Departing the station in Pomona CA is Amtrak’s train 36, the Ogden UT-bound Desert Wind. On this day, a pair of F40PHs, 214 and 249, are in charge of this nine-car train. There is a lot of interest here, from the hand-lettered numberboard on 214, the Roman-style number on 249, the heritage baggage and sleeper, Amcafe to the two former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars mixed in with the Superliners. And the vacant lot off to the train’s left is now the location of Metrolink’s dispatching office. Back in 1981, this part of Pomona was not as scenic as Amtrak would have liked for their passengers to gaze upon, but it is much nicer today. (Pomona, California – January 3, 1981)
Depicts Amtrak's "Desert Wind" service, which operated from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, via Las Vegas. Its discontinuance in 1997 left the lower Intermountain region, including Las Vegas, without any passenger rail service since.
California-bound rail travelers from the east have three choices to reach the Golden State: California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. A look back through the years including the now-defunct Desert Wind
