Narrative:

We were cleared to taxi to runway 21. We held short of runway 8/26; and then were cleared immediately across to taxiway east to runway 21. The first officer was working the new numbers; I dinged the flight attendants and throttle burst; reviewed the numbers; and stopped at a hold short line. I asked the first officer if they thought this was the runway hold short line. We both agreed that it was not. There were no red runway indicators and just ILS or approach sign by the hold short line. I talked myself into continuing and incurred the runway 21 approach zone. I realized my error just before tower pointed out to me and asked if I could turn right into position and hold. We did that and were cleared for takeoff. Tower did not seem to have a problem with our action. We were rushed; we were busy; and I stopped at the hold short line. After discussion; I talked myself out of this really being the runway hold short line. I have taken off this runway maybe twice before since it's been built. I knew it was a confusing area but have not had any problems before. After takeoff; I read the commercial chart page closely and noticed the caution. The signage at this hold short line is not like anything I've seen at any airport in our system. The runway is 120 degrees back behind you when you get there; and is very confusing. Obviously; the note in the commercial chart page alludes that it has been done before and; in my opinion; it will happen again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW INCURS ON APCH PATH TO RWY 21 AT ABQ.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 21. WE HELD SHORT OF RWY 8/26; AND THEN WERE CLRED IMMEDIATELY ACROSS TO TXWY E TO RWY 21. THE FO WAS WORKING THE NEW NUMBERS; I DINGED THE FLT ATTENDANTS AND THROTTLE BURST; REVIEWED THE NUMBERS; AND STOPPED AT A HOLD SHORT LINE. I ASKED THE FO IF THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS THE RWY HOLD SHORT LINE. WE BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT. THERE WERE NO RED RWY INDICATORS AND JUST ILS OR APCH SIGN BY THE HOLD SHORT LINE. I TALKED MYSELF INTO CONTINUING AND INCURRED THE RWY 21 APCH ZONE. I REALIZED MY ERROR JUST BEFORE TWR POINTED OUT TO ME AND ASKED IF I COULD TURN R INTO POS AND HOLD. WE DID THAT AND WERE CLRED FOR TKOF. TWR DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A PROB WITH OUR ACTION. WE WERE RUSHED; WE WERE BUSY; AND I STOPPED AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE. AFTER DISCUSSION; I TALKED MYSELF OUT OF THIS REALLY BEING THE RWY HOLD SHORT LINE. I HAVE TAKEN OFF THIS RWY MAYBE TWICE BEFORE SINCE IT'S BEEN BUILT. I KNEW IT WAS A CONFUSING AREA BUT HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBS BEFORE. AFTER TKOF; I READ THE COMMERCIAL CHART PAGE CLOSELY AND NOTICED THE CAUTION. THE SIGNAGE AT THIS HOLD SHORT LINE IS NOT LIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN AT ANY ARPT IN OUR SYS. THE RWY IS 120 DEGS BACK BEHIND YOU WHEN YOU GET THERE; AND IS VERY CONFUSING. OBVIOUSLY; THE NOTE IN THE COMMERCIAL CHART PAGE ALLUDES THAT IT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE AND; IN MY OPINION; IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.