The only time I have rode a train was last summer up in Duluth, Minnesota on a tourist train. My coach was an ex- Empire Builder car. It was a very short trip, only from one end of Duluth to the other, so I still don’t really know how it is to take a city to city trip. I was born well into the Amtrak era, so obviously I don’t have much experience in this field.[sigh]
About a year ago had a business trip. Took the option to use AMTRACK’s Empire Builder: Portland Section; coach. Smooth. Quiet. LOTS OF ROOM. Cheaper than a bus!! Short run w/ turn-around. Competitive w/ airline schedules. Station was closer in to town. I LOVED IT!! Only 1 problem: to appreciate it, you must be a (yaahn) night owl.
And this was the month MR came out w/ the model on the Cover!! ( I had already made the decision to go when I got the mag.)
Randy
More thought: Don’t Ask her. Sweep her off her feet. Seduce her w/ dreams. Buy her a book or rent a movie of romance (I said ROMANCE - not action) on the train. Leave the car at home. Treat her like a Hollywood star. Take her shoping and buy yourself and her a new suit of traveling cloths. Take a taxi (or even a limo) to the station. Bon Voyage celebration w/ flowers, champain, etc. check over Classic Trains for menus & ideas.
Randy
My last two passenger train trips very very special for me. A friend was an engineer trainee on the Boone and Sceneic VAlley Railway in Boone, IA. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to ride in the engine (NW-2) for the 25 mile round trip. That was in the fall of 2001.
Then in May or June of 2002, the UP brought an Operation Lifesaver train to Fort Dodge. Since my company ws a major customer, we were given tickets to ride the train. They had a drawing on the train for a ride in the cab and a gentleman won. He said to give the ticket to a child. The UP said, “Sorry, no minors allowed in the cab for liablity reasons.” He then offered it to any one in the car. I gave it about 3 seconds before popping out of my seat. Rode in a GP38-2 on the way out and some one else rode in the cab on the way back… A friend sitting next to my wife said after I left, “He never even said goodbye!” My wife just laughed.
Boston to Baltimore and back for a soccer clinic. I was not back in to trains at that point but it was still a great way to travel.
The last train trip I did was between Halifax and Port Hawkesbury Cape Breton. That was back in 87’ It was on a Via RDC. That service was shut down in the early 90’s. What a shame as the trip to Sydney from Hfx was a really scenic trip.
Just got back from a great trip aboard the Southwest Chief. The wife and I boarded at Galesburg IL, got off at Flagstaff AZ and rented a car to go onto Phoenix. Using Amtrak’s Railsale, we paid just $260 roundtrip coach fare for both of us. Once we got on board, we asked about upgrading to sleeper. Westbound, we paid just 100 to upgrade to standard sleeper. Eastbound, we paid $86 to upgrade (apparently upgrade prices are based on distance traveled in the sleeper). As of the time of our trip, dining car meals were still free to sleeper passengers (I hear rumors this may end soon), so that was a real savings. The dining car meals were great, especially being free. We also learned, for best results, you need to sleep on your back given the rock and roll of the train! The sleeper even had a shower with hot water. Scenery over Raton, etc was really great.
Two Track Main
Summer before last I rode the Passenger trains(both of them) at the Texas State Railroad. I was there scrounging parts for the “819”. Got a line on the part we were looking for AND a cab ride in the light pacific #500. I rode from Rusk to Palestine (round trip) with the Pacific and from Palestine to Rusk (round trip behind a Consolidation. I have also been slated for a cab ride in late May/ Early June when the Challenger comes through here on her way to houston. I chased her for two weekends in Jan and Feb this year.
