On the way Home from the Gathering via the "Shoter Way" I was Forced! by an Auer who will remain Nameless to Protect the Guilty (Round Up the Usual Suspects!)to stay on #422 and Ride the Eagle Detour Route from Taylor to Longview (LGV) via the Old MoPac Eagle Route that is now a Heavily Used UP Freight Route! The Tracks between LGV and Dallas are undergoing Much Needed Repair, the Tracks are in the Same Shape as the Western Kansas Tracks on the SWC Route!
When we arrived in Austin (my Home Station) I Hugged the Girlfriend and Dropped off my Dirty Laundry and Said see you Tomorrow Evening! :giggle: All the Passengers for Station North of Taylor had to De-Train and load on Charter Buses for Temple,McGregor, Cleburne, Ft. Worth, Dallas and Mineola! Not Happy Campers! :help: ) We Rolled out on time @ 9:30AM, (Last Call for Breakfast)and did the Stop in Taylor, the Train id two Spots to pick up Sleeper and Coach Passengers (Unusual!), then Rolled out headed East on the UP Hearne Sub which hadn't seen Passengers Service Since the 1960s! The Conductor told us that they would do a Crew Change in Hearne for the T&E Crew (the Engineers and Conductors on this Route had been Certified/Qualified since the Detour is Lasting 2 Months) , then go Non-Stop via Palestine and Kilgore to Longview, that the Train should arrive On Time in LGV around 6:00PM!
As we rolled through Rockdale I noticed the Beautiful Old MP Rock Depot was still there!
(I caught the MoPac Eagle there in 1961 to St. Louis!)After the Brief Stop for the crew Change in Hearne (the Old Depot is Gone! ) we Rolled Out on Slow Orders behind UP Freights headed for the Piney Woods! As we went through Palestine, I noticed that Both of the Old Rail Stations were still there! (IINM MoPac and Cotton Belt) Then Slowly Onward through Pine Trees, Swamps, Farms and Small Forgotten Towns! It got Dark around 5:30PM and was Clouding Up with a Prediction of Heavy Storms for the Night, I had my Last Supper in the CCC (Excellent Salmon!)and prepared to Detrain as we Slowly hit the Junction with the UP Main from Dallas @ the LGV Junction! We pulled into the Station right @ 6:15PM and had Beat the Busses that Brought Passengers from Stations between Temple and Mineola to LGV to Catch #22/#422 Headed North! The Houston and Shrevport Shuttle Buses were also Waiting to pick up Detraing Passengers! I said Goodbye to my Secret AU Friend (his Initials are the_traveler))and caught a Cab (the Aggents were very Friendly and Called for me)to my Motel located on I20 North of Town where I had a Restful Night's Sleep in a Bed that didnt Move! ^_^
After a Continental Breakfast, I hopped my Cab back to the Station for the *;30AM Departure of #21/#421 (it was Running on Time Out of Texarkana!)A Large Crowd was waiting to Board the Train (the Shreveport and Houston Buses brought about 40 People, plus the Locals!)The Train rolled in Right on Time, I hopped on my Coach and as usual Practice, stashed my Bag and headed for the Sightseer Lounge! The Trip back was Right on Timer all the Way with the Usual stops in Mineola, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Clkeburne, McGregor, Temple, Taylor and into Austin @ 6:25PM, 5 Minutes Early!
I had a Veggie Burger in the CCC (with Cheese )fpr Lunch, it was Excellent! One thing I forgot ti mention was Rail Fans riding on #422 on the Detour, there was a Guy that came from Wisconson (he Flew to Austin) and another Guy from Indiana that rode the Eagle from CHI-AUS, both rode back to CHI on #22/#422!!) On #21/#421 from LGV-AUS there were 4 Rail Buffs riding, they would spend the Night in Austion and then take the Next Mornings #22 on the Detour back to LGV!! Imagine!!! :giggle:
Overall, not a bad extension of my "Short Way" Trip Home from the Gathering but in All Honesty I dont think its worth it to Spend a Lot of Money to do this Trip (ie Fly in/Spend the night etc.) If you're riding #22/#422 Anyway or Live in Texas, it' sa Nice Two Day Trip for around $100 Bucks!)
