Eastbound & Westbound Amtrak California Zephyrs Meet in Ottumwa, IA 6/23/15

Here's something that doesn't happen every day! On June 23rd, 2015, I waited throughout the day in Ottumwa, Iowa, to videotape Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr (train #6), which was running many hours late. It kept getting later, and I of course thought of the possibility that it might be close to the arrival time of the westbound Zephyr (train #5) as well, around 7 PM, and there might be a meet. It was very close for a while, but unfortunately the westbound Zephyr was late, too, with an estimated arrival into Ottumwa near 8 PM.

Thankfully (I guess), #6 got delayed yet again, thanks to a crazy passenger, who according to the Creston dispatcher was taking a joy ride "on top of the train" (!!). The police had to be called to deal with the problem, and they sat in between Albia and Ottumwa for probably a half hour or more. Well this set the stage for the video you're about to see. #5 hadn't lost much more time, and now #6 was set to arrive around 8 PM as well, putting both Zephyrs into Ottumwa at the same time! Not knowing what to expect, I set up at Gateway Drive west of the station to film #6 coming in. On the back of this train is private car "Silver Foot", a business car originally operated as a Union Pacific lounge-sleeper.

When the train stopped, I got in the car and drove over to the other side of the station near Market Street. I knew that #5 was probably close to, or in town already, and that it might be held at Iowa Avenue (east edge of town) until #6 left. This wasn't the case tonight! Instead, I heard #5 approaching, and made a last-minute decision to film the train on the north side of the tracks instead of the south. #5 stopped short of the Green Street crossing until #6 finished their station work and whistled off. Then, it started creeping forward, as #6 departed. What I ended up capturing was a perfect meet of the two trains, as both head ends met at Green Street. What luck? I'm not sure how many times this has actually happened, but it's very, very unusual!

Once getting into the station, I walked the length of #5 and filmed it departing the station, only about an hour late. #6 was more than 10 hours late when it left Ottumwa, and would arrive in Chicago at 1:15 AM.

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