You can find the entire set of photos here and if you are interested in information on this and other BNSF Southwest Division subdivisions here.
The first part of the Glorieta Sub between Dalies and Isleta is one of those rail segments that made sense back when the BNSF still ran long distance freight trains over this route, but now only sees the daily back and forth of Amtrak's Southwest Chief. If the 60mph jointed rail track didn't remind you that you were off the main line this typical scene tends to hammer the point home.
Good news is we're back to classic signaling with searchlights and pole lines. Bad news is that the desert appears to be reclaiming the line.
At Isleta we get off the jointed rail and onto something with concrete ties. This part of the line has been recently upgraded for the New Mexico Railrunner commuter line between Belen and Santa Fe. Not long after we are across the River Big.
At this point is was time for lunch and when I was done eating my dessert the train had stopped. Getting out to stretch my legs I had no idea where we were, but looking around I saw a Mennonite farmer's market, historic ATSF locomotive shoppes, and commuter trains with a strange roadrunner theme. At that point I realized those things were indicative of the kind of bold railfanning they enjoy in...Albuquerque! Oh, and the station said Albuquerque too.
It was here that I finally got photos of our engines, P42DC #167 and #118, while they were being fueled. Compared with trains 5/6 and 7/8 this was about on part with the Builder's refueling station in Helen, MT, but well in advance of the Zephyr's of Denver.
Also hanging out at Albuquerque was protect engine #148 located in front of the old ATSF locomotive shoppes which have been out of service for some time.
The New Mexico Rail Runner were located across the trains from the station and MP36PH-3C #105 was under the maintenance shed.
Also in attendance was Bombardier cab car #1007.
My photo loft as seen from the outside of the train. Amtrak was nice enough to have guys wash the windows on both sides of the train, but when I asked if he could wash off the end window it said he couldn't because that was a different craft or something so fuck it.
Passengers milling about on the through tracks. The Albuquerque station has a total of 4 platforms serving 4 tracks, but only two are really used for anything.
