16-06-17c PHOTOS: Gulf Coast

In the final segment of my 2016 transcontinental Amtrak Long distance trip I travel from the sweatbox city of Beaumont, TX to Lafayette, LA and ultimately New Orleans. The route follows the gulf coast and the narrow spit of land that curves to the south of the Crescent City. Due to catastrophic backlighting I aborted the survey at Lafayette. You can find the full set of photos here.

About 2 hours east of Houston, Beaumont is the last crew change point and smoke stop on the Sunset Limited route. It is also the hottest place I have ever been with a suffocating humidity that defies belief.

The Beaumont station area has fortunately retained its classic searchlight dwarf signals.

Passing through the complex interlocking east of the station was a train led by NS SD70ACe #1160 and containing AC4400's #6150 #5760 and a few TIPX juice cars.

Doublestacks on the end of the same train passing through a high and wide car detector and a pair of signals operated by Kansas City Southern as part of a joint operation scheme.

Vertical lift drawbridge over the Neches River.

Passing a lashup comprised completely of UP SD70M's and SD70ACe's on the Connell siding.

UP SD70M's #4404 and #4213 on the Francis siding. 

The Orange, TX station close to the border of Louisiana. Once again I would like to remind my readers that El Paso, TX (5 photo sets ago) is closer to Orange, CA than this point.

Some NS C40-9W action east of Orange with #9021 and #9878.

Sabine River truss bridge separates Louisiana from Texas.

Paid of real rare birds here, WAMX GP20 #2005 and WAMX GP18 #1801 at Edgerly.

Backlit UP SD70M's, including #4181 and a crewmember waiting for us to clear the main ahead of the Lockmoor siding.

Calcasieu River rail swing bridge and adjacent I-10 road bridge at Lake Charles, LA.

HLCX GP38-2 #1819 and and UP GP40-2 #1386 hanging in the Lake Charles yard. #1819 is one of three HLCX units in the yard that day.

Last photo of Amtrak P42DC #77 at NOUPT, well after the sun has set for the evening. Not long after, #77 was involved in a minor accident with a tree branch.

Purple hued Superdome, where the Saints of Football play standing next to the Smoothie Kings Arena.

Amtrak Superliner #34040, my perch for the second half of the trip, waiting its next trip westbound.  This is the perfect place to say Mission Accomplished! And after being shut down the year before, it feels SO good to say that.

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal.

Well that's it for my epic 2016 cross country trek. However stay tuned for a special bonus set taken in New Orleans itself!