Fortunately for me, my wife hates to fly and likes trains so she doesn’t object to train trips. However, for multi-day trips she definitely prefers a sleeper–me, I’m a rough & ready type who doesn’t mind sleeping in a coach chair, but my wife likes a bit more privacy and comfort, and, well, I don’t mind it either I guess…
Most recent ‘passenger ’ train ride was on tourist line out of Chattanooga with my son five years ago. Time before that was on IRT subway line in Queens in 1994. Most uncomfortable ride was in cab on Edaville 2 foot narrow gauge in 1980: my fiance and I had to sit on the cab’s window sills, for there wasn’t room for four of us in the cab. Most beautiful scenery was on Amtrak from Oakland to Reno in the snow just after the rotaries cleared Donner Summit in 1978 with my earlier fiance. Best meal was on New York Central from Utica, NY to NYC in 1962-best lamb chops I ever tasted! Dumbest thing I ever did on a train was in UK in 1986, when I left my camera on the train seat when the London train I was on arrived at my stop in Swindon. I got off the train, the doors shut and I realized I didn’t have my camera, ran up to the cab unit and frantically pleaded with the crusty ol’ Brit engineer to stop the train-eventually a conductor, or whatever they call them in the UK, intervened and convinced the engineer to accomodate me. All this took place with a large crowd enjoying the whole escapade. On that same trip, while riding the London ‘underground’, I saw some of the weirdest wierd-oos ever in public-downright scary when you’re in a train underground in a foreign country and most of the passengers looked and acted like the cast from “A Clockwork Orange” that aged very badly, and that you had only a vague idea where you are and not a clue as to how to get where you’re going. Rode the San Deigan (Amtrak) many times in the '80s from San Juan Capistrano to San Diego-nice ride thru beautiful country but best part was twisty bits near La Jolla. Unfortunately it always ran behind schedule, so spent a fair amount of time in bar in restored San Juan station-there was/is? a great restaurant in The Depot right in the station with jazz every Sunday with brunch. Most annoying train ride was when I was a liitle kid living in Queens and my Mother insisted that I wear short pants every time we went into Manhattan on t
Two weeks ago my wife and I took the train from Washington, D.C. to Portland, ME with a stopover is Boston. Delightful trip. Got to visit the Maine Narrow Gauge RR in Portland and ride in the caboose cupola. Train travel is the best way to go. One caution the long term parking is the same price as the daily parking at Union Station in D.C. - $16/day, I learned this the hard way when I paid $80 for 5 days parking.
Enjoy
Paul
I’ve taken Amtrak from Toledo to Boston a couple of times in the past two years, most recently last August 2003. I’d love to do more, and may consider taking Amtrak for a vacation this year. The work schedule usually dictates air for business travel, but I do squeeze in Amtrak when east of the Mississippi.
-Jer
Hello!
My last trip on a passenger train was about three years ago I took Amtrak from Pittsburgh to Chicago then at union station switched trains and then headed off to La Junta Colorado. It was a really nice ride, left pittsburgh at midnight then arrived at chicago about 9am and then laid over until about 3pm then arrived in la junta at 8am the next morning it was a really nice sceniced ride! I will do it again real soon!!
Well, using your advice I got my train trip!!! It’s not to Orlando, but my wife and I will be taking the Empire Builder to Chicago for our 25th Anniversary in May. We will be staying at The Drake hotel, going out for a great dinner and then a musical. Should be fun!! .[:)][:)]
My last trip was the people mover at O’Hare Field last October. Two weeks before it was Amtrak from Chicago to BWI.
HOORAY!!!
One Step at a time!
“Oh Honey - you ain’t done it untill you’ve done it … rolling over the Santa Fe”
“Lone Star” to (Maggie Smith) in “The Honey Pot”
Randy
The last train trip I took was in England. A lot of their equipment is old, but there are so many trains that you can get all over the country with no need for a car. Even to small towns.
I can’t remember the last time I rode a train in the US (other than rapid transit). Sad comment.
Mine was on the Grand Canyon Railway in June of 2002, & will probably be in for going on it again soon. Just too much fun.
I’ve NEVER been on a real train going anywhere! [:(]
I just never had a place to go that had to be reached by train.
The closest I’ve got was walking through a Heavyweight coach at a railroad museum. [:)]
Commuter trains around Chicago. Every time I have to go downtown (about once a month) I use Metra instead of the Kennedy, to save time and mental stress. I also occasionally take the CTA “L” into town, especially if I’m heading to a Cubs game (gotta love the Skokie Swift!).
I also ride the trains at the Illinois RR Museum several times a year. Being a member means I get to do this for “free”.
The last “real” passenger trip I took was way back in 1992, from Harrisburg to Chicago. I got to have breakfast in a Heritage Diner while we rounded Horseshoe curve!
I sum, I ride the train as much as I can, which is something like 20 times a year.