Early morning of Aug. 4, 2005 near Everett, Washington.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Empire Builder Trip I
Above are pictures from a trip in August of 2005 from Chicago to Seattle aboard the Empire Builder.
Sunset Limited Trip I Conclusion (Finally)
It's been nearly eight months, but now is as good a time as any to officially wrap-up my Sunset Limited trip from last May.
Looking back over my schedule, which was kept via an Excel spreadsheet, we arrived in Orlando at 12:27 a.m., which put us 3:42 behind schedule.
Instead of taking the Silver Star from Orlando to Washington, D.C. the next day as originally planned, I elected to stay in Orlando for a couple of days and fly back.
Meanwhile, Mike, the rider who e-mailed me from Houston while I was on the Sunset Limited last May, has a blog of his own and he has posted commentary and pictures from his trip, which started in Kansas City. Amtrak Journeys can be found at http://anothertraveler.blogspot.com
And finally, since this trip took place in May of 2005, the damage from Hurricane Katrina has forced the shutdown of Amtrak service from New Orleans to Orlando. In the coming weeks, I will post pictures of the trip, including those of areas later hit by Katrina.
Looking back over my schedule, which was kept via an Excel spreadsheet, we arrived in Orlando at 12:27 a.m., which put us 3:42 behind schedule.
Instead of taking the Silver Star from Orlando to Washington, D.C. the next day as originally planned, I elected to stay in Orlando for a couple of days and fly back.
Meanwhile, Mike, the rider who e-mailed me from Houston while I was on the Sunset Limited last May, has a blog of his own and he has posted commentary and pictures from his trip, which started in Kansas City. Amtrak Journeys can be found at http://anothertraveler.blogspot.com
And finally, since this trip took place in May of 2005, the damage from Hurricane Katrina has forced the shutdown of Amtrak service from New Orleans to Orlando. In the coming weeks, I will post pictures of the trip, including those of areas later hit by Katrina.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Approaching Orlando
As we approach Orlando, it’s time to wrap up some loose ends from the trip. First of all, in case you are wondering, the streak continues for my second cross country trip – I had a hot dog and beer for lunch.
And now a couple of taboo and/or controversial subjects:
1). Bathrooms. The bathrooms on Amtrak are similar to the bathrooms on an RV – after a long trip, you can only do one thing: Deal with it. As for a sleeper car bathroom tip, here’s one from Jason, a Canadian on a North American rail pass who was in the sleeper across from me. Always use the bathroom next to the shower. Most people use the one upstairs first. As for the downstairs bathrooms, they seem to use the ones across from the shower not knowing that there is one between the shower and the handicap room. Here’s one thing I’ll add to Jason’s tip: the toilets in the bathrooms across from the shower (and upstairs) face the door. In the one next to the shower, the toilet is perpendicular to the door. Granted, I didn’t use a tape measure, but I believe there is slightly more leg room in this bathroom, as well.
2). Smoking. During this trip, several announcements were made about the fact that smoking on Amtrak will result in banishment from the train. Despite this warning, several individuals chose to light up in obvious and not so obvious places. Being in a sleeper car, I never smelled any smoke, but a couple of passengers said that they had. I never saw anyone light up, but on a couple of occasions, I saw lighters change hands in the lounge car during long stretches without a smoke break. What’s the solution? Good question. Amtrak can’t afford cameras or undercover employees posing as passengers. I guess all they can really do is to continue to banish those who are actually caught smoking.
(On a side note, to my knowledge, only one person was removed from the train. On Friday night, a passenger was forced to leave the train in Palm Springs, California. Earlier that night, I saw the passenger making a scene in the dinning car; the next day, a couple of passengers said they heard he had used a bad credit card, in addition to being a problem in the dining car.)
We just left the station in Sanford – where we discharged the dining car crew, for some reason – and we are now 3:38 behind schedule. With Orlando – and midnight – approaching, that’s all for tonight. I’ll update things tomorrow.
