Discussion of one of Amtrak's premier passenger trains, the Southwest Chief, the world's fastest long-distance passenger train. The Southwest Chief runs from Chicago to Los Angeles but more importantly serves rail passengers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The Chief, formerly an Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe train, provides fantastic scenery and a great travel experience.

Major destinations served: Kansas City, Topeka, Newton, Kan. (Wichita), Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Grand Canyon).


PICTURE: The Southwest Chief climbs the grades near Apache Canyon, in New Mexico, shortly after leaving its stop in Lamy, N.M., in September, 2003, on its way east to Kansas City and Chicago. (By Doug Ohlemeier, MOKSRail).