My memory is a bit fuzzy as I was 6 months old at the time so I'm hoping that one of you Santa Fe experts can help me identify which passenger train I rode from La Junta to Chicago in December 1966. My dad recalls that it was an afternoon departure but no idea what day of the week. Thanks in advance
This is a little early, but according to a April 30, 1961 Colorado Division timetable, The Chief left La Junta at 12:45pm and The Grand Canyon left at 6:05pm. These were daily departures. Hope this helps. Jerold
I have the 1970 time table. By then the Chief was gone but the Grand Canyon was moved to more or less replace its schedule. The Grand Canyon came through La Junta at 12:40 PM on its way to Chicago. I believe the Chief was discontinued in May of 1968 but kept its schedule right up to the end. Amtrak tried to revive it in 1973 using its old schedule and train numbers, 19 and 20.
That's useful info, thanks. From what I've read about the Chief it seems that it was mainly sleeper cars and more of a first-class, premium type train. We made the trip in coach so I'm leaning towards concluding that it was the Grand Canyon. Thanks again for your replies.
That was true up until 1954 when coaches were added after demand for sleeping accommodations began to fall off. Demand for coach class on the Santa Fe was so great that the El Capitan could not accommodate all of it and much was shifted to the Chief.
Hmmm, one would have thought that after 44 years it would be simple to ID a train. :tb-smile: I'm just happy that I rode the train "back in the day" - passenger trains are still a cool way to travel but it's not quite the same experience anymore.
I'm jealous, I never rode the Santa Fe that I know of. When my family moved to Tucson from Wisconsin, we took the Imperial (Rock Island/Southern Pacific) from Chicago. Then when traveling to California and back we always rode the SP. The ATSF did not come anywhere near Tucson.
Don't be too jealous, after all I was only six months old at the time. The first train ride I can recall is a day trip (Kansas City to Warrensburg [eastbound towards St. Louis], and return to KC) on Amtrak when I was around 6 or so. Could conceivably have involved former ATSF rolling stock though, right?
I have ridden Amtrak a few times over old Santa Fe routes. I once rode the "Lone Star" that traced the route of the Texas Chief. Last year I took the "Southwest Chief" from Albuquerque to La Junta, spent the night, then rode back to Albuquerque. I just had to ride over Raton Pass before anything happened to reroute the train.
