We just returned from our first trip on the Capitol which took us from Pittsburg to Chicago and back. We chose the CL over the LSL due to cost and our preference for the Superliners and the larger availability of bedrooms.
Pittsburg Station is a full service station but a bit hard to find. Its actually located in the rear basement of the original Union Station which is now an apartment building. Amtrak still owns all of the station platforms and has a medium size waiting room but its a bit hard to find. Surpisingly it is a well used station and manned 24/7 although only four trains per day pass through it; two for the Pennsylvanian and two for the CL.
The Chicago bound train #29 leaves daily around midnight. The return trip arrives back at 5:05 AM. The train stops for 20 minutes for loading/unloading.
The CL had three sleeper cars on it. The sleeper capacity was about 80% full. Coach was crowded. We were in the 2900 car going and the 3000 car coming back. We had bedroom E which is right in the middle of the car both ways. Everything was working although some signs of 30 yr wear are starting to show.
The CCC car is still being used as the diner. The food selection was good . Breakfast going was your typical bacon, hash browns and eggs selection but it was served ice cold. On the return trip the dinner selections were salad and rolls, Shrimp Scampe, Chicago steak, Roast Chicken, Leg of lamb, Vegetarian Pasta etc. and a variety of tasty deserts. The dinner food was served hot and well prepared. The shrimp scampe was very good but it tasted more like shrimp creole w a spicy tomato sauce.
The CL does in fact still have an observation car on it which is very nice to ride in when the scenery. Since it is a Superliner its not a dome but with all the windows affords the traveler a very pleasant view.
Chicago Union station is still comparable to NYP station; very crowded but the Metro Lounge is comfortable, The wifi was not operational at all so we read and helped ourselves to soft drinks. While we were waiting for our train we walked over one black to the Willis Tower (former Sears tower) and rode up to the Sky Deck. There are many places to eat around the station but we ate lunch at Greektown which is about a 15 minute walk to the West. The Greek Island restaurant is our favorite and serves gourmet quality food at reasonable prices.
Both trains departed and arrrived right on time. Coming into Pittsburg at 5:05 AM, a friend told us to eat breakfast in the strip district. Delucas opens at 5 AM and serves a terrific breakfast at a bargain price. The strip distict is where you have most of the wholesale food warehouses in Pittsburgh and the trade tends to start early. We also ate in the strip district the evening before we departed as there are some retaurants there that cater to the nightime crowd. The strip district is only about a half mile from Union Station. There is now a large parking garage across the street from Union Station. It has 24 hour security ( 2 people) and after leaving our car there for 5 days, upon return, it was as we left it.
We have a few pictures to share and we will try to get these up on the forum later this week. All and all it was another pleasant train trip. The trackage condition to Chicago is decent but its still hard to manage more than a few hours of sleep. The 30 minute cigarette stop and the stop time at Cleveland will help to get you to sleep. If anyone has any questions on the PGH-CHI trip please feel free to ask.
Pittsburg Station is a full service station but a bit hard to find. Its actually located in the rear basement of the original Union Station which is now an apartment building. Amtrak still owns all of the station platforms and has a medium size waiting room but its a bit hard to find. Surpisingly it is a well used station and manned 24/7 although only four trains per day pass through it; two for the Pennsylvanian and two for the CL.
The Chicago bound train #29 leaves daily around midnight. The return trip arrives back at 5:05 AM. The train stops for 20 minutes for loading/unloading.
The CL had three sleeper cars on it. The sleeper capacity was about 80% full. Coach was crowded. We were in the 2900 car going and the 3000 car coming back. We had bedroom E which is right in the middle of the car both ways. Everything was working although some signs of 30 yr wear are starting to show.
The CCC car is still being used as the diner. The food selection was good . Breakfast going was your typical bacon, hash browns and eggs selection but it was served ice cold. On the return trip the dinner selections were salad and rolls, Shrimp Scampe, Chicago steak, Roast Chicken, Leg of lamb, Vegetarian Pasta etc. and a variety of tasty deserts. The dinner food was served hot and well prepared. The shrimp scampe was very good but it tasted more like shrimp creole w a spicy tomato sauce.
The CL does in fact still have an observation car on it which is very nice to ride in when the scenery. Since it is a Superliner its not a dome but with all the windows affords the traveler a very pleasant view.
Chicago Union station is still comparable to NYP station; very crowded but the Metro Lounge is comfortable, The wifi was not operational at all so we read and helped ourselves to soft drinks. While we were waiting for our train we walked over one black to the Willis Tower (former Sears tower) and rode up to the Sky Deck. There are many places to eat around the station but we ate lunch at Greektown which is about a 15 minute walk to the West. The Greek Island restaurant is our favorite and serves gourmet quality food at reasonable prices.
Both trains departed and arrrived right on time. Coming into Pittsburg at 5:05 AM, a friend told us to eat breakfast in the strip district. Delucas opens at 5 AM and serves a terrific breakfast at a bargain price. The strip distict is where you have most of the wholesale food warehouses in Pittsburgh and the trade tends to start early. We also ate in the strip district the evening before we departed as there are some retaurants there that cater to the nightime crowd. The strip district is only about a half mile from Union Station. There is now a large parking garage across the street from Union Station. It has 24 hour security ( 2 people) and after leaving our car there for 5 days, upon return, it was as we left it.
We have a few pictures to share and we will try to get these up on the forum later this week. All and all it was another pleasant train trip. The trackage condition to Chicago is decent but its still hard to manage more than a few hours of sleep. The 30 minute cigarette stop and the stop time at Cleveland will help to get you to sleep. If anyone has any questions on the PGH-CHI trip please feel free to ask.
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