Got 25 Minutes? Amtrak Southwest Chief Journey!
Railfan Mark Richards takes us along for the ride!
The Amtrak “Southwest Chief” is the modern day version of the old “Santa Fe Superchief” which originates daily from Los Angeles to Chicago.
This video is shot from inside the train while making its way eastward from Los Angeles to Chicago.
Take a moment and put yourself in the dome car and enjoy the spectacular southwest scenery!
The 2265 mile route covers what was known as the old “Santa Fe Trail” that the pioneers forged with their wagon trains and stage coaches trying to reach California for its gold!
Amtrak assumed passenger service from The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe Railway in 1971 and still follows the same basic route as the Santa Fe Trail. In 1995, the Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern and became the BNSF Railway Company. BNSF owns the tracks that the Amtrak traverses.
The Southwest Chief travels an average of 55 mph on its trek from Los Angeles to Chicago taking 43 hours on the two nite trip.
Today, the route includes awesome natural wonders including the Grand Canyon, Sedona Red Cliffs, and the Continental Divide.
If you’ve ever taken a ride on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief or a train like this let us know in the comments below! Would love to hear your experience on this classic piece of history!
