. We packed up the car and drove Colorado 145 over Lizard Head Pass as we made our way to Placerville where we... Read More>> |
July 7, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Winslow to Dolores: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I got up at 5:25 AM and managed to get to the BNSF mainline just as the Southwest Chief was leaving on time this morning. I returned to the room and went back to bed. At 7:10 AM, we went to the Turquoise Room and... Read More>> |
July 6, 2020 - Our Honeymoon Santa Ana to Winslow: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. [7/5/20] We left the reception and went home to our apartment where we finished packing then wrote the wedding story. We then drove to the La Quinta Inn in Irvine for our first night as a married couple. [7/6/20] We got... Read More>> |
July 5, 2020 - Chris Guenzler's Wedding: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My best man Bill Compton picked me up at the apartment and we drove down to Santa Ana where inside the station we found Greg sitting on the bench. His brother Marty was in the bathroom at this point so I went out to the Metrolink ticket machine and... Read More>> |
July 3, 2020 - My Bachelor Party: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Since I am getting married on a train, I decided to have my bachelor party on the train as well. We made plans and then last week, had to change them due to Metrolink operating a holiday schedule on the day we had chosen. So we sent out a... Read More>> |
June 5, 2020 - Cajon Pass with Elizabeth and Bill: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Since Elizabeth caught only one train at Blu Cut on her visit to Cajon Pass on the trip down from Washington, we decided to take her back and take her to some of our favorite spots. We met Bill out in front of our apartment and then... Read More>> |
April 18, 2020 - The Trip to bring Elizabeth to my home: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip was one I had to make no matter what was going on in the world at the time. My life was about to start a new chapter, as was Elizabeth's. She had had a major change in her personal life and was now... Read More>> |
Apr 4, 2020 - A Trip to Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Bill Compton and I had decided to chase the Coast Starlight Detour until I learned it was cancelled. So I called Bill and we decided to go to Cajon Pass instead that same Saturday. Bill picked me up in front of my apartment and we headed out... Read More>> |
Mar 7, 2020 - BNSF Needles Sub Trip to Ash Hill: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Bill and I decided to head out to the Needles Sub over the weekend. He met me at my new apartment and we headed out to Barstow then Dagget. Following National Trail Highway it did not take long to find a train... Read More>> |
March 20, 2020 - Coast Starlight with Covered Bridges of Oregon: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The trip was to Winterail but when they postponed it due to the threat of Coronavirus, I had roundtrip tickets in a sleeper to Portland. I decided to still use my tickets and Elizabeth decided with me to make this a... Read More>> |
Feb 19, 2020 - La Plata Railfan Guide UPDATE: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Depot Inn and Suites in La Plata is an excellent place to stay when Railfanning. This guide will show you pictures and directions to locations I have photographed at over the years. The hotel can be your base of operation and... Read More>> |
Chris Guenzler End of the Year Review 2019. The year started off with local railroad photography. Next I had my 24rd year of sobriety on January 18, 2019. Bill Compton and I made our first trip out to the BNSF Needles sub. I joined NRHS members John Goodman and Skip Waters on the NRHS Discovery Visit for the... Read More>> |
Dec 14, 2019 - A Trip to Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Bill Compton picked me up and we drove straight through the morning fog out to Frost via the Summit Valley and clear but cold windy skies and parked on the hill overrlooking the Frost Flyover. Includes photos of several BNSF trains... Read More>> |
Dec 1, 2019 - Metrolink Holiday Express Train Laguna Niguel to Oceanside: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I saw a post on Trainorders.com about this Metrolink Holiday Express Train and I decided to ride it. I went to the Metrolink's website and ordered my single ticket getting Seat 10 in Car Six. I woke... Read More>> |
Oct 15, 2019 - Union Pacific Big Boy 414 Chase #2: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. West Colton to West Plam Springs. Bill Compton and I wanted to go to West Colton. Robin Bowers wanted to join us as did Chris Parker so we all met at my house at 5:55 AM and being a Tuesday I had... Read More>> |
Oct 9, 2019 - Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Chase #1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Yermo to West Colton. Bill Compton and I decided to chase the Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 4014 as it came into Southern California. It would be the day it run from Yermo to West Colton. Chris Parker decided to... Read More>> |
Oct 18-19, 2019 - A Trip aboard the Pacific Trail to Albuquerque: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I decided to ride the Pacific Trail after seeing an ad on Trainorders. At 30 cents a mile it was too good to pass up and I never had ridden this car before.I called Bill Hatrick up and he gave me a price and... Read More>> |
Oct 14, 2019 - Getting my 1,600,000.0 Rail Miles: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I wanted to get my 1,600,00.0 Rail mile after the two day Big Boy Trip. I called Robin Bowers and asked him to join me since I wanted a picture taken of me doing it and he agreed. I worked my day at Henninger Elementary School then... Read More>> |
Oct 13, 2019 - Union Pacific 4014 Yermo to West Colton: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip is being put on by the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Southern California Chapter and the Rail Giants Museum in Pomona, California and the Union Pacific Railroad. On this morning I was up by... Read More>> |
Oct 12, 2019 - Union Pacific 4014 West Colton to Barstow: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. This trip is being put on by the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Southern California Chapter and the Rail Giants Museum in Pomona, California and the Union Pacific Railroad. I joined the Railway &... Read More>> |
