Amtrak Coast to Coast

[Hogarth Ferguson]

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.

My next trip on Amtrak might turn into a loop simply to make the trip what I want exactly. Our travel schedule next year is pretty packed, but, might be able to fit it in. With stops for Big Bend, Joshua Tree, Redwoods, and Crater Lake, who knows if there will be time. I love taking the train, though.

I'm going to keep adding photos here, by the way. I have a Patagonia trip I need to write up, too.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Really cool, thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[jarski]

nice images, thanks for sharing. reminded me of my coast to coast trip early 2011. used Amtrak at parts, but also Greyhound busses. needless to say train was much more comfortable.

that "Almost to Denver" image seems to be taken when door/window was open. its rare to see these days as everything is sealed and locked carefully, (overly carefully imo).

 

[ornate_wrasse]

These are really great! Thanks for sharing your train ride across the country. I have often thought of doing that, traveling from Portland, OR to New York City or Washington, DC. Taking my Mamiya 6 would make it even more special.

Earlier this month I took the train from New York City to Washington, DC and enjoyed it very much.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

nice images, thanks for sharing. reminded me of my coast to coast trip early 2011. used Amtrak at parts, but also Greyhound busses. needless to say train was much more comfortable.

that "Almost to Denver" image seems to be taken when door/window was open. its rare to see these days as everything is sealed and locked carefully, (overly carefully imo).

The windows in the vestibule open easily, I kept poking my head out and taking pics the whole way.

 

[Doug]

Thanks for the pics and write-up... interesting and brings back memories. An epic journey for me in 1960 was heading off to college... Take the ferry across Puget Sound to Seattle, then the train a bit north toward Everett and east through the tunnel under Stevens Pass to Wenatchee, Spokane, Missoula, Great Falls, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Change trains to the New York Central through Buffalo... where an 18-year-old could legally take a sip of booze! And I got off in Syracuse to take the bus south to school. In recollection it was an ordeal, really, I didn't sleep well and didn't really enjoy the experience. But it was interesting! Should have had a camera... 🙂

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

This was another favorite on my photostream and reddit

Lunch by Hogarth Ferguson, on Flickr

Fuji GF670w
Fuji Provia 100f

 

[gb hill]

I shared your blog of the trip on facebook as I have several contacts being train nuts. I hope to take a trip such as this one day.

 

[willie_901]

The windows in the vestibule open easily, I kept poking my head out and taking pics the whole way.

You were lucky.

I did the same thing. However this violates one of AMTRAK' prime safety rules. Once a conductor saw me poke my head out and take a photo when the train was stopped at a station. He found me and told me if I did that again he would throw me off the train!

On another trip the train was crawling through a switching yard. I was in a vestibule taking photos with the lens pressed tight against the door glass. The conductor walked through and offered to open the window. I thanked him and he said, "just keep your head and hands inside the window".

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

You were lucky.

I did the same thing. However this violates one of AMTRAK' prime safety rules. Once a conductor saw me poke my head out and take a photo when the train was stopped at a station. He found me and told me if I did that again he would throw me off the train!

On another trip the train was crawling through a switching yard. I was in a vestibule taking photos with the lens pressed tight against the door glass. The conductor walked through and offered to open the window. I thanked him and he said, "just keep your head and hands inside the window".

Luckily the conductor changes very frequently, unless it was a car attendant who told you, in which case they are on the train the whole route. Either way, I did it, took a photo, closed it. Got a good amount this way.

 

[jmilkins]

Great to see the two Fujis used in this way. Most enjoyable thanks.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Great to see the two Fujis used in this way. Most enjoyable thanks.

My fujis have been to over 20 countries so far, and it is just going to keep growing. They are absolutely wonderful cameras.

 

[Wongallo]

These are really wonderful photos. Thank you.

Slightly off topic: Are there techs who still service these cameras?