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I suppose now we& #39;ll get to find out just how well the proverbial train-without-passengers actually operates: the Rail Runner in New Mexico is taking no passengers as a result of covid. The link explains why; this thread contains my trip in 2017. 1/14 https://www.rtands.com/passenger/rail-runner-express-runs-without-passengers/">https://www.rtands.com/passenger...
2/ The Rail Runner links Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, with Albuquerque, the state& #39;s largest city, terminating south of Albuquerque in Belen. It& #39;s been running since July 2006, although the northern section to Santa Fe did not open until December 2008.
3/ I passed through Albuquerque in February 2017. On my first evening in the city, I wandered to the Downtown railway station and got a few photos of an evening service in the last of the sunlight.
4/ Some lamps on nearby streets acknowledge Albuquerque& #39;s railway history.
5/ Next morning I was back at the Downtown Albuquerque station, also known as the Alvarado Transportation Center, to actually have a ride on the Rail Runner.
6/ Trackworks vehicles and various Rail Runner rollingstock resting between duties. Albuquerque is the main depot for the service.
7/ Arrival of my northbound service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
8/ Look, I can& #39;t speak for people who aren& #39;t train nerds, but the reason Santa Fe is known beyond New Mexico is because of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, once one of the largest in the US. One of its famous red cabooses is visible on the approach to Santa Fe station.
9/ Santa Fe station is shared between the Rail Runner and the Santa Fe Southern Railway, which I understand to be a largely-mothballed tourist line and short-haul freight operator.
10/ The Rail Runner uses MP36PH-3C diesel-electric locomotives, with no.106 performing operational duties the day I was in the neighbourhood.
11/ I had a walk around the yard and took some shots of the Santa Fe Southern Railway& #39;s rollingstock. The loco is an EMD GP16. Apparently a group of buyers including George R.R. Martin recently purchased the company?
12/ Aboard one of the Rail Runner& #39;s Bombardier Bi-Level VI carriages. I recall it as a comfortable ride. These are used on a number of commuter rail services in the US and Canada—especially Toronto& #39;s Go Transit, who have over 650.
13/ Here are a few shots of the dry, striking landscape visible on the journey between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Since I was in New Mexico briefly, only about 24 hours, and had no personal transport, this trip was a great way to see more than just Albuquerque& #39;s (dull) downtown.
