Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Southwest Chief (3, 4)
Stops:
Chicago, Kansas City, Dodge
City, Trinidad, Lamy (Santa
Fe), Albuquerque, Flagstaff, San
Bernardino, Los Angeles
Frequency:
Daily
Distance:
2,256 miles
Duration:
Westbound: 43 hours; eastbound:
42½ hours
Equipment:
Superliner coaches, sleepers, dining
car, lounge car
This is another of my favorite trips because it passes through
some truly beautiful parts of the country. After a midafternoon
departure from Chicago, you'll head west across Illinois farm-
land for several hours and then around 7:00 P.M. finally cross the
Mississippi River into Iowa. The Chief stops in Kansas City an
hour before midnight. By the time you wake up the next morn-
ing, you'll be just about in Dodge City. Boot Hill is a bit up the
street from the old brick train station.
The country will stay fairly flat for a short while, but by mid-
morning the Chief crosses into Colorado and climbs up toward
Raton Pass and the New Mexico border. You've been following
the original route of the Santa Fe Trail for quite a while by now;
off and on through here it's still plainly visible from the right side
of the train. Once you're through the pass, the third stop is Lamy,
New Mexico, which is the station serving Santa Fe. It's a very old
town and worth a visit of a few days. This was the final destina-
tion on the old Santa Fe Trail, but the Chief still has almost a
thousand miles to go.
Next comes Albuquerque. The train stops for almost a half
hour here for servicing, so you'll have time to get off and look at
some of jewelry being sold by Native Americans on the platform.
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