And now a couple of taboo and/or controversial subjects:
1). Bathrooms. The bathrooms on Amtrak are similar to the bathrooms on an RV – after a long trip, you can only do one thing: Deal with it. As for a sleeper car bathroom tip, here’s one from Jason, a Canadian on a North American rail pass who was in the sleeper across from me. Always use the bathroom next to the shower. Most people use the one upstairs first. As for the downstairs bathrooms, they seem to use the ones across from the shower not knowing that there is one between the shower and the handicap room. Here’s one thing I’ll add to Jason’s tip: the toilets in the bathrooms across from the shower (and upstairs) face the door. In the one next to the shower, the toilet is perpendicular to the door. Granted, I didn’t use a tape measure, but I believe there is slightly more leg room in this bathroom, as well.
2). Smoking. During this trip, several announcements were made about the fact that smoking on Amtrak will result in banishment from the train. Despite this warning, several individuals chose to light up in obvious and not so obvious places. Being in a sleeper car, I never smelled any smoke, but a couple of passengers said that they had. I never saw anyone light up, but on a couple of occasions, I saw lighters change hands in the lounge car during long stretches without a smoke break. What’s the solution? Good question. Amtrak can’t afford cameras or undercover employees posing as passengers. I guess all they can really do is to continue to banish those who are actually caught smoking.
(On a side note, to my knowledge, only one person was removed from the train. On Friday night, a passenger was forced to leave the train in Palm Springs, California. Earlier that night, I saw the passenger making a scene in the dinning car; the next day, a couple of passengers said they heard he had used a bad credit card, in addition to being a problem in the dining car.)
We just left the station in Sanford – where we discharged the dining car crew, for some reason – and we are now 3:38 behind schedule. With Orlando – and midnight – approaching, that’s all for tonight. I’ll update things tomorrow.
Me and My Big Mouth
Note to self: The next time you are on a train and you don’t understand what the engineer is doing, keep it to yourself. While backing out of the Jacksonville station, we make a stop and from my GPS, it appears we start going northwest. In my sleeper car with the door and curtain open, I say to nobody in particular: “What the f--- are we doing?” At that exact moment, the conductor walks by and shoots me a glance over his shoulder. Whoops. Naturally, after going west for a matter of seconds, we hit a switch and start going south – making a classic U-turn. Talk about putting your foot in your mouth.
Props for Jacksonville
Having been to Jacksonville, Florida several times for college football bowl games, I usually consider it my least favorite city in the Seminole state. However, I may have to reconsider due to their Amtrak station. I’m not talking about its size or the way it is constructed. Rather, small but important things that come in handy while you’re waiting on a train or running into the station while your train is making a stop: An ATM machine, a hot dog vendor and a couple of vending machines. Nice touch, Jacksonville. As we leave my favorite station so far in Florida, we are 3:08 behind schedule.
Future of Sunset Limited
While eating dinner – a pretty good New York Strip coated with peppercorns – we stop briefly in Lake City, Florida. The conversation during the meal turns to the future of Amtrak. It turns out a gentleman at the table and I both chose the Sunset Limited due in part to the fact that we had never ridden the route before and wanted to do so in case it is dropped during the impending budget cut. On that note, here is the perfect segue: We again lose time and are now running 3:27 behind.
E-mail from Houston
I received an e-mail from Mike, a rider who got off the train in Houston. Mike sent a clarification about my post “Service in San Antonio” concerning repairs of the refrigeration unit in the Lounge Car. Mike also sent some accompanying photos. Later, I may either post the pictures – if I get his permission – or link to his travelogue, if he decides to do one. Here is part of Mike's e-mail:
Two repair men did all the work on the refrigeration unit of the Lounge Car while George sat in his shorts and T-shirt inside the car. George would try to turn it on when they yelled to him. So when I heard George's announcement, he made it sound like he crawled into the belly of the car behind the refrigerated cases and fixed it himself - like a true salesman.
