Amtrak Coast to Coast

[Hogarth Ferguson]

For one of our trips this year, my wife and I finally did a cross country Amtrak trip. Emeryville California to Chicago, Chicago to Baltimore.

I brought my Fuji GF670w and Fuji GF670, though the latter has been seeing less use since I got the former. It was awesome.

https://www.hogarthferguson.com/blog/amtrak-coast-to-coast

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Untitled by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

This was one of my favorite photos, from the last hour or so of the trip.

GF670w
Fuji Reala

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Sunset by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

The sunrise over the desert (I think this was a sunrise) was awesome.
GF670w + Portra 400

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Amish by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

The Amish take the train, and according to the crew, are on every train. We had a few groups, one of whom I still keep in touch with. On a recent trip to Chile, when I was renting a car in Patagonia, my phone rang, it was my buddy Wayne, calling to see how I was doing. (Yes, the Amish call people)
GF670w + Provia 100f

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Salt Lake City by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

We had a late night stop in Salt Lake City, I woke up, got off, took a few photos, then got back on.
Fuji GF670
Ilford HP5 at 1600

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Almost to Denver by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

This has been my most popular photo, pulling through the Rockies en route to Denver.
Fuji GF670W
Kodak Portra 400

 

[FrozenInTime]

Thanks for sharing the experience - always wanted to do the cross country trip by train.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

some fellow by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

Some Indian fellow taking the trains around the USA
Fuji GF670w
Fuji Provia 100f

 

[willie_901]

Very well done.

Cross-country Amtrak trips are rich with photographic opportunities.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

This is so great. I'd love to do this some day.

 

[robert blu]

It must have been a great experience! I'll look deeper into your blog later, busy day here now!
robert

 

[Steve M.]

You learn to hate Union Pacific on those sort of trips,. Amtrak does not own a lot of it's track!!!, and often we had to wait for hours while they moved freight cars ahead of us, as the tracks could only contain one train at a time. The best part of the trip was the dining and observation cars. I could have lived in those for the whole trip (we went from Tucson, to San Antonio, to Little Rock, to Memphis and back w/ a side bus trip to Oxford, Ms).

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

You learn to hate Union Pacific on those sort of trips,. Amtrak does not own a lot of it's track!!!, and often we had to wait for hours while they moved freight cars ahead of us, as the tracks could only contain one train at a time. The best part of the trip was the dining and observation cars. I could have lived in those for the whole trip (we went from Tucson, to San Antonio, to Little Rock, to Memphis and back w/ a side bus trip to Oxford, Ms).

As a frequent Amtrak rider on the eastern seaboard, I have learned to use the bathrooms early. Especially on long hauls like to Montreal from NYC. Take lots of hand sanitizer and enjoy the views!

 

[Calzone]

As a frequent Amtrak rider on the eastern seaboard, I have learned to use the bathrooms early. Especially on long hauls like to Montreal from NYC. Take lots of hand sanitizer and enjoy the views!

I have done that trip, as well as to Toronto from NYC. The train ride allows a New Yorker time to relax and decompress. Boston was convenient.

Cal

 

[Out to Lunch]

Great series!

 

[naruto]

Some Indian fellow taking the trains around the USA
Fuji GF670w
Fuji Provia 100f

was he an English professor? I met someone who looks like him on a train ride in India once. Professor of English from Maryland Univ.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

You learn to hate Union Pacific on those sort of trips,. Amtrak does not own a lot of it's track!!!, and often we had to wait for hours while they moved freight cars ahead of us, as the tracks could only contain one train at a time. The best part of the trip was the dining and observation cars. I could have lived in those for the whole trip (we went from Tucson, to San Antonio, to Little Rock, to Memphis and back w/ a side bus trip to Oxford, Ms).

Yeah, it is unfortunate, but the trip was fun regardless. My next USA trip is going to be Baltimore to New Orleans, New Orleans to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Seattle. I really look forward to it.

was he an English professor? I met someone who looks like him on a train ride in India once. Professor of English from Maryland Univ.

No, I dont think he was, but I don't recall asking him. His English, while better than my Hindi, but was not that great.


My wife and I are doing a trip From Beijing to Moscow via Ulan Bator in April, really looking forward to that.

 

[Calzone]

Louis Mendez invites me every year to take the trip to New Orleans for Marty Gras. Louis goes via Amtrack so he can work the passengers.

One of these years I'm going to take him up on his offer.

Cal

 

[MikeMGB]

Very nice! I travel St. Louis to Chicago regularly on the train and my wife and I have talked about doing a loop round the country one year.

 

[Huss]

Great series. I tried to buy a Gf670w off someone on this site in the RFF classifieds but he came to his senses and decided to keep it!