More Photos from Amtrak’s California Zephyr and Coast Starlight

 An hour out of Denver and heading west, the Zephyr climbs up through the Flatirons and skirts a broad expanse notorious for very high winds … winds so strong at times that heavy rail cars have been toppled. At the worst spot is a row of a dozen or so hopper cars filled with gravel that serve as an effective wind break.

The Zephyr’s consist: twin locomotives, baggage car, dorm car, three coaches, lounge car, dining car, and three sleepers.

It’s 6:55 a.m. in Davis, California, and the southbound Coast Starlight is arriving dead on time. I’m just minutes away from a Bloody Mary in the Pacific Parlour Car, followed by a breakfast of French Toast on the diner. Life is good!

Throughout the afternoon and into dusk, the Coast Starlight follows the coastline en route to an early arrival into Los Angeles Union Station.