1. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Home at last. I really can't remember an Amtrak trip that I was so
    glad to be home from. It was a disaster from the moment I arrived at
    Union Station in Los Angeles. The train was an hour late departing
    and 5 hours late into San Antonio. There was mass confusion there as
    nobody informed the passengers of the arrangements made for
    continuing to Chicago. Passengers were told to detrain at San Antonio
    & board busses for the ride to Dallas & intermediate points. After
    finding the busses, there was no one on the platform to direct the
    passengers, no one seemed to know which of the two busses was going
    where. After shuffling passengers back and forth between the two
    busses, we finally departed one hour after the arrival into San
    Antonio. The bus ride was terrible, traveling along an interstate, I
    believe I-35, that was under repair the whole distance to Dallas. We
    made a stop at a MacDonalds where we were given about 45 minutes to
    purchase food or beverages before we continued on to Dallas. We
    departed out of Dallas at 5:55 PM, down about 1&3/4 hours. Arrived
    Longview 1&1/2 hours late. Sometime during the night
    we were detoured through Illinois on the Chester sub? I remember
    hearing the conductor announce that we might lose a little time or
    even be able to make up some time (NOT). It was a ride on some
    trackage that I normally would never experience & that was the only
    good thing about it. We proceeded at a snails pace having to stop
    frequently to manually reset switches as we traveled along a very
    angry looking Mississippi River. We were, after all was said & done,
    about 9 hours late into Chicago. The only train that was left to New
    York was the Pennsylvanian, which would get me to New York after 10
    PM, with a connection in Philadelphia & without a sleeper. I passed
    on that alternative & the Greyhound alternative which wa also
    offered. I opted to remain in Chicago & was put up in Chicago at
    Amtrak's expense & given taxi fare & meal money. I would have to take
    my chances in the morning as far as getting to New York.
    (to be continued)
    Reggie
     
  2. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    After having breakfast at the hotel in Chicago, I proceeded to Union
    Staion to try and arrange my trip to New York. Needless to say train
    48, 448, 40 & even 30 had no sleeper space available. My choices were
    the Pennsylvanian or the Cardinal. Not wanting an overnight in coach
    I booked space on the Cardinal, which would put me in New York at
    1:30 AM after connecting with train #66 in Washington. Although the
    sleeper was sold out on #66, I was hoping to find a room if there was
    any no
    shows. I would have gone on to Boston & returned on the next train to
    New York. I wasn't real excited about spending the wee hours in Penn
    Station. Well, so much for that idea as we were 3 hours late into DC.
    They held #198 to New York 7 that would have put me in at 2:01 AM if
    we could make up the delay in departing from DC. The customer service
    agent in DC would not agree to putting me up for the night & then I
    could just continue on the Crescent the next day. He did give me $20
    for meal money in DC & I was able to get something to eat at the
    MacDonalds in the station just before it closed. I opted to wait for
    #190, with a group of passengers heading to Boston, which would
    depart at 3AM arriving NY at 7AM. I could then spend a little time at
    the lounge in NY and catch up on my e-mails, as they have 2 computers
    in the Acela Lounge, with internet access. The train to New York was
    on time & the interior & exterior were spotless, with even the
    windows being clean. Quite a change from the long distance trains
    which for the most part were filthy. I did get a little caught up on
    clearing out my mailbox & even got a couple of naps, at this point I
    was very tired & ready to make my next train, The Crescent, bound for
    the Big Easy.
    (to be continued)
    Reggie
     
  3. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Never woulda happened back in the 1940's or 50's. A conductor on the New York Central back then, when asked by a passenger if they would be "on time" would reply "Sir, you are riding on the New York Central." People living along the railroads used to set their clocks based on the trains passing. Progress is wonderul, isn't it? ;)
     
  4. Johnny Trains

    Johnny Trains Passed away April 29, 2004 In Memoriam

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    Trips like that bring fresh ammo to the front on the war against saving Amtrak.

    But......in the long run wasn't it fun anyway?????????
     