Sep 14, 2019 - Coast Starlight Detour Trip 2019: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Metrolink decided to rebuild bridges in the San Fernando Valley over the weekend of September 7 and 8, 2019 so I got Coast Starlight Business Class tickets. Then they switched it to the weekend of September 14 and 15... Read More>> |
July 20, 2019 - Santa Clara VTA Light Rail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail is a light rail transit system that serves the Santa Clara County in the U.S. state of California. The system has 42.2 miles of tracks and is operated by... Read More>> |
July 20, 2019 - Southern Pacific Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 9010 Debut Runs: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I woke up, checked E mail then loaded the car and went to MacDonald's for hot cakes and sausage. I gassed up before taking Interstate 205 West to Interstate 580 West to Interstate 680 South to... Read More>> |
July 19, 2019 - The trip to Antioch to ride the BART Extension Service: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Southern Pacific Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 9010 was going to makes its first run and I decided I should cover this. I invited Chris Parker along on this trip but due to his lack of business for his... Read More>> |
June 30, 2019 - Engines that have pulled my Excursion Trains through the years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. In this story we will look at all the train engines that have pulled my excursion trains through the years. My first excursion was pulled by the Union Pacific Challenger on its first excursion trip from... Read More>> |
June 30, 2019 - The Milwaukee Road 261 through the years: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. My association with the Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 started as a part of a goal to ride a train in all of the 50 States of the United States of America. The state which would be the hardest to ride a train in would be South Dakota. Image my surprise when I was looking at my Railfan & Railroad Magazine back in early summer of 1998 and saw an ad about a Camerail Club three day trip from... Read More>> |
June 23, 2019 - Milwaukee Road 261 to Winthrop: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Twin Cities and Western Railroad is a railroad operating in the U.S. state of Minnesota which started operations on July 27, 1991. Trackage includes the former Soo Line Railroad "Ortonville Line", originally built as... Read More>> |
June 22, 2019 - Milwaukee Road 261 to Glencoe and beyond: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad; often referred to as the Milwaukee Road was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1980. The company went... Read More>> |
June 21, 2019 - The day before the Milwaukee Road 261: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I had gotten my Milwaukee Road 261 tickets for a return to Glencoe and new mileage to Winthrop. I got my usual hotel then a rental car and was set to do this trip solo. Elizabeth Alkire then decided to ride both days but... Read More>> |
June 15, 2019 - Pacific Railroad Society National Forum Private Car Trip Los Angeles to San Diego and return: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I saw a post on Trainorders.com about a private car trip with the Pacific Railroad Society aboard the National Forum, a private car I had yet to ride. I signed up then... Read More>> |
May 24-25, 2019 - 14th Annual 24 Hours at Saginaw: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Activities: Train watching begins, Sign in and log your time, make a donation, get a button; Railroad videos, Safety Rules displayed, Door Prizes; Pass the hat for Pizza; Silent Auction; RailStream Saginaw Cam... Read More>> |
May 24, 2019 - Wichita Falls Railroad Museum and Tex Rail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Wichita Falls Railroad Museum is a railroad museum in Wichita Falls, Texas. The museum is located in the Historic Depot Square in downtown Wichita Falls beside the railroad tracks. The museum is... Read More>> |
May 23, 2019 - Red River Railroad Museum and the Oklahoma Streetcar: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Company (M-K-T or Katy), the first railroad to enter Texas from the north, began its corporate existence in 1865, when its earliest predecessor, the... Read More>> |
May 2, 2019 - NRHS 2019 Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. The convention was held simultaneous with "Spike 150", Utah's celebration of the 150-year anniversary of the Golden Spike, one of the most iconic and life-altering events in America's history -- the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. It happened in Utah on May 10, 1869... Read More>> |
March 13, 2019 - The Coast Starlight and Winterail 2019: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. I neeed this trip in my life at this point of it. I decided to take the Coast Starlight to Winterail 2019 this year and I called Amtrak Guest Rewards and got sleeping cars going both ways and Robin Bowers would join me. We would... Read More>> |
February 23, 2019 - NRHS Discovery Visit for the 2020 Convention Fillmore & Western Railroad Trip by Chris Guenzler. The Fillmore and Western Railway is a railroad owned by the Fillmore and Western Railway Company. The company operates on track owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission. The... Read More>> |
January 19, 2019 - Ash Hill Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Bill Compton and I decided to go out to Ash Hill on Saturday 1/19/2019. He picked me up at 5:30 and we drove non stop to Newberry Springs where we saw our first train of the day... Read More>> |
January 6, 2019 - Times are Changing: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. Over the years there have been many changes to Amtrak power on the old Santa Fe Surfline. I will now take you back in time to the events of the past. Santa Fe F units were standard power for the Surfline since May 1, 1971 until... Read More>> |
August 3, 2018 - Princeton Jct New Jersey Railfanning: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Robin slept in and I walked over to get the restaurant's name we ate last night. Robin got up and we drove to Princeton Jct and paid to park. We then walked up to the south end of the east platform. Our Visit. We set up at the south end and waited for... Read More>> |
