When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe stitched its tracks into the banks of the untamed middle Rio Grande in the early 1880s, the speed and capacity of freight and passenger service to the area took a quantum leap.
The old standard of 20 miles a day by horse-drawn wagon or ox cart was no longer economically viable along this stretch of El Camino Real, the historic highway over which travelers had crept for centuries from Mexico City to Santa Fe and beyond.
The breakthrough transformed the fortunes of the valley, boosting the growth of Albuquerque, not then the New Mexico territory's principal city. And it accelerated the march toward statehood, which came in 1912.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/railrunner3.jpg
Public, Dignitaries and and press gather round for
photos and questions at a Road Runner photo op.
Photo Credit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)
Today Albuquerque and the roughly 50-mile stretch of north-south corridor from Bernalillo to Belén is by far the largest metropolitan area in the state. It is still served by the railroad, which fostered its rise. But, since Henry Ford began putting out Model T's for the masses in 1908, the area has become increasingly dependent on highways.
The corridor is served by Interstate 25, the modern version of El Camino Real, and by Interstate 40 (historic U.S.-66), which crosses I-25 near downtown Albuquerque. Increased traffic along the route, where more than a dozen historic towns and villages and two Pueblo Indian Reservations have grown together, has created a jumble of transportation snafus.
The solution, in part, was launched in 2003 by Gov. Bill Richardson, and recently implemented. The 21st century renewal of the railroad is a brash, colorful commuter train aptly named the "New Mexico Rail Runner Express," a metaphor of the popular and often-heralded state bird, the Greater Roadrunner.
"It prepares New Mexico for the future in terms of growth and puts it on the map as a progressive state," said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid Region Council of Governments, the organization implementing the new Rail Runner service.
It's not bad for sightseers either. The Rail Runner, built by Bombardier of Ontario, Can., is the light version of a passenger train. Like the roadrunner, it moves fast and stops regularly, only to quickly regain top speed, running the 46-mile Belén to Bernalillo route in just over an hour, while making nine station stops.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/railrunner2.jpg
Engine 101 is the "flagship" of the Road Runner Fleet
Photo Credit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)
On both sides of the silver diesel locomotive is a red and yellow caricature of a roadrunner's head, duplicating the colors of the New Mexico State Flag and its Zia sun symbol, which is featured on the Rail Runner's nose. The colors are also a nostalgic reminder of the AT&SF Super Chief passenger train. The steamlined Super Chief ran the same route cross-country from the 1930s until 1971.
Each 85-foot, tri-level coach, with seating for 140 and total capacity of about 200, sports the tail feathers of the roadrunner. Inside, the red seats, each decorated with yellow feathers, afford an open view of the countryside. Some sets of four seats face a table, with computer outlets. Wheelchair and bicycle storage is available in each coach with a fully ADA-accessible restroom.
The Rail Runner's nine station stops from south to north are at Belén, Los Lunas, Isleta Pueblo, Rio Bravo/Airport, downtown Albuquerque, Paseo/Journal Center, Sandia Pueblo, Bernalillo, and Sandoval County at US-550. A temporary station will be erected at the edge of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta during its Oct. 6-15 this year.
The station platforms have a common theme and identity and make passengers comfortable with shade canopies, wind screens ornamented by local artists, lighting and seating. Each contains bike racks. There's a lighted, paved parking area at each stop, fenced for security. A 30-foot kiosk with a backlit Rail Runner helps identify the stations.
The capacity of the stations vary with need. The largest is downtown Albuquerque's Alvarado Transportation Center, the hub of ABQRide's transportation service, which includes RapidRide. It is adjacent to the Greyhound and Amtrak depots.
. A second stage of the Rail Runner, due for completion in 2008, will take it to the state capital, Santa Fe, now served conveniently from Albuquerque only by I-40.
The current track goes through rural countryside that harbors the genuine roadrunners, a nice addition to anyone's bird list.
That's right. Half the time the Rail Runner goes backward. When it gets to the end of the line, it doesn't turn around. The engineer merely controls the train from a fAnd those roadrunners scurrying along the tracks might – almost certainly will -- stop and do a double take when they see their cartoon caricatures flying by – backward! ront row seat in a cab coach.
Not even Looney Tunes cartoonists could dream up a red and yellow roadrunner backpedaling at speeds approaching 80 miles an hour.
Beep, Beep!