  5. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Well. Johnny Trains, I did actually enjoy my trip. I certainly hope that rather than not saving Amtrak, Amtrak will finally be funded properly. I'm talking about resources being applied to the national system not just to the NEC.
    Reggie
     
  6. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Guess we could all use a little good news after all the disasters I
    encountered on the first part of my trip. With one exception, my trip
    on the Crescent couldn't have been better. The one exception was that
    the coffee pot in my sleeper had not been on the train & a
    replacement was not available. If I wanted a cup of coffee in the
    morning, I had to get dressed, as opposed to just donning my robe, to
    head for the lounge car. The coffee was free for sleeper passengers,
    but it was a big inconvenience to have to go all the way to the
    lounge to get it. I find it hard to believe a replacement could not
    be found, if not in NYP, then at WAS. The crew on the Crescent was
    among the most professional, courteous and hardest working crews I
    encountered on my entire trip. I will certainly bring this to the
    attention of Amtrak as I believe good service as well as bad needs to
    be addressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the Crescent portion especially
    after such a bad start of my trip.
    The train was early or on time the whole trip, the cars seemed
    cleaner than elsewhere on my journey and the employees seemed
    genuinely happy to have you on their train.
    I enjoyed a brief layover in the Big Easy, getting up early to ride
    on the streetcars on St. Charles Av., always a special treat. My travel on train #58 was once again a very pleasant journey. Great
    crew again, as on the Crescent, both crews based out of New Orleans.
    Departed from NOL on time & arrived into CHI only a few minutes late.
    The new national menu was by now getting a little old. I really don't
    care if I ever eat string beans or baby carrots again. I did sample
    just about everything on the menu & aside from a small variation in
    the preparation, they were all the same. The only thing on the menu
    that changed at all was the seafood selection. The choices were
    halibut, catfish and salmon. Seems like different trains have
    different seafood items. I tried both the catfish & salmon & although
    nothing to write home about, they were tasty & attractively presented.
    (to be continued)

    Reggie
     
  7. Johnny Trains

    Johnny Trains Passed away April 29, 2004 In Memoriam

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    Two years ago in the middle of summer I endured a ride from New York to Newport News where the first leg of the trip we had no ac whatsoever until we finally had to change trains in DC to get a train with working air. We were dying on that train for about 5 hours.
    Then on my return trip I was stuck in Richmond for I don't know how long. Two hours?
    Certainly not as maddening as your trip but what the heck, after I got home I realized I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

    Dirty trains are uncalled for. There's Enough of everyone including passengers on the train that should have some sense to clean up after themselves.
     
  8. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with Reggie's observations about the Crescent. I rode it at least 10 times round trip between Slidell, LA and Washington, DC, 1994-2000. It was always(!) clean, showers always(!) hot, staff always(!) courteous, food always(!) prepared well and hot, and the wine was always available. :cool: And the Viewliner is an excellent Sleeper ... upper berth is better for this 6'2" frame! [​IMG]

    We were always on time or early with one exception. That exception was on the Monday following a Super Bowl when #20 had 5 private cars put on after departing New Orleans UPT, adding 55 minutes. We had made up all but 5 minutes when a CSX coal drag blocked the crossing just south of Charlottesville, VA station for 20 minutes. Ah yes, how CSX just LOVES to cooperate with Amtrak. :mad:

    All in all, the most pleasureable business trips I had in 41 years ... [​IMG]
     
  9. Railfan462

    Railfan462 E-Mail Bounces

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    Very interesting.....but I admit, it makes me a little apprehensive. In September I will be boarding the "Empire Builder" in Seattle for a trip east to Chicago. There I will change to a train to New York. Will I experience the same less than thrilling train ride as outlined above?
    I hope not.

    [ 27 May 2002, 04:54: Message edited by: Railfan462 ]
     
  10. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

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    Amtrak's problems are that there is a shortage of equipment which results in most cars being turned right out on the next train instead of being allowed to layover for proper cleaning & maintainence and that with the exception of the NE Corridor the Amtrak trains are run at the mercy of other Class I roads which may or may not keep their track/roadbed up to psgr speeds.
     
  11. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    I guess you could say I'm officially on my way home now. I checked into the Metro Lounge in Chicago and stowed my bags after switching clean for dirty clothes from my big bag that I check, to my carry-on. I then checked my big bag to Seattle. I walked the few blocks to the Giordano's on Jackson for a memorable stuffed pizza. I ordered the smallest pizza on the menu & barely got half way through it. I brought the rest back to the station & gave it to a very nice agent in the Metro Lounge. I heard a rumor that there was a problem with one of the sleepers on the Seattle train & became anxious once again. There was indeed a problem with one of the sleepers on our train, but fortunate for me, it was the Portland sleeper. The bathrooms were bad ordered & although the sleeper was still in the consist, the car was closed to passengers. No replacement sleepers were available & the passengers who held space in that car were offered a flight to Portland. Some of the passengers took that alternative although many chose to continue on the train. Most of the passengers were accomodated in the crew car & some in coach. I'm not sure what happened in Spokane when the train split up & the crew car went with the Seattle section. I'm sure there would be a lot of service vouchers issued on this trip.
    Everything went well on the Empire Builder, the food & service was good. The train was on time for most of the trip & arrived into Seattle just a few minutes late.
    The new national menu was becoming very old by now & I don't care if I ever eat string beans & baby carrots again. That is the only vegetable available anywhere on the national system. One other thing I noticed was that the portions on the trains had been cut back somewhat. Still plenty of food though & I never went away hungry. I checked into the Kings Inn in downtown Seattle ($65) and headed toward the Space Needle & Seattle Center. Enjoyed my last night off the train & was eagerly awaiting the Superior Service I have always experienced on the Coast Starlight, which I was to board the next day.
    (to be continued)
    Reggie
     