August 3, 2018 - New Jersey Museum of Transportation Pine Creek Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler New Jersey Museum of Transportation is a museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, and operation of historic railroad equipment. The organization runs excursion trains on a... Read More>> |
August 11, 2018 - Heading home from the 2018 NRHS Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We walked back froom the Crabby Pig and got our luggage out of storage. I led the way having to take the tunnel under the CSX mainline due to a CSX stack train blocking the grade crossing. At the... Read More>> |
August 11, 2018 - NRHS 2018 Convention Everett Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Everett Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates ex-Pennsylvania Railroad trackage in the Hollidaysburg area of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It runs freight trains over two separate lines, one from... Read More>> |
August 10, 2018 - NRHS 2018 Convention Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The PESR runs on the track of the South Branch Valley Railroad, which was established by the state of West Virginia in 1978 to operate a line abandoned by the B&O. Freight service on... Read More>> |
August 9, 2018 - Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Cumberland, Maryland. It operates over ex-Western Maryland Railway trackage to Frostburg, Maryland and back using both steam and... Read More>> |
August 8, 2018 - The NRHS 2018 Convention Cass to Elkins: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The town of Cass was always centered around the lumber companies that inhabited the valley and operated the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Mill. The mill operations were enormous during its... Read More>> |
August 7, 2018 - Cass Railroad to Bald Knob: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We then proceeded to the bridge and drove across it very slowly since I was not sure it would hold up. We made it across, much to our glee and delight, and continued down Highway 28, passing through such places as... Read More>> |
August 6, 2018 - Onward to Cumberland: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We checked out of the Rodeway Inn and stopped at McDonalds for breakfast. As it was Monday morning, we stayed off Interstate 95 and took surface streets straight into Wilmington. We pulled up in front of the Amtrak station, took our... Read More>> |
August 5, 2018 - Strasburg Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Located just outside of the town of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, the railroad is a heritage railroad offering excursion trains, hauled by steam locomotives, through the heart of world-famous Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Strasburg currently has... Read More>> |
August 5, 2018 - Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The museum's collection has more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars that chronicle American railroad history. Visitors can climb aboard various locomotives and cars, inspect a 62-ton locomotive from... Read More>> |
August 5, 2018 - The West Chester Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The original West Chester Railroad Company was chartered in 1831 through an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the company built its rail line to Malvern (later moved to Frazer). A quarter century later... Read More>> |
August 5, 2018 - Newtown Square Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Newtown Square Freight station was constructed in 1895, shortly after the railroad line was built. It was located on the west side of Newtown Street Road (Rt. 252) and now Winding Way. This was also the site of the... Read More>> |
August 4, 2018 - The Baltimore Streetcar Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The original Museum collection had been under the stewardship of the United Railways and Electric Company, then the Baltimore Transit Company and finally, for a short time, the Maryland Historical Society. Finally the... Read More>> |
August 4, 2018 - B&O Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The B&O Railroad Museum is a museum exhibiting historic railroad equipment in Baltimore, Maryland, originally named the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum when it opened on July 4, 1953. It has been called... Read More>> |
August 4, 2018 - National Capitol Trolley Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler NCTM was incorporated on January 4, 1961, as the National Capital Historical Museum of Transportation, Inc.[2] Progress was slow at first, but the Museum eventually combined efforts and streetcar collections with a... Read More>> |
August 4, 2018 - Walkersville Southern Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Walkersville Southern Railroad runs track and structures originally built by the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line railroad. This railroad ran from Frederick, Md to the Pennsylvania-Maryland State line, or Mason-Dixon line near... Read More>> |
August 4, 2018 - The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum and Hagerstown Railroad Park and more: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Hagerstown Roundhouse Complex was built in 1939. The 25 stall roundhouse and shops were the major facility for maintenance and repairs of locomotives and cars in... Read More>> |
August 2, 2018 - Amtrak Wilmington Shops Private Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Wilmington Shops have an especially rich history that dates back more than a century and starts with the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). At the dawn of the 20th century, the PRR was one of the nation's most... Read More>> |
August 2, 2018 - Roanoke to Wilmington Train 176: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Today's trip is to get Robin and I to Wilmington so we can start the northern portion of this rail adventure. We had a 5:00 AM wake-up call and with clothes and boots set out, it was easy to get ready so early in the morning. I went down... Read More>> |
August 1, 2018 - The Crewe Railroad Museum and returning to Roanoke: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Crewe Railroad Museum is located on Highway 460 in the heart of town, four miles from the junction of 360/460. In the yard climb on a diesel engine, a caboose, and our steam engine 606 that has... Read More>> |
July 31, 2018 - North Carolina Piedmont Train Service: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Piedmont or Piedmont Service is a twice-daily passenger train operated by Amtrak and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) between Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina. Operations began in... Read More>> |
