I inquired on New Years eve on train museums in the northeast and thought I’d comment on the outcome. Overall, I was unsure whether the family would think I was crazy to propose the trip. With full support, my 11 yr old grandson and I took Amtrak from Fort Worth to Chicago, a layover to DC. Sleeper car. What fun! Meals in the dining car, views including the St Louis arch and the Mississippi, and great views from PA down through Cumberland MD to DC (with Nat’l Park persons explaining the C&O canal history in the lounge car. Plus DVDs in the evening from the PC, Abbott & Costello, Little Rascals, etc. Then great DC sites, Amtrak to Baltimore (42 minutes). In Baltimore, the B&O Museum (includes a fantastic HO layout) and National Aquarium. Then to Scranton Steamtown (stopping at MBKlein train shop…giving in to a Big Boy purchase). Saw Big Boy 4012. Then to Strasburg…railroad (including shop tour and steam train ride), RR Museum of PA (equipment in great condition), very impressive Choo Choo barn 1700SF layout, and a train store. Then Gettysburg, then Valley Forge & Philly (Independence Hall, Franklin Institute (super for kids) and a cheesesteak. What a trip, to be remembered in a Shutterfly album.
Anyway, I thought I’d share how great an experience a trip like this was, in case the idea crosses your mind. Not sure who had more fun, though this first grandson has been thoroughly infected with an interest in trains (Thomas, then HO).
Particularly, I want to thank those who gave tips on this area back in January.
Paul, Sound like you and your grandson had a blast. Hopefully in about 5 or 6 years I will be taking my nephew to ride the Durango and Silverton RR. I hope this is the first of many trips we will be taking together to not only ride scenic railroads but railroad museums also.
Sounds like you had a fantastic trip – and you came nowhere close to exhausting the list of potential sights to see. Perhaps you’ll get a chance to do it again in a few years? In any case, I’m sure this is an experience your grandson will never forget. Plus he’ll be totally prepared to have an easy time with the proverbial “What I Did with My Summer” assignment…unless it’s 100 words or less.[;)]
Ha! I was on the Capitol Limited departing Chicago on the 11th and arrived in DC on the 12th. I was then on it again on the 17th coming back and getting into Chicago on the 18th.
It was a great trip. I went on my honeymoon with my new wife and we just loved it, except for the sleeping. We hardly got any sleep because they were going very fast at night and with every bump you feel it. We were in a sleeper car both ways, on the way there we had the full room and on the way back we had the roomette. She and I both got a bit trainsick (in the stomach, a bit queezy feeling) at times during the night. Other than that though it was a great trip!
On a side note, on the 11th when we were leaving Chicago I saw another Superliner consist that was pulled in by a BNSF locomotive so I’m guessing that it broke down somewhere and had to be towed in. We also saw the Veterans P42 locomotive as we were leaving Union Station which was cool.
You must really be lite sleepers. My wife and I took the Amtrak from TX to St. Louis at night and sometimes could not even tell the train was moving. Much smoother than I remember on my last train ride in the 1960’s.
We had a 2-nite trip, Fort Worth to Chicago, another train to DC. Found the ride smooth when sitting but did not sleep very well the 1st night, from the rocking that seemed more pronounced on the bed. But the 2nd night slept just fine, same type roomette (w/bath). I recall not sleeping so well the 1st night in our camping days but additional nights went well, similar to the train. I’m sure this will vary by person.
The train experience was quite satisfactory overall, especially if not in a hurry. Takes awhile (TX Eagle schedule from Fort Worth to Chicago was 45mph average, but beats being squashed in air coach seats that are placed about 2" tighter than reasonable legroom! I’d ertainly consider doing it again for a fun experience with kids.
I was sort of sleeping but I kept waking up to see where we were, since I had never been on that route before. Next time I’ll probably just put the bed down early and sleep until I have to get up at 5 to get off in Pittsburgh.
I didn;t sleep much on the Pennsylvanian in to Harrisburg, didn;t want to miss anything there either. Almost missed Horsehoe Curve because we were overtaking a long auto rack train coming up the west side. At least i remembered to grab a seat on the proper side of the car. Actually was easy, almost everyone who boarded ahead of me sat on the North side of the car for some reason.
At some point in my childhood, my Dad took me to ride on the NYC subways all day, as a birthday present.
I still remember that trip, although it was well over a half-century ago. It’s one of my favorite memories, both of my own childhood and of my Dad. May your grandson remember this trip as fondly. You could not have given him a finer gift.