  12. Railfan462

    Railfan462 E-Mail Bounces

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    Well Reggie,
    I'm certainly glad that I like both green beans and baby carrots.
     
  13. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Well Reggie,
    I'm certainly glad that I like both green beans and baby carrots.
    __________________

    Yeah, I used to like them too, but everyday, that gets old.
    Reggie

    [ 30 May 2002, 01:57: Message edited by: reggierail ]
     
  14. Johnny Trains

    Johnny Trains Passed away April 29, 2004 In Memoriam

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    Eat your veggies!

    Think of all those poor Hobos along the line with nothing to eat but nail soup.
     
  15. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Got up about 6AM & got my overnight bag ready for my two day
    trip on the Coast Starlight. Had a cup of coffee at the motel in
    Seattle & took a taxi to King St. station. There used to be a stand
    there that sold coffee & various pastries, but that wasn't there any
    more. I knew that there would be a nice layout in the Pacific Parlor
    Car & was just going to wait for that. I checked my bag back to
    Bakersfield & with about an hour left before departure took a walk
    down the platform to check out the train.

    Guess what, no Pacific Parlor Car!!!

    No diner or lounge car to replace it either, I have seen that happen.
    Most likely in LA, where they would have more equipment available.
    This was adding insult to injury & I was sorely disappointed. I would
    have spent a considerable amount of time in the Pacific Parlor Car &
    it's being badordered really made the roundabout trip back to LA
    pointless.
    We were told that after departure we could go to the lounge car &
    would be given complimentary pastries & cold cereal. I did so &
    waited in line for about 30 minutes to be served. There were coach
    passengers in line also & they were delayed because of all the
    sleeper passengers not normally there.
    We were told that the wine tasting would be in our sleeper cars & the
    attendant would come around to the rooms with wine, cheese &
    crackers. After lunch they called all the sleeper passengers to the
    diner & had more cheese, crackers & wine available. They were pouring
    very freely too.
    We were running about an hour and 30 minutes late leaving Eugene. I
    headed to bed right after dinner & awoke in the station at
    Sacramento. We had arrived about 30 minutes early, must have really
    had the pedal to the metal overnight. I had a pleasant breakfast &
    after talking with the conductor decided to cut my trip short in
    Oakland & catch the next San Joaquin back to Bakersfield. I had
    originally planned to go on to LAX & wait for the 1 something AM
    bus getting me to Bakersfield at about 4:30 AM. Without the
    Parlor Car, I just blew it off & figured I'd head back home, getting
    there at a little after 4 PM a day early.
    This was the worst trip I have ever experienced and hope never to
    experience another like it again. What would be worse would be to
    have a client experience some of the problems I had.
    I boarded the San Joaquin in Oakland & the conductor invited me to
    the dining car foe a free meal. That was considerate of her. I did
    take her up on the offer later in the afternoon & had a very nice
    piece of salmon, albeit airline style.
    Got into Bakersfield about 30 minutes off the scheduled & was never
    so glad to be at the end of my journey.

    Reggie
     
  16. Johnny Trains

    Johnny Trains Passed away April 29, 2004 In Memoriam

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    Reg, how many miles did you travel?

    Amtrak should have frequent rider miles!
     
  17. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Amtrak has a Frequent Rider program where you earn points for every dollar you spend on rail travel. You can cash in the points for tickets and sleeper accomodations. Check it out at the Amtrak Home Page

    [ 03 June 2002, 00:27: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
     
  18. reggierail

    reggierail E-Mail Bounces

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    Reg, how many miles did you travel?
    ______________________

    About 9,800 miles, puts me over 200,000 miles total on Amtrak & VIA Rail.

    Reggie
     

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