Welcome to "Phil's Loco Photos"

An eighteen day trip to the USA started with a flight from Gatwick - Baltimore where we started an excellent value USA Rail Pass. After a few moves around the Washington area we joined “Silver Meteor” for our long run south to Jacksonville and then on to Sanford to pick up “Sunset Limited” for the cross America to Los Angeles. After reversal at New Orleans the next day we continued with a pair of the “Pepsi Can” Dash 8 locos on the front much to my delight. 3253 kilometres later we arrived in Los Angeles bang on time! We then did some moves on Metrolink and also covered both Coast Starlight trains getting another couple of runs with Dash 8 power. After a night in a motel near Simi Valley we joined the northbound “Coast Starlight” for our journey north to San Jose where we stayed in another motel. It was then on Caltrains services into San Francisco and then a bus to Emeryville and south to Bakersfield with a dull F40PH. We returned north to La Quinta Motor Inn where we stayed the night. It was then north to Martinez and then “California Zephyr” all the way to Denver, plenty of superb scenery on the way. After another night at a “La Quinta” we joined the westbound “California Zephyr for the run back over the Rockies to Denver and then we continued with the portion “Desert Wind” to Los Angeles via Las Vegas, this was shortly before the train was discontinued. After a couple of moves on the San Diego line we then join “Southwest Chief” for the long run to Kansas City. On arrival there we hired a car and drove to Springdale and then on to Springfield. Next day we did the passenger turn on the Arkansas & Missouri RR with its all Alco fleet, we had an immaculate RS1 on our train to Van Buren. Once in Kansas City we continued on Amtrak to Chicago and then on “Lake Shore Limited” to Schenectady and to Niagara Falls for one night. Next day south and a few moves on the Hudson line and a night in Poughkeepsie and then south to Washington and a hotel in Fredericksburg. Next day a few moves in Washington area and then to Baltimore for flights back home