The Grand Tour, Day Two [16 January 2003]

Day Two was spent mostly in Los Angeles. After spending the night in the Day's Inn across the street from Union Station, I walked back to photograph the station's interior, as well as the Metrolink commuter operation. The next link in my journey, the Southwest Chief, departed in the evening, almost two hours late. Once again, problems with the head end power lead to a late departure, a commonplace event with the GE P42s. Purchased in the 1990s to effect a three-for-two replacement for the reliable EMD F40, they haven't quite lived up to GE's reputation. Fortunately, BNSF's dispatching allowed us to maintain schedule, as opposed to falling further behind on the UP.

Los Angeles Union Station shines in the morning light. A mixture of classic California Mission style and 1930s art deco, LAUS was the "station of the stars" at a time when people in a hurry took the Super Chief from Chicago.
	A great station is more than just a building; it's also a center of civic pride, as shown in the depot gardens.
Inside the station, we see more of the Mission style influence in the high, vaulted timber ceilings and fixtures.
	Metrolink cab cars, tucked into the stub end tracks, await the rush hour.
At the start of the rush, a Metrolink train accelerates out of the station towards Mission Tower.
	The winter sunset arrives all too early. In a few hours, I'll be aboard the Chief, climbing up Cajon Pass on the way to Arizona.

[Day One][Day Two][Day Three][Day Four][Day Five][Day Six]