Texas

Part of the "White Train", see descriptions with adjacent pictures. Apparently some of the cars had been built for commercial use and then were adapted for use in the weapons train.

Part of the "White Train", see descriptions with adjacent pictures.

This and adjacent pictures are cars from the 'white train', which was a train for hauling nuclear weapons. Per the museum's website, all of the cars were initially painted white but then were repainted to other colors to avoid being quite so conspicuous. Regardless, on first seeing them, one gets a feeling that they were designed to hide something evil -- they looked very ominous. This is of an escort car, inside were bunks and a kitchen for the guards. For more description of the train, see the museum's website: amarillorailmuseum.com/white_train.html

Details on the switcher -- see description with adjacent picture.

On the north side of a former Air Force base in Amarillo was what looked like a warehouse and a number of older, seemingly abandoned, bizarre looking rail cars and this one engine. I later discovered this was the Amarillo Railroad Museum. The engine viewed here and in adjacent photos is (per the museum's website) an Alco S-2 that was used for moving nuclear weapons trains at Pantex. Pantex was & is a nuclear weapons facility north of Amarillo. See the museums website for more information: amarillorailmuseum.com/switcher.html

On the grounds of the former Amarillo Air Force base -- just beyond the hangar you can see a plane. I believe the plane was associated with an aviation program at Amarillo College, which had a campus on the former base.

One surprising thing on this trip was to realize how often very long trains are crossing the U.S. Throughout the trip I would be near railroad tracks and see trains of 100 or more cars coming by, with seemingly only a few minutes between trains. This is Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks next to US 60 (the same route as US 66 when it existed) on the east side of Amarillo. Best viewed as part of Texas set.

Around the cross are bronze statues depicting the stations of the cross (see adjacent pictures)

Around the cross are bronze statues depicting the stations of the cross (see adjacent pictures)

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries at Groom, TX (see adjacent pictures). The cross is hollow and appears to be aluminum, it also makes a low level hum in the wind.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries at Groom, TX (see adjacent pictures) Even for a non-Christian who is made anxious by religious fervor, the white cross against the vast grasslands is an impressive sight -- particularly with thunderstorms rolling across in the distance. (The cross is aluminium and hollow.)

At Groom, TX, is a 19 story cross located on land next to I-40. The cross is lit at night and visible from a few miles away, during the day the cross was visible from about 8 miles on I-40. The cross and associated statues are the creation of Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries.

My initial plan had been to camp at Palo Verde State Park, south of Amarillo. I didn't count on the fact that the park would be full on the weekend, so had to go further. Since I intended to go to Groom (adjacent photo), this part was the nearest. The campground around the reservoir was quite pretty, though the night there was a little unsettling since there were thunderstorm rolling through during the night. This is early the next morning. The Grassland is managed by the National Forest Service.

Grain elevator in Bovina, TX. Ever since my first cross-country trip in the 60's, I've been fascinated with the grain elevators of the Plains states. The seem so incongruous when they're in small towns and are the tallest structure seen for miles. Since the towns often don't have multi-storied buildings, I end up wondering where the skills came from to build and maintain these tall structures. Bovina is on US 60, which is the route I was taking to get from New Mexico to Texas.

Pecos River crossing of US 90 in Texas. Scan of a film photo

Big Bend National Park during a summer rain storm. Scan of an older film negative.

Big Bend National Park during a summer rain storm. Scan of an older film negative.