July 30, 2018 - A Day Railfanning in North Carolina: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We left the Super 8 in Salisbury and headed to the grade crossing just north of the Salisbury station. Here we waited for the Carolinian to arrive. We called Julie and learned it left 25 minutes late this morning... Read More>> |
July 29, 2018 - North Carolina Transportation Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The museum was founded in 1977, when the Southern Railway deeded 4 acres of land to the state of North Carolina for a transportation museum. Two years later, another 53 acres was added to the... Read More>> |
July 29, 2018 - Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Newton was served by the narrow gauge Chester & Lenoir, which arrived in 1882. It was folded into Southern subsidiary Carolina & North Western and standard gauged in 1902. The Newton Depot Authority was... Read More>> |
July 29, 2018 - Tweetsie Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Tweetsie Railroad is a family oriented Wild West theme park located between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United States. The centerpiece of the park is a 3-mile ride on a train pulled by one of Tweetsie Railroad's historic... Read More>> |
July 28, 2018 - A few surprises, Princeton Station and a stay at the Elkhorn Inn: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Known as the "Richest Little Railroad in the World," the Virginian Railway was formed in 1907 through the marriage of the Deepwater Railway in West Virginia and the Tidewater Railway in... Read More>> |
July 28, 2018 - The Durbin Rocket: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Durbin Rocket operates out of Durbin, WV, from May to October. During July and August, there are two daily services Thurs-Sun, one leaving at 10.00am and one at 2.30pm. The rides are very popular, particularly on weekends and during Fall runs... Read More>> |
July 27, 2018 - C&O Railway Heritage Center: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway traces its origin to the Louisa Railroad of Louisa County, Virginia, begun in 1836, and the James River & Kanawha Canal Company begun 1785, also in Virginia. The C&O of the 1950s and 1960s at its height before the... Read More>> |
July 27, 2018 - O. Winston Link Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The O. Winston Link Museum is a museum dedicated to the photography of O. Winston Link, the twentieth century railroad photographer widely considered the master of the juxtaposition between steam railroading and rural culture. He is most noted for... Read More>> |
July 27, 2018 - Virginia Museum of Transportation: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The museum began its life in 1963 as the Roanoke Transportation Museum located in Wasena Park in Roanoke, Virginia. The museum at that time was housed in an old Norfolk & Western Railway freight depot on the banks of the... Read More>> |
July 26, 2018 - Finishing the Amtrak System again! Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I woke up today in the Hotel Riviera knowing that I would finishing the Amtrak System again, tonight when I step off the train in Roanoke will be the moment. I was up by 6:30 AM and put the corrections in my story from Elizabeth and then... Read More>> |
July 22, 2018 - The Trip to Newark, New Jersey and the NRHS 2018 Convention: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler This year, I would not only be able to take the train back to the NRHS 2018 Convention in Cumberland, Maryland, but Robin Bowers and I would be able to ride both ways plus... Read More>> |
Jun 13, 2018 - Memories of Cajon Pass through the years!: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Sunrise starts another day of railfanning on Cajon Pass. Here we see the Union Pacific 3456 West descending through Devore in February of 1986. I will... Read More>> |
Jun 09, 2018 - A Trip to Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton and I went to Cajon Pass via West Colton. We drove out to Pepper Street to see what might be coming our way today. BNSF 7778 East was at West Colton Yard this morning. Would we see him later today? From here we drove to... Read More>> |
May 25 & 26, 2018 - 13th Annual 24 hours of Saginaw: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler For over a decade, the North Texas Chapter, NRHS has had the privilege of hosting a 24 hour railwatching event at the Saginaw Depot over Memorial day weekend... Read More>> |
May 24, 2018 - My new Dallas Rail Miles: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The A-train is a 21-mile regional rail system connecting Denton and Dallas Counties. DCTA has five A-train stations; two in Denton and three in Lewisville and also interfaces with DART at their Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. Passengers can transfer to the Green Line, which provides access to... Read More>> |
May 19, 2018 - Fox River Trolley Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Fox River Trolley Museum is a railroad museum in South Elgin, Illinois. Incorporated in 1961 as R.E.L.I.C. (Railway Equipment Leasing and Investment Co.), it opened in 1966 and became the Fox River Trolley Museum in 1984... Read More>> |
May 19, 2018 - Homewood Railroad Viewing Platform: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler In 2007, the Village of Homewood has opened a railfan park and equipment display adjacent to Canadian National's ex-Illinois Central main line. The park is located on the east side of the Canadian National line also used by... Read More>> |
May 17-18, 2018 - Southern Railway 401 Charter Train Monticello, IL 5/17-18/2018 Part 1: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Southern 401 was built in December of 1907 and was at the time a larger locomotive, built with simplicity in mind. It is a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, with a total locomotive weight of... Read More>> |
April 29, 2018 - The Coast Starlight 11 Detour Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The train left Oakland on time at 8:50 AM and we were off and running. It was bumpy tracks down to Newark this morning. We arrived into Newark at 9:20 AM and started our detour all the way to Burbank Junction. We ran by... Read More>> |
April 28, 2018 - Coast Starlight 14 Detour Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Norm Orfall posted on Trainorders.com that his car would be going over the Tehachapi Loop on the Coast Starlight on April 28. I then learned the train would also detour the next day so planned a Coast Starlight Business Class trip as... Read More>> |
