Waiting for a Train -by B. Shetler

10:30, Tuesday February 21.

I’m sitting in the California Zephyr which was to have left the station at 8am. It was right on time coming east from Chicago. After a 15 minute delay correcting a computer glitch we were slowly rolling out of the station. We made it almost to the end of the railroad yard when the train stopped and began slowly backing into the station. Turns out the engineer ran through a red signal light and was immediately ordered to return the train to the station where he was discharged from his duties. It took an hour to locate a replacement who lives an hour away. Followed by the paperwork. Arrival time in Glenwood Springs just moved back 3 hours.

Our original plan was to spend this afternoon and tomorrow in Glenwood returning to Denver on the Thursday train. It will now be dark when we disembark and the weather forecast for tomorrow is for cold and snow..  An interesting journey ahead.

Postscript: The weather held up to its forecast but offered its own unexpected challenges and adventures. The eastbound Zephyr arrived on time Thursday and the seats in the back end of the last car were great - away from the bustle of travelers moving back and forth, closing and opening the doors between cars and with great window views of the varied and magnificent landscapes - rivers, mountains, canyon walls, open plains. Reminded me again of how lucky we are to live in Colorado.