Over the course of this year I’ve been lucky enough to get a chance to ride quite the array of long distance Amtrak trains and see some of the most stunning vistas our country has to offer. There is simply no better way to see the great landscape of America than a journey by train. While I certainly find beaches and mountains beautiful, I’ve found myself most impressed by the rugged landscape of the American southwest, as seen on both the Sunset Limited and, most recently, the Southwest Chief. There’s just something about the striated red rock formations I find ruggedly beautiful.

I will refrain from saying too much about the Southwest Chief itself, and let a collection of photos I captured along the way tell the story. The dining car, the lounge car, and the roomette all enjoyable portions of the journey, but that can be experienced in many other places. The views from the windows, however, are unique to this trip and are what I made an effort to record. Enjoy a small collection of my favorite visions of the Southwest onboard the Chief – from stations to rock formations, and a few views of the train as well.

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

Visions of the Southwest

7 Responses

  1. Looks great Emily!!! I love the mission and Southwest style architecture. I heard Los Pollos Hermanos is opening up a franchise in the station at Albuquerque. Do you know if there is any truth to that?

  2. Paul O'Donnell says:

    Love the photos. The American Southwest is a truly beautiful part of our country. Looking forward to my trip on Southwest Chief at the end of this month. Thanks for sharing.

  3. David Fisher says:

    That is a terrific photo essay. Are you a railfan or just an expert photographer? Some of the best rail photography I’ve seen anywhere and I’ve seen a lot. You really captured some of the essence of the route across NM. Esp. liked the old buildings and the rails, some of them with the roadbed blurred. We all focus on different things and you captured your subjects beautifully!

  4. Warren J Eng says:

    Emily, the former Harvey hotel in Las Vegas NM, La Castenega, is now receiving guests again. I hope you can stop by again and see how wonderful a job the new owners have done in its restoration.

  5. Warren Eng says:

    Emily:

    The the former Harvey House “Las Castanedas Hotel” in Las Vegas NM is now open!

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