For more information on the New Mexico's soon-to-be-launched Road Runner Commuter Rail system , visit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)
By: Ben Moffett - Contributing Reporter
© 2006 Ben Moffett - Reprint Permission Granted
When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe stitched its tracks into the banks of the untamed middle Rio Grande in the early 1880s, the speed and capacity of freight and passenger service to the area took a quantum leap.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/railrunneranimfinal.gif
The old standard of 20 miles a day by horse-drawn wagon or ox cart was no longer economically viable along this stretch of El Camino Real, the historic highway over which travelers had crept for centuries from Mexico City to Santa Fe and beyond.
The breakthrough transformed the fortunes of the valley, boosting the growth of Albuquerque, not then the New Mexico territory's principal city. And it accelerated the march toward statehood, which came in 1912.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/railrunner3.jpg
Public, Dignitaries and and press gather round for
photos and questions at a Road Runner photo op.
Photo Credit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)
Today Albuquerque and the roughly 50-mile stretch of north-south corridor from Bernalillo to Belén is by far the largest metropolitan area in the state. It is still served by the railroad, which fostered its rise. But, since Henry Ford began putting out Model T's for the masses in 1908, the area has become increasingly dependent on highways.
The corridor is served by Interstate 25, the modern version of El Camino Real, and by Interstate 40 (historic U.S.-66), which crosses I-25 near downtown Albuquerque. Increased traffic along the route, where more than a dozen historic towns and villages and two Pueblo Indian Reservations have grown together, has created a jumble of transportation snafus.
The solution, in part, was launched in 2003 by Gov. Bill Richardson, and recently implemented. The 21st century renewal of the railroad is a brash, colorful commuter train aptly named the "New Mexico Rail Runner Express," a metaphor of the popular and often-heralded state bird, the Greater Roadrunner.
"It prepares New Mexico for the future in terms of growth and puts it on the map as a progressive state," said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid Region Council of Governments, the organization implementing the new Rail Runner service.
It's not bad for sightseers either. The Rail Runner, built by Bombardier of Ontario, Can., is the light version of a passenger train. Like the roadrunner, it moves fast and stops regularly, only to quickly regain top speed, running the 46-mile Belén to Bernalillo route in just over an hour, while making nine station stops.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/railrunner2.jpg
Engine 101 is the "flagship" of the Road Runner Fleet
Photo Credit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)
On both sides of the silver diesel locomotive is a red and yellow caricature of a roadrunner's head, duplicating the colors of the New Mexico State Flag and its Zia sun symbol, which is featured on the Rail Runner's nose. The colors are also a nostalgic reminder of the AT&SF Super Chief passenger train. The steamlined Super Chief ran the same route cross-country from the 1930s until 1971.
Each 85-foot, tri-level coach, with seating for 140 and total capacity of about 200, sports the tail feathers of the roadrunner. Inside, the red seats, each decorated with yellow feathers, afford an open view of the countryside. Some sets of four seats face a table, with computer outlets. Wheelchair and bicycle storage is available in each coach with a fully ADA-accessible restroom.
The Rail Runner's nine station stops from south to north are at Belén, Los Lunas, Isleta Pueblo, Rio Bravo/Airport, downtown Albuquerque, Paseo/Journal Center, Sandia Pueblo, Bernalillo, and Sandoval County at US-550. A temporary station will be erected at the edge of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta during its Oct. 6-15 this year.
The station platforms have a common theme and identity and make passengers comfortable with shade canopies, wind screens ornamented by local artists, lighting and seating. Each contains bike racks. There's a lighted, paved parking area at each stop, fenced for security. A 30-foot kiosk with a backlit Rail Runner helps identify the stations.
The capacity of the stations vary with need. The largest is downtown Albuquerque's Alvarado Transportation Center, the hub of ABQRide's transportation service, which includes RapidRide. It is adjacent to the Greyhound and Amtrak depots.
. A second stage of the Rail Runner, due for completion in 2008, will take it to the state capital, Santa Fe, now served conveniently from Albuquerque only by I-40.
The current track goes through rural countryside that harbors the genuine roadrunners, a nice addition to anyone's bird list.
That's right. Half the time the Rail Runner goes backward. When it gets to the end of the line, it doesn't turn around. The engineer merely controls the train from a fAnd those roadrunners scurrying along the tracks might – almost certainly will -- stop and do a double take when they see their cartoon caricatures flying by – backward! ront row seat in a cab coach.
Not even Looney Tunes cartoonists could dream up a red and yellow roadrunner backpedaling at speeds approaching 80 miles an hour.
Beep, Beep!
For more information on the New Mexico's soon-to-be-launched Road Runner Commuter Rail system , visit: www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm (http://www.mrcog-nm.gov/Rail_Runner.htm)