I think I need to go to a class called Time Zone 101. We are still in Mountain Standard Time, which is the same as Pacific Daylight Time, which means we actually left Tucson at 5:42 a.m. MST, which puts us 4:22 behind schedule.

The lack of cold food in the lounge car is becoming a problem. After a piss-poor breakfast – cold eggs and bacon, as well as grits in place of the potatoes I ordered – there is no pizza, burger or hot dog alternative. During the 40-minute stop in Tucson, I should have run to 7-11.

In between Bowie and San Simon, Arizona – where there is only one track – we stop for five minutes for CSX 7726 to pass.

During the stop in Tucson, I finally was able to record the complete consist of Sunset Limited 2:

1). Engine 2
2). Engine 840
3). Transition Sleeper 39017 (Car 0210) – half passengers, half crew
4). Sleeper 0230, Mississippi (Car 0230) – I am in Room 5
5). Dining Car 38062
6). Sightseer Lounge Car 33038
7). Coach 34107 (Car 0213) – Passengers for Tucson, San Antonio, New Orleans, Atmore and Pensacola
8). Baggage Coach 31005 (Car 0212) – Passengers for Ontario, Palm Springs, Yuma, El Paso, Del Rio, Houston, Beaumont, Jacksonville and Orlando
9). Sleeper 34098 (Car 2215) – Passengers for Maricopa, Fort Worth, Dallas, Longview, Little Rock and Chicago
10). Sleeper 32104, Oklahoma (Car 2230) – Texas Eagle passengers

We stop at Tucson at 6:03 a.m. MT, just as the sun begins to make its way above Mount Lemmon and the mountains of the Coronado National Forest. During the stop, we take on water in the dining car and fuel for Engine 2 (the primary) and Engine 840. There was talk they would fix the refrigeration system and restock the food in the lounge car here in Tucson, but according to our car attendant, Rick, there were no mechanics. And thus, still no food requiring refrigeration. We leave the station at 6:42 a.m. and are now 5:22 behind schedule.

I wake up at 4:45 a.m. MT and quickly take a shower. When I get back to my sleeper car, we are on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. Instead of making up time during the night, it appears that we lost some. I’ll know for sure shortly when we stop at the station.

After prime rib and some beers for dinner, it is time to call it a (long) day. Palm Springs, California is still about 20 miles away and it looks like we will be four hours behind schedule when we reach the station. Also, the maintenance crew in Tucson, Arizona is supposed to fix the refrigeration in the lounge car overnight. More delays could be ahead. I’ll let you know tomorrow.