When we arrived in Austin (my Home Station) I Hugged the Girlfriend and Dropped off my Dirty Laundry and Said see you Tomorrow Evening! :giggle: All the Passengers for Station North of Taylor had to De-Train and load on Charter Buses for Temple,McGregor, Cleburne, Ft. Worth, Dallas and Mineola! Not Happy Campers! :help: ) We Rolled out on time @ 9:30AM, (Last Call for Breakfast)and did the Stop in Taylor, the Train id two Spots to pick up Sleeper and Coach Passengers (Unusual!), then Rolled out headed East on the UP Hearne Sub which hadn't seen Passengers Service Since the 1960s! The Conductor told us that they would do a Crew Change in Hearne for the T&E Crew (the Engineers and Conductors on this Route had been Certified/Qualified since the Detour is Lasting 2 Months) , then go Non-Stop via Palestine and Kilgore to Longview, that the Train should arrive On Time in LGV around 6:00PM!
As we rolled through Rockdale I noticed the Beautiful Old MP Rock Depot was still there!
(I caught the MoPac Eagle there in 1961 to St. Louis!)After the Brief Stop for the crew Change in Hearne (the Old Depot is Gone! ) we Rolled Out on Slow Orders behind UP Freights headed for the Piney Woods! As we went through Palestine, I noticed that Both of the Old Rail Stations were still there! (IINM MoPac and Cotton Belt) Then Slowly Onward through Pine Trees, Swamps, Farms and Small Forgotten Towns! It got Dark around 5:30PM and was Clouding Up with a Prediction of Heavy Storms for the Night, I had my Last Supper in the CCC (Excellent Salmon!)and prepared to Detrain as we Slowly hit the Junction with the UP Main from Dallas @ the LGV Junction! We pulled into the Station right @ 6:15PM and had Beat the Busses that Brought Passengers from Stations between Temple and Mineola to LGV to Catch #22/#422 Headed North! The Houston and Shrevport Shuttle Buses were also Waiting to pick up Detraing Passengers! I said Goodbye to my Secret AU Friend (his Initials are the_traveler))and caught a Cab (the Aggents were very Friendly and Called for me)to my Motel located on I20 North of Town where I had a Restful Night's Sleep in a Bed that didnt Move! ^_^After a Continental Breakfast, I hopped my Cab back to the Station for the *;30AM Departure of #21/#421 (it was Running on Time Out of Texarkana!)A Large Crowd was waiting to Board the Train (the Shreveport and Houston Buses brought about 40 People, plus the Locals!)The Train rolled in Right on Time, I hopped on my Coach and as usual Practice, stashed my Bag and headed for the Sightseer Lounge! The Trip back was Right on Timer all the Way with the Usual stops in Mineola, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Clkeburne, McGregor, Temple, Taylor and into Austin @ 6:25PM, 5 Minutes Early!
I had a Veggie Burger in the CCC (with Cheese
)fpr Lunch, it was Excellent! One thing I forgot ti mention was Rail Fans riding on #422 on the Detour, there was a Guy that came from Wisconson (he Flew to Austin) and another Guy from Indiana that rode the Eagle from CHI-AUS, both rode back to CHI on #22/#422!!) On #21/#421 from LGV-AUS there were 4 Rail Buffs riding, they would spend the Night in Austion and then take the Next Mornings #22 on the Detour back to LGV!! Imagine!!! :giggle:Overall, not a bad extension of my "Short Way" Trip Home from the Gathering but in All Honesty I dont think its worth it to Spend a Lot of Money to do this Trip (ie Fly in/Spend the night etc.) If you're riding #22/#422 Anyway or Live in Texas, it' sa Nice Two Day Trip for around $100 Bucks!)