Two repair men did all the work on the refrigeration unit of the Lounge Car while George sat in his shorts and T-shirt inside the car. George would try to turn it on when they yelled to him. So when I heard George's announcement, he made it sound like he crawled into the belly of the car behind the refrigerated cases and fixed it himself - like a true salesman.
Free Shoes University
We stop at the station in Tallahassee, Florida for a 10-minute smoke break. The station is actually a couple of blocks from Florida State University. Approaching the station, the lights of Doak Campbell Stadium – where the Seminoles play football – are visible. When we leave Tallahassee, we are now 3:31 behind schedule.
Passing through the Panhandle
Through most of the Florida Panhandle, I have limited Internet access and a spotty data connection on my cell phone. The GPS receiver also cannot pick up a signal at times. There’s nothing much to report, however. Outside Douglas City, Florida, the engineer asks for permission to handle a switch. We stop for a minute before the switch is cleared.
Sunset Limited consist, Part III
Updated consist of Sunset Limited 2 from New Orleans to Orlando (minus the two cars dropped in San Antonio, a second engine was obviously not need. Engine 2 was dropped in New Orleans):
1). Engine 840
2). Transition Sleeper 39017 (Car 0210) – half passengers, half crew
3). Sleeper 0230, Mississippi, (Car 0230) – I am in Room 5
4). Dining Car 38062
5). Sightseer Lounge Car 33038
6). Coach 34107 (Car 0213)
7). Baggage Coach 31005 (Car 0212)
1). Engine 840
2). Transition Sleeper 39017 (Car 0210) – half passengers, half crew
3). Sleeper 0230, Mississippi, (Car 0230) – I am in Room 5
4). Dining Car 38062
5). Sightseer Lounge Car 33038
6). Coach 34107 (Car 0213)
7). Baggage Coach 31005 (Car 0212)
Delays Continue
Last night, before going to bed, the train made several stops in the train yard north of New Orleans and was going very slow the rest of the time. The radio chatter indicated we were stuck behind a freight train.
This morning, I woke up just as we were stopping at the station in Pensacola, Florida. The stop in Pensacola took more than hour due to a crew change and some kind of miscommunication that extended the crew change. Also, while attempting to leave the station, the new crew had to wait on the radio dispatcher for more than 10 minutes to verify the orders and release the train. Luckily, the station in Pensacola is next to the Gulf of Mexico and the stop is at least picturesque. When the train finally leaves Pensacola, we are 3:30 behind schedule.
This morning, I woke up just as we were stopping at the station in Pensacola, Florida. The stop in Pensacola took more than hour due to a crew change and some kind of miscommunication that extended the crew change. Also, while attempting to leave the station, the new crew had to wait on the radio dispatcher for more than 10 minutes to verify the orders and release the train. Luckily, the station in Pensacola is next to the Gulf of Mexico and the stop is at least picturesque. When the train finally leaves Pensacola, we are 3:30 behind schedule.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Jambalaya!
The New Orleans Jambalaya Run is a success! Our train pulls into New Orleans, Louisiana around 8:50 p.m. CT. According to the announcement, the recommended time to return to the train is around 10 p.m. and the train will leave at 10:30 exactly. I immediately high-tail it to the cab stand and have the driver take me to Mother’s, a classic cafeteria-style restaurant with the best Cajun food money can buy. I can’t decide between a large Jambalaya and a full Shrimp Po' Boy, so I order both. The price for the cab driver – a large man who knows the exact location of Mother's – to wait for me while I go through the line is $20 and an order of bread pudding. It is money well spent. Despite a 20-minute wait for my food, the driver is still outside. And I doubt it is because of the money. After a quick stop at the local mini mart for some beer, I make it back to the station at 9:45 p.m., well within the time limit. That’s it until tomorrow. It's time to eat, drink and sleep.
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