AMTRAK - CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR - January 27, 1990

On the trip back to Chicago, the sky was clear and the ground was mostly free of snow. As expected, the scenery was slightly different due to the reverse schedule. This provided the passengers of the California Zephyr with an exceptional outside view.

During the trip I divided my time between reading and talking to nearby passengers. I have met so many fascinating people on Amtrak trains, it's amazing. I wish I had kept a list.

It's interesting to see how people occupy themselves for the duration of the journey. People converse, they read books and magazines and newspapers, they go for a drink or a snack. They sleep whenever they feel like it. Passengers are often found bundled up with blankets and pillows. You can gaze out the window for countless hours.

Parents tell their children stories, while teenagers play cards and listen to music. Some adults go downstairs for a smoke. It's a very free-form environment, and unlike an airplane, there's plenty of room to move about.

But all of this suddenly has to come to an end. In the early afternoon of the third day of cruising, the soaring Sears Tower could be seen in the distance. Sweeping through the suburban layers that surround Chicago, we eventually came to a halt outside of the Loop. Cautiously, we then backed into the station, our journey completed.

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