Slideshow Presented at Winterail 2018: A Year Of Trains In The Life Of Chris Guenzler - 2017... Slide Show>> |
March 17, 2018 - Winterail Trip 2018: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler For the 40th Anniversay Show of Winterail, Chris Parker and I would fly up on Wednesday, ride MAX out to Beaverton before riding the Westside Express. We would then ride to the airport and get a rental car before taking Amtrak from Vancouver to Tukwila and then take the southbound train back with... Read More>> |
Jan 19, 2018 - San Diego Entire Trolley Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We decided to do a San Diego Entire Trolley Trip using the $12 Regional Pass. Chris Parker' friend Bob Jacoby and then Bob Gordon plus I invited David Aten and Robin Bowers to join us on President Day 2018. That... Read More>> |
Jan 02, 2018 - A Trip aboard the last Amtrak Great Dome: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I wanted to ride the last Amtrak Great Dome in Pacific Surfliner Service and it had run after Christmas so I had to find what train it was on. I took a morning walk and after a pair of southbound Metrolink trains, it was... Read More>> |
Dec 17, 2017 - Metrolink New San Bernardino Downtown Station Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Sometimes I can't be in two places at once and this was an example of that. I needed to ride and then write the first Coaster train 631 to use Positive Train Control on a weekend train or go to... Read More>> |
December 16, 2017 - First Coaster Weekend Positive Train Control Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I contacted Coaster about being able to photograph their Positive Train Control in their Cab Car and received a yes. So on this Saturday morning I went down to Santa Ana and found out two things... Read More>> |
Dec 02, 2017 - A Trip to Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton picked me up at 5:30 AM and we headed first to West Colton Yard before going to Cajon Pass. From here we drove to Summit to see how the new highway was coming along before we headed to Cozy Dell for some pictures... Read More>> |
Nov 26, 2017 - Metrolink Special LA Rams Football Trains: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I decide to go out to take pictures of the Metrolink Special LA Rams Football Trains by riding one of them this season. Since they run on my Orange County Line I could catch it in Laguna Niguel on one of the Sundays it ran... Read More>> |
Nov 23, 2017 - Metrolink Catch the Sparkle Special Train Service: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I found a flyer on a Metrolink train about this unique service to the Mission Inn in Riverside. I asked Robin Bowers if he wanted to go and he said yes. We would take Metrolink 634 to Laguna Niguel then ride the Special Train... Read More>> |
Oct 21, 2017 - A Trip to Placentia and Fullerton: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Photos of various BNSF freight trains and Metrolink trains through Placentia and Fullerton, California, including tanker trains, stack trains, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, and Metrolink commuter trains with both old and new locomotives... Read More>> |
Oct 2, 2017 - Northstar Commuter Line: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Northstar Line is a commuter rail route in the US state of Minnesota. Northstar runs 40.2 miles from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis at Target Field using existing track and right-of-way owned by the BNSF Railway... Read More>> |
Oct 2, 2017 - Milwaukee Road 261 Minneapolis Jct to Glencoe: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Milwaukee Road 261 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company, (ALCO), in Schenectady, New York in July 1944 for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul... Read More>> |
Sep 9, 2017 - The 1.5 Million Rail Miles Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I was working out how to get my 1,500,00.0 Rail miles and I was coming up 4.5 miles short. Then it dawned on me that the Irvine Park Railroad was 0.9 of a mile long so if I made 5 trips there it would all work out. This is the same... Read More>> |
Aug 1, 2017 - Tribute to Amtrak Part 7 2013 to Present: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Updated with photos from 2013 to Auguts 1, 2017 including Caltrain new locomotive 2105, New State of Washington locomotive, Amtrak Seattle Seahawk Unit, Cascade Talgo 500 510 517, Veteran Engine and much more... Read More>> |
Aug 7, 2017 - Irvine Park Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I was working out how to get my 1,500,00.0 Rail miles and I was coming up 4.5 miles short. Then it dawned on my that the Irvine Park Railroad was 0.9 of a mile long so if I made 5 trips there it would all work out. This is the same railroad that... Read More>> |
July 30 - Aug 2, 2017 - Home from Everett, Washington: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Last night we got talking and Bob asked me if I would like to take Sounder from Everett and that would be more mileage for me, so you know I said "Yes!" So this morning I was up early and after checking the Internet, had... Read More>> |
July 30, 2017 - Fraser Valley Heritage Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Based on an idea by, and personal funding of $25,000 from Mr. Jim Wallace, a commissioner with the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission, a feasibility study was undertaken between 1996 and 2000 to ascertain the feasibility of... Read More>> |
July 29, 2017 - Great Northern & Cascade Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The railway offers free train rides to the public as well as a railroad education program. The Railroad operates May through October, every weekend plus holidays. We currently have over 2,700 feet of track. We are working on... Read More>> |
July 26-28, 2017 - Heading to Edmonds, Washington: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler With me having picked the date of 9/9/2017 for my 1,500,000.0 rail mileage trip starting at Santa Ana down to Solana Beach then Pacific Business Class back to Santa Ana when I step off the train, I will have it. In order to do that... Read More>> |
July 15, 2017 - Los Angeles Union Station Summer Trainfest: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler A free family event that featured vintage train engines and model trains. On display were the 1927 Santa Fe 3751 Steam Locomotive and the 1949 Overland Trail, 1950 Pacific Trail and 1959 Tioga Pass private railcars... Read More>> |
