Passing By Ambridge, Pennsylvania March 2, 2026, 445 AM A few months ago, I decided to turn on iCloud storage for my photos. Previously, my primary storage for my photos was on my MacBook Pro. The problem became that my 150,000 photos and videos were filling up my 1 TB hard drive. By beginning to use iCloud as my primary storage, I freed up space on my hard drive as now I have somewhat lower quality images on my MacBook; iCloud holds the full-size images. Not sure I am exp

Northwest Of Pittsburgh March 2. 2026; 4 AM Awake at 4 AM. Can’t sleep anymore due to my roomette being cold and the “bed” being uncomfortable. Which motivated me to compare my current roomette to the one I had on the California Zephyr. My Zephyr’s roomette was on a car called s Superliner. (Something being called a roomette on a Superliner gives away the time from they came from, right? I’m guessing the 1970s?). The Superliner is a two-level car that is used out West.

Midnight train to Virginia??

Oh yeah!! Work that core!!

Chicago Union Station March 1, 2026 250 PM CT I arrived here about one hour ago on the California Zephyr. I'm now in the "Metropolitan Lounge" waiting for my next train -- the Floridian which will take me from Chicago to Richmond -- leaving at 625 PM and scheduled to arrive in Richmond at approximately 4 PM tomorrow. Here is a list of the station stops between here and Richmond: I'm a bit stiff from the approximately 14 hour + 52 hour ride to Chicago from Los Angeles (exclud

California Zephyr Princeton, Illinois March 1, 2026 Yeah, this song defines the sights I have seen on the train through Iowa and Illinois. Probably Nebraska, too, but we went through there at night.

Iowa March 1, 2026 Melloncamp is from Indiana. Regardless, this song popped into my head as I’m looking out the train window as we roll through Iowa. I think the sentiment of the songs probably applies here.

March 1, 2026, 9 AM Ottumwa, Iowa Ottumwa, Iowa, is officially recognized as the "Video Game Capital of the World" a title bestowed in 1982 by local officials and later recognized by Iowa's governor. This designation stemmed from its role as the home of the Twin Galaxies arcade, the pioneering hub for tracking high scores and hosting early, major video game competitions in the 1980s. Twin Galaxies: Founded in 1981 by Walter Day, this arcade served as the "Intergalactic Scoreb

March 1, 2026 On California Zephyr In Western Nebraska 114 AM The train is rockin’ tonight! It’s wobbling side-to-side making it hard for me to sleep. So I got up; maybe I’ll get so tired I fall asleep or maybe I won’t! I make so many assumptions when I see a stranger. Heck, just that word is filled with an assumption — is “strange” the right idea? I assume from their appearance that I can infer many things about them. I do that even while I know my conclusions are basel

Denver Union Station February 28, 2026 Heard this on a station playing 1980s country music. Too funny.

Denver Union Station February 28, 2026 The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first official railroad traffic passed through in February 1928. Technical Length 6.2 miles (10.0 km) Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Highest elevation 9,239 feet (2,816 m) above sea level Tunnel clearance 24 feet (7.3 m) Width 18 fee

Today I’ve been listening to pianist Liz Story. Very Zen. Similar to George Winston. Which led me to asking Google for a comparison: Liz Story and George Winston, both iconic Windham Hill Records pianists from the 1980s new-age era, are frequently compared for their solo piano styles. Story is recognized for a more technical, jazz-influenced, and structured approach, while Winston is renowned for a folksy, impressionistic, and melodic style. Key Comparisons: Musical Style:

February 27, 2026 7 PM Outside of Winammuca If you pay for sleeping accommodations on the California Zephyr (I have a roomette — which is an appropriate name for this space), your meals are included. The European Plan if my memory of my trips to Bermuda is accurate. There is one hitch in the service — you have to dine with others at your table unless you are a party of four. The introvert in me tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t be hungry for dinner. After far too muc

February 27, 2026 Somewhere west of Colfax, California

Factually 27, 2026 Saw a lot of agriculture around Sacramento UC Davis is the state ag school. Davis itself looked nice — known as the bicycle capitol of the US. Observation car is pretty loud this morning. A large group of 60+ year olds unable to control their volume. It’s like they assume everyone is here to party! I’m guessing by the coolers people have brought on — and their clothes — a number of people are headed to Reno. Yikes. Coming into Sacramento I caught a glim

1040 AM February 27, 2026 I guess we are in the California Central Valley. Flat with lots of cropland. Saw IC Davis which is the ag school of the state. Davis is apparently the bicycle capitol of the US. Observation car is full now. A loud group of 60+ year olds; the kind of group that doesn’t appreciate that their loudness is rude to those of us enjoying the scenery. We are headed toward snowcapped mountains — I think in the Lake Tahoe area. Google Maps has me thinking

California Zephyr Leaving the Bay Area February 27, 2026 The most beautiful train stations in the U.S. are architectural masterpieces, with Grand Central Terminal (NYC), Union Station (Washington, D.C.), and Los Angeles Union Station leading as iconic examples. These historic hubs feature stunning Beaux-Arts and Art Deco designs, including grand waiting rooms, massive vaults, and detailed craftsmanship, serving as both busy transit centers and stunning landmarks. Top Most B

On The Coast Starlight February 26, 2026 The Coast Starlight is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States between Seattle and Los Angeles via Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area . The train, which has operated continuously since Amtrak's formation in 1971, was the first to offer direct service between Seattle and Los Angeles. Its name is a combination of two prior Southern Pacific (SP) trains, the Coast Daylight and

Emeryville, California February 26, 2026 Yes, the Amtrak California Zephyr runs along major portions of the historic Transcontinental Railroad route. Specifically, between Sacramento, California, and Winnemucca, Nevada, the modern train follows the original 19th-century route through the Donner Pass. Key details about the route include: Historical Path: The journey from the Bay Area to Nevada follows the historic Central Pacific Railroad line. Modern Route: The train travels