Amtrak No. 22, the northbound Texas Eagle, arrived in Little Rock at 1:00 a.m. August 18, 2004, one hour late (due at 11:59 p.m. August 17). Two freights passed immediately before Amtrak took the siding. Of interest tonight was the private car "North Star" on the rear, No. 800289. Consist of Number 22 was: Locomotive 73,  Baggage 1261, Dorm.Passenger Sleeper 39029, Diner 38019, Lounge 33008, Coach 31508, Coach 34062, Coach 34034 (from Los Angeles), Sleeper 32069 (from Los Angeles), Private Car 800289 "North Star."


Inside the Amtrak waiting room about 11:30 p.m.


Little Rock's Union Station from the south part of the platform about 12:45 a.m. August 18.


Left is the walkway from the Amtrak waiting room to the tracks. Police and MEMS ambulance brought an elderly lady to the station who said she didn't have any money and needed a ride to Los Angeles.  She said she was 84. Of course, Amtrak 22 was headed for Chicago and she would have to wait till 4:30 a.m. for Amtrak 21. She ended up going to a shelter for the night.


Signals at south Union Station after midnight.


Private car 'North Star' on the rear. The gentleman on the rear platform kindly turned off the floodlights and went inside. The car was painted like Air Force One without the Presidential Seal, at least that's what it looked like to me. It has "United States of America' above the windows. I told the man on the platform that it looked like a presidential car, and he said he couldn't comment on that.  Time of photo was 1:02 a.m. August 18.


A view from the side. I couldn't get a straight shot of it because of the fence.


A parting shot of Union Station from Markham Street on my way home.