June 1-5, 2017 - Milwaukee Road 261 June 2017: Reports & Photos by Chris Guenzler Reports and photos of getting to and riding various train trips on the Milwaukee Road 261 as well as other related venues in early June 2017... Read More>> |
May 6, 2017 - Fullerton Railroad Days: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler With no booth to work again this year at Fullerton Railroad Days, this gave me the freedom to ride and make a short visit to this event. I decided to do my normal weekend riding but would not go to Los Angeles but would instead stop in Fullerton which... Read More>> |
April 30, 2017 - A Trip to the Fillmore and Western Railroad: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Robin Bowers had never been to Fillmore and the weekend of limited train service to the south of Santa Ana, decided we would go since it was Fillmore Railfest and they would be running their steam engine... Read More>> |
April 29, 2017 - A Trip to San Bernardino: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler With no train service to the south due to track construction projects I decide to ride out to San Bernardino to see the new train platforms there. So I got up early drove to the Santa Ana train station and parked in the parking structure... Read More>> |
April 8, 2017 - A Trip to Cajon Pass: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton wanted to go to Cajon Pass and I wanted to see how construction was going on CA Highway 138 so we decided on Saturday and he picked me up at 6:30 AM. We did not have to go far for our first train of the day... Read More>> |
March 17, 2017 - Friday Night Railfan Magazine Pizza Party & Winterail 2017: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We left the train in Lebanon and then drove to Junction City where we found what we were looking for and a surprise diagonally opposite from the building. Oregon Electric Junction City station now... Read More>> |
March 17, 2017 - My Albany & Eastern Excursion Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We checked out of the Shanico Inn in Lebanon, Oregon and drove down the highway to the golden arches of McDonalds for breakfast. There I had my usual hotcakes and sausages so I was a happy camper. From here we... Read More>> |
Mar 16, 2017 - To Winerail 2017: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I decided to do a Pre-Winterail Trip on the Albany & Eastern Railroad and would be the first trip I have ever done. I contacted the Albany & Eastern Railroad and worked with Rose to put together a trip from Lebanon... Read More>> |
Feb 20, 2017 - Another Trip to South Perris: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton wanted to go train riding with me. I suggested San Diego but he said he has been there too much. Since I would be riding down there on Thursday, I asked him where else would he like to go? He said Perris and since... Read More>> |
Feb 4, 2017 - Metrolink Golden Dragon Parade Lunar New Year Celebration Special Train: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler On my last trip to Riverside, Conductor Henry told me about the special train that Metrolink would run on Sat Feb 4th, for the Golden Dragon Parade Lunar New Year Celebration in Los Angeles... Read More>> |
Jan 21, 2017 - Pacific Railroad Society presents Excursion 552 The Perris Express: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Metrolink does not normally provide service to Perris on weekends, so this will be a special train from Los Angeles to Perris via the San Bernardino line outbound and the Riverside line inbound... Read More>> |
Jan 9-10, 2017 - Coast Starlight home from Seattle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler This Coast Starlight had engines 817 and 124, baggage 61507, transition 39033, Sleepers 32048, 32072 and 32016 Pennsylvania, diner 38016, Business Class 34512, Lounge 33026 and Coaches 34094, 31000 and 34038. Our... Read More>> |
Jan 8, 2017 - Riding Seattle Light Rail: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler In March 2002, Sound Transit began the process of acquiring land in the Rainier Valley when its board authorized the agency to purchase all of sixty-four properties and parts of two hundred and thirty-two others. Sound Transit was also... Read More>> |
Jan 7, 2017 - Cascade Talgo to Vancouver and new Skytrain extension: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler. We parked the car in the Sounder parking lot and... Read More>> |
Jan 6, 2017 - The Sounder Trip Seattle to Lakewood: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I bought my one-way ticket to Lakewood and then boarded an extremely crowded train finding a pair of seats on the mezzanine level of the cab car. I then had my lunch and waited for Elizabeth to arrive. I spotted her outside and... Read More>> |
Jan 6, 2017 - Seattle First Hill Streetcar Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The South Lake Union Streetcar is a 1.3-mile, seven-stop line serving the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. Its route goes from the Westlake hub to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in South Lake Union. Transfers can... Read More>> |
Jan 6, 2017 - Amtrak Cascade Service Talgo 500 Portland to Seattle: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I was up without a wake up call and hurriedly packed then checked out. I walked to the Max station, bought my one way ticket and within a minute here came a Green Line train. It was a quick trip back to... Read More>> |
Jan 4-5, 2017 - Amtrak Coast Starglight Los Angeles, California, to Portland, Oregon: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler This Coast Starlight had a consist of engines 13 and 510, baggage 61066, Transition 39021, Sleepers 32091 Minnesota, 32091 New Hampshire, 32097, Parlor Car 39975 Willamette Valley... Read More>> |
Dec 17, 2016 - My next encounter with Santa Fe 3751: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Santa Fe 3751 backed along the Los Angeles River in a surprise consist I would never had thought of until I saw it. The train consisted of the Tioga Pass, Overland Trail SP 2981, Pacific Trail UP 5430. Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751, Amtrak Pacific Parlor... Read More>> |
