In the early 1970′s Amtrak was created with the end effect of consolidating long-distance passenger rail service in the US. At that time the independant rail companies divested most of their passenger rolling stock.

However Union Pacific has kept many historical cars, and periodically takes them to festivals and other functions. Last spring I saw a yellow UP passenger-liner rolling down the rails in San Antonio and I searched for info about the train online. It was a bit difficult to find, but I ended up finding this history page on the E-9 Streamliners on their site. The source of my trouble in locating info on the trains was that I didn’t know that the train had a designation of E-9.

The train came to San Antonio for a Fiesta celebration April 21. In the Museum car, the only car that the public could view, there was this very nicely concieved touch-screen interactive history of UP. The only real problem with this set-up was that the computer and/or graphic card in the monitor couldn’t really keep up with touch gestures. The end effect was a bit clunky, but quite interesting. A very nice use of this kind of interactive display.

It would have been nice to be able to look through the historic cars on the train, but alas, the staff said that only “VIP’s” were allowed on board. Turns out that wasn’t me.

More photos of the train:

Quote by a Terre Haute boy put on a wall by a San Antonian and photographed by a Terre Haute boy who has been adopted by San Antonio.

This mural is on the side of a building at San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA). I have been going to SAMA on Tuesdays for the last few weeks with Elliot as a fun activity to do together. Of course there is a lot of interesting art to look at in the museum, but this piece outside on the wall has always been interesting to me, not in small part because of the Terre Haute connection with the author.

Attributions

Quote: Theodor Dreiser

Artist: Gary Sweeney

Photographer: Doug CohenMiller

Selected images from various Spring 2012 visits to SAMA

I recently accompanied Anna to Albuquerque where she atteded the Southwest Texas Popular Culture Association Conference. We had a great time in the 5 block radius of the Hyatt in downtown.

A surprising find in the Southwest -- a Parisian bakery. My breakfast of choice: Le Classique.

Since Anna is on the staff of the Association, we will be going back again to Albuqurque next year for the conference.

Highlights of the trip:

1. Walking around with Elliot
2. Taking time to do some reading — Still on 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
3. Meeting Steve and Erica at the Albuquerque public access tv station (Quote UnQuote)
4. Art galleries
5. Creative Albuquerque — an organization designed to develop the creative economy of Albuquerque.

For next year I am looking forward to getting out further and seeing some of the old part of the city.

Here is a selection of images from the trip:

It was a real pleasure.

http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/