Now underway after it station stop at Topeka, Amtrak Train #991 sprints down the BNSF Topeka Sub. with a pair of Phase 3 Heritage Units and 4 cars. The excursion train wasted no time, leaving Kansas City at 0630, and arriving into Topeka for a stop around 0830, and departing for La Junta, CO at 0900.
The special ran across a portion of the route used by the Chicago to Los Angeles Southwest Chief on the 11th and 12th. The 4 car train stopped at every revenue stop between Topeka, KS and Albuquerque, NM. The train's purpose for running was to inform citizens, news media, and local officials that Amtrak relies upon Congressional appropriations and funding continued operations of their long distance trains.
Amtrak and BNSF Officials spoke with government officials and citizens along the route urging the states themselves to contribute towards the $100 Million needed for track upgrades. The current BNSF-Amtrak contract that requires Class 3 60 MPH track or better expires in January 2016, and the train faces possible rerouting to the BNSF Transcon if no additional money materializes and train speeds drop.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