Dec 11, 2016 - A Tioga Pass Private Car Trip Los Angeles to San Diego and return: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Chris Parker told me about an ad about the Tioga Pass private car trip LA to San Diego and return. I called Norm Orfall and got myself on the trip then told Robin Bowers who also got on the trip. Robin and I would... Read More>> |
Dec 10, 2016 - A Trip to Beaumont Hill: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We left Santa Ana and took CA-22 to CA-55 to CA-91 out to Corona where we found CA-91 closed. We then detoured north on the I-15 to I-10 east to Pepper Street in Colton. A few minutes later, a westbound train arrived but not what we expected... Read More>> |
Friday, March 17, 2017 - The Albany & Eastern Pre Winterail Charter Train: Sponsored by Chris Guenzler A special train rides covering the Albany & Eastern Railroad from Lebanon to Sweethome, Oregon. Come join us as we travel across the hill country of the Willamette Valley. These trips include a photo runby as the train pulls into the Lebanon station before the trip starts... Read More>> |
Nov 12, 2016 - Folsom Valley Railway: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Folsom Valley Railway has been in continuous operation since 1970. It is the only 12 inch gauge railroad remaining in the United States, and only one of seven miniature scale replica steam-powered railroads in public operation. The Railway... Read More>> |
Nov 12, 2016 - El Dorado & Western Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler After gold was discovered in 1848, the Gold Rush brought thousands of people to Northern California and with them, the idea of building a railroad from Sacramento to the Gold Fields. By 1853 the Sacramento Valley Railroad was... Read More>> |
Nov 11, 2016 - To the El Dorado & Western Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I had set up a trip to ride the El Dorado & Western Railroad on October 30, 2016 with Chris Parker coming along. I received an e-mail from them to call Saturday morning, the day before the trip because there was... Read More>> |
Oct 16, 2016 - Travel Town Visit and Train Ride: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Travel Town Museum is a transport museum dedicated on December 14, 1952, and located in the northwest corner of Los Angeles, California's Griffith Park. The history of railroad transportation in the western United States from 1880 to... Read More>> |
Oct 16, 2016 - Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (LALS) is a non-profit public-benefit corporation that was founded in 1956 by live steam enthusiasts for the purpose of educating the public about railroad history and lore, and... Read More>> |
Oct 16, 2016 - Griffith Park & Southern Railroad train trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Griffith Park & Southern Railroad Located near Los Feliz Blvd and Riverside Drive at the South end of Griffith park, GPS Railroad occupies a location where miniature trains have operated since the late 1940's... Read More>> |
Oct 15, 2016 - Goat Hill Railway Orange County Model Engineers train ride: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Orange County Model Engineers was originally formed in 1977 as the Orange County Live Steamers, after the demise of the short lived Long Beach Live Steamers. Negotiations were started soon... Read More>> |
Oct 15, 2016 - The Tom's Farm train rides: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Tom's Farm Brief History: His parents said that Tom wanted to be a farmer from the day he was born in Kansas City, Missouri. When he turned five, they let him work at his father's produce stand. And the rest, as they say, is history. Tom moved west in... Read More>> |
Oct 11, 2016 - Santa Ana Zoofari Express Train Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Santa Ana Zoo is located at 1801 East Chestnut Avenue in Santa Ana, California. The zoo is open daily, except for Christmas Day, New Years Day and Thanksgiving Day. The hours of operation are 10 am to 4 pm daily but guests may remain in the zoo until 5 pm. During the summer, weekend hours are extended from 10 am to 6 pm... Read More>> |
Oct 8, 2016 - Descanso Garden Enchanted Railroad Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Descanso Gardens, located in La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles County, California, is a 150 acres botanical garden. At one time, this property belonged to newspaper magnate E. Manchester Boddy, who owned the... Read More>> |
Oct 8, 2016 - El Dorado Express Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The El Dorado Express is a real park train, which Tony Ruvolo and his son Greg refurbished in 1988. They are a family owned train ride. This beautiful train was originally built as a park train powered by a live steam engine in 1946. Tony and Greg... Read More>> |
August 9, 2016 - Our Summer Trip 2016: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler My mother and I try every year on take a trip together. This year she decided on Pismo Beach, Cambia, Harris Ranch, Elk Grove then Bakersfield before home. After the Colorado NRHS Trip... Read More>> |
July 4, 2016 - NRHS Convention Day 4 - The Durango & Silverton Railroad : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Almost every day new reports & photos from the National Railroad Historical Society (NRHS) 2016 Annual Convention will be posted. Click Read More for all the reports and photos posted so far... Read More>> |
June 26, 2016 - Riding the train to the NASCAR Race at Sears Point: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bart and Sarah Jennings decided to come to ride the Race Train from Sacramento to Sears Point this year. Bart has never ridden this so I decided to do it with them. I got my tickets and they assigned me to a seat right below... Read More>> |
June 6, 2016 - First day trip on the new Perris Metrolink Line: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Metrolink finally announced that their new Perris Valley Line would open on June 6, 2016. I looked at their new schedule and... Read More>> |
June 4, 2016 - Trainriders Group Trip to ride the Expo and Gold Line Extension: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I planned this trip and we had an interest so I decided to do both of these new lines for group members. I had taken tours of both of these lines so there was... Read More>> |
May 28, 2016 - A Trip to Beaumont Hill: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton and I planned to go out to take some train pictures. We decided to go out to Beaumont Hill and planned to leave my house at 5:30 AM... Read More>> |
