Amtrak long-distance trains have become hard-luck stories of late. The westbound Southwest Chief was late again, having lost one P42DC in Kansas City MO on July 11, 2019. The train's power was turned at nearby Santa Fe Junction and BNSF Dash 9-44CW 5454 was added to the train's consist. However, upon departing KC's Union Station, the other P42DC had issues and BNSF ES44DC 7368 was added to the front of the train at BNSF's Argentine Yard in Kansas City KS. And late trains just get later: Amtrak P42DCs 173 and 71 brought the train into KC just 32 minutes late, but by the time number 3 had arrived in Lawrence KS, just 40 miles further, it was 5 hours and 51 minutes late. The Southwest Chief passed through Summit, at the top of southern California's Cajon Pass, on July 13, now 13 hours late. It would eventually depart 14 hours two minutes late from Fullerton, yet arrive in Los Angeles later that evening just 13 hours 28 minutes late (through the miracle of schedule padding). Due into LA at 8:00 am, the train arrived at 9:28 pm. (Summit, Cajon Pass, California - July 13, 2019)
California-bound rail travelers from the east have three choices to reach the Golden State: California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. A look back through the years including the now-defunct Desert Wind
