While today may have seen the shortest distance traveled, there was plenty to keep passengers busy. Tours of Crater Lake and Train Mountain provided great times for folks.

Arriving into Klamath Falls, the train spent an afternoon being serviced. Getting ready for the big trip tomorrow to Bieber, Keddie, Oroville, Sacramento, Fairfield and arrival into Napa tomorrow night. Great scenery awaits, especially the Feather River canyon.

Time to call it a night!

This morning we started a wonderful ride along the Columbia River from Pasco. Wide open spaces with plenty of sweeping curves to see the 28 car train in action.

Crossing the river at Wishram we headed up the Deschutes River canyon. Between the two rivers, plenty of folks out trying their best to reel in steelhead or perhaps even salmon. Railfans too were spotted in abundance along the way.

The line along the Oregon Trunk may not be a fast railroad but it is indeed a scenic line. Plenty of sharp curves made for great views of the long train snaking in and out.

The afternoon saw wet weather move in with grey skies as we came to Bend. Tomorrow it’s on to Crater Lake, Train Mountain and Chemault.

Today saw us depart from Seattle. All 28 cars with four locomotives left the Emerald City shortly after 8 am. A fine time as usual in town and short it always seems. Great walking, dining, shopping and other attractions.

The trip today saw us head south to Auburn and then make a big turn to the left headed for Stampede Pass, the Yakima River Canyon ( as seen above) and then on to our destination at Pasco for the night.

Check out this YouTube video by Bob Harbison as the consist is shown in full leaving Auburn. There were plenty of folks out and about taking photos and video of the train along the way. Even a helicopter from Channel 5 in Seattle overflew the train as we crossed Stampede Pass.

A treat along the way was the Northern Pacific Railway Museum seen as we passed through Toppenish with the Northern Pacific station as the focus. This Ford Railway Express truck was a real gem. Wish we had more time to spend there.

Dinner was the order of the day upon arrival at Pasco. Aboard the Two Rivers it was a meal of fresh Silver Salmon. Looking forward to the trip tomorrow down the Oregon Trunk to Bend, Oregon!

Seattle has been great!

A bit of the golden sunshine here and there with some rain, but generally very nice as weather goes. Plenty to see and do for all kinds of interests in and about the Emerald City. We even had a nice visit from the Seattle Center Monorail Bunny. Check out some views on their Facebook page.

Lots of work to get the train ready to go took place today. Kudos to everyone at Amtrak here in town for making everything happen.

A few views of some of the cars ahead of us so far as the train is assembled.

Seen above, is the business car Suits Me. Built By Pullman in 1928 as a office car for the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad. For 75 years, she was assigned to the president of this railroad.

The Berlin was built in 1956 was built in 1956 by Pullman for the Union Pacific as an 11 bedroom sleeping car called the Placid Lake. Recently it was part of the American European Express luxury train. In 2009 the current owners reconfigured the car and it is back in service.

The Dearing started life in 1925 as a 12 section 1 bedroom Pullman sleeping car named Thompson built for the Great Northern’s Oriental Limited train. In the early 1950’s she was sold to the Chicago Great Western Railway and was converted into a business car.

The Caritas was built in 1948 by Pullman for the St Louis San Francisco Railroad for service on trains such as the Texas Special as 4 bedroom 14 rooomette sleeping car.  In 1983, the car was converted with the addition of the open platform.

Plenty of cars still to come. Be sure to check back for more.

So, when I last left you, the Two Rivers and the Burrard were heading for Seattle on the rear of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train. At Oakland, our cars along with the Federal were added to the train. Already on the rear of the train was the former Santa Fe sleeper lounge Vista Canyon. That made four cars on the rear leaving Oakland. Almost on time, we departed Oakland with minimal delay. The ride that night continued on along the shores of San Francisco and San Pablo bays, across the Sacramento River delta and up the valley north through the Sacramento Valley.

The view above shows dawn at we passed Mount Shasta at about 6:30 am. Most folks are still asleep, having been awake in the early hours, enjoying themselves the first night out on the Two Rivers.

After our stop at Klamath Falls, weather comes to pass in the form of rain. Heavy at times as we climb the Cascade Range. Breakfast is enjoyed on a quiet Sunday morning. After breakfast naps are common as we roll the miles by into Oregon. As we pull into Portland rain comes to spoil our arrival. And it’s plenty of passengers boarding the Starlight in the Superliners ahead.

A nice dinner is enjoyed as we pass along Puget Sound. Arrival into Seattle is on. Eventually, we are parked at King Street station, ready for the days ahead.

Check back as we start enjoying the Emerald City!!