May 12, 2016 - Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation Expo Line Tour: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Expo Line is a light-rail line that currently runs between Downtown Los Angeles and Culver City. An extension that will provide service westward to Santa Monica is scheduled to open on May 20, 2016... Read More>> |
April 30, 2016 - Fullerton Railroad Days: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Photos and report from the annual Fullerton Railroad Days held in the parking lot at the Amtrak / Metrolink Train Station near Downtown Fullerton, California, April 30 & May 1, 2016... Read More>> |
April 6, 2016 - Getting to the N&W 611 Trips and the brand new DC Streetcar: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler After a great time at the La Plata 2016 Spring Railfan Event, I woke up and checked things online before John Green and I went to the closed Granma's Cafe on the La Plata Square then tried the Choo Choo Cafe which... Read More>> |
April 8, 2016 - The North Carolina Transportation Museum: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I woke up at 6:30 AM and had breakfast at the Econo Lodge then I watched some television before calling a taxi for 9:15 AM. My cab was waiting at 9:10 AM and soon an ex-railroader and NCTM volunteer drove me to... Read More>> |
April 6, 2016 - My First Live Encounter with N&W 611 moving: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler After I was done taking pictures for my North Carolina Transportation Museum, I would wait for the N&W 611 to move before me for the first time in my life... Read More>> |
April 8, 2016 - Charlotte Lynx Light Rail System: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler David Pressley asked me if I wanted to ride this system in its present form as it is expanding and we all know I said "Yes" as it would be new rail mileage for me. So after we got done in Spencer at the North Carolina Transportation Museum... Read More>> |
April 9, 2016 - Norfolk & Western 611 The Virginian: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler When I was planning the La Plata Spring Event, the 2016 Norfolk Southern steam excursion list came out. As I had never ridden behind the N&W 611, now was the time... Read More>> |
April 10, 2016 - N&W 611 The Blue Ridge Special: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The morning started with a 4:45 AM wake-up call. I put in the corrections in my three latest stories, uploaded them and then posted on my website. David and I left the Econo Lodge and stopped by McDonalds before we... Read More>> |
April 11, 2016 - The trip west to get home from the N&W 611: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler David had dropped me off with my train running on time. I first had my hot cakes and sausage then decided to photograph the Salisbury Station. A lady from our N&W 611 trip was heading to Atlanta, Georgia so she was... Read More>> |
Getting to the La Plata Spring 2016 Railfan Event : Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler For this year's La Plata Spring Railfan Event I thought let's do something different. We would head west driving to photograph the Southwest Chief on the Missouri River bridge. The next day drive east... Read More>> |
La Plata Railfan Event Day 1 4/2/16: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I got up, grabbed breakfast then took it back to my room. I learned that the Southwest Chief was late so I had a Pittsburgh Penguins game to listen to at noon... Read More>> |
La Plata Spring Railfan Event 2016 Day 2 4/3/16: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I ate as I put the corrections into yesterday's story then checked the Southwest Chief which was already in Kansas City. I posted my story then left the Depot Inn & Suites for my newest photo... Read More>> |
La Plata Spring Railfan Event 2016 Day 3 4/4/2016: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I met John Green in the lobby at 5:45 AM and we left the Depot Inn & Suites and started off to East Sibley via Missouri Highway 5 , US Highway 36 to Missouri Highway 11 to US Highway 24 where we saw a headlight and found a grade crossing... Read More>> |
La Plata Spring Railfan Event 2016 Day 4 4/5/2016: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I met John Green in the lobby of the Depot Inn & Suites and headed out to the rental car which had its windshield iced over. We defrosted it using the windshield cleaner then headed up the road to McDonald's in Kirksville for a good meal... Read More>> |
www.trainweb.org/chris/16ocoast.html - Winterail 3/20/2016 Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad First Annual Post Winterail Steam Excursion Sunday... Read More>> |
www.trainweb.org/chris/16wint2.html - Winterail 3/18/2016 Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Winterail 2016 and getting to Corvallis... Read More>> |
www.trainweb.org/chris/16orhf.html - 3/18/16 Oregon Rail Hertage Center Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler We got off the Max Light rail line and walked back to the cars, finding former NRHS President Gregory Molloy waiting on his friend. Next I saw Arlen Shelddrake opening the gate for our special pre-arranged visit to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center... Read More>> |
www.trainweb.org/chris/16wint.html - Winterail 3/17/2016 Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Going to the First Winterail in Corvallis, Oregon Trip... Read More>> |
February 27, 2016 - Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation Metro Gold Line Extension and Shop Tours: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler The Foundation's mission is to diligently preserve and dynamically present the history of railroading in Los Angeles through its three core programs... Read More>> |
January 1, 2016 - BNSF Mojave Sub Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler Bill Compton and I had talked about going out to someplace to take some pictures. I suggested the BNSF Mojave Sub between Barstow and Mohave. Bill and I finally found a date we both could go and it turned out to be January 1 & 2 of 2016... Read More>> |
December 31, 2015 - Chris Guenzler End of Year Review 2015 I left you at home where I spent my New Years at home again. It felt funny being here but I needed a change in my life. It had been a great year in my life for most things, including Santa Ana Unified School District's Heninger Elementary School... Read More>> |
11/07/15 Train Rider's Group Oakland Circle Trip: Report & Photos by Chris Guenzler I got an idea for a Train Travel Group train trip. We all could try Business Class on the Coast Starlight... Read More>> |