Well I decided to make a new thread, instead of putting it in my last one, about the trains I would be taken. I'm taken the Southwest Chief and Lake Shore Limited. Are they good trains? For those that have ridden on them before, what kinds of things do you see? Just basically how is the ride? Thanks all.
My son & I rode the Chief about 5 yrs ago between Chicago & Raton (Yrs ago I rode it all the way to LA), crew was friendly & train was on time- smooth ride, however scenery nowhere near that of riding the Zephyr or Builder. The Lakeshoreusually operates within an hour of on time, good track, "ok" crew. You'll see the slums of Chicago, steel mills of Gary, a view of the Great Lakes and the scenic Berkshire Mountains as you go thru State Line Tunnel. You will also see a LOT of trains as you pass by Elkhart, Cleveland, Buffalo and upstate NY. plus the others you will pass by.
What about the bridges and cliffs.. are the bridges high, sturdy enough to hold a train.. are you really close to cliffs? I think like what if it derailed, it could go into the water or the cliff. The way I think of trains, is your on this track in the middle of like two big mountains and then you go across a bridge over a huge body of water, then go flat on ground, see houses and that's that. I don't mind the flat part, but the bridge and cliff parts are another story. Fred do you have a travelogue and/or pictures of your trip? Also did you really enjoy your trip..like you wasn't scared or anything?
Train travel is the safest way to travel. Bridges & trestles are checked out on a regular basis. If a rr bridge is strong enough to support a 14,000 ton coal train it sure then can handle a psgr train. Go to the nearest Amtrak station, you can usually find all sorts of brochures and flyers regarding their trains and routes they travel along with what you will see. Scared?? I've from Brooklyn, travelled the New York subways & EL's at an early age, at age 13 took a psgr train from Detroit to Tucson by myself changing trains in Chicago. Been traveling by train between Detroit & New York since I was 9 yrs old, have also travelled on Amtrak MANY times to California, Boston, New Orleans, Washinton DC, New York, Chicago and Dallas--nothing to be scared of-enjoy it !
Wow, you have traveled alot Fred. Yeah I know about those subways in New York, I had a dose of it when I went to visit some family there and it is no joke. That and driving in Boston where I was born. I just don't know why my mom moved so far away! Long travel across this big country, but I do want to overcome my fears. Martyn, yeah but could you say the same about the bridge in Alabama..remember that incident?
If referencing the towboat collision with said bridge- That accident was not caused by AMTRAK. The accident was not caused by the host railroad. Fault had nothing to do with anything railroad. It was caused by unusual weather conditions. And combined with an unusual error by tow boat crew. It had never happened before. Has not since. Boxcab E50
