Just returned from my trip to St. Louis. I traveled to St. Louis with three friends of mine. Two of them had never ridden a superliner. We had a rough start at Union Station (see post on main page) with rude Amtrak employees. However, once we boarded the Texas Eagle, everything was about perfect.
The Chicago to St. Louis passengers are placed in the last car, and no freight was running. I spent the first 70 miles from Chicago to just past Dwight, IL at the rear window, watching the tracks. Have not been able to do this for several trips because freight cars are usualy on the back of the long distance trains. I enjoyed every minute of it too.
Dinner in the diner was excellent. I was served a delmonico steak. Delmonico means tha the meant is aged for 21 days. The steak was perfectly prepared, and not at all gristly. The salad was also good. My companions enjoyed their meal too. The service was somewhat slow, but it was friendlly. My companions and I enjoyed pleasant conversation, and two hours and 100 plus miles passed by.
We left the diner as the Eagle departed Springfield. I opted for some more time by the rear window. My companions dozed, or read. We had an ontime arrival into St. Louis. O
Everybody generally despises that Amshack in St. Louis, but I did enjoy the airconditioning in there. It was still 90 and humid when the Eagle arrived.
The return trip back on the Ann Rutledge on Monday was pleasant too. The selection of snacks in the snack car included a cheese in cracker package that I had not seen before. The train operated on time for the entire trip. We took the routing through coal city, IL along the ex-Santa Fe route between Dwight and Joiliet.
As noted in earlier posts, I don't like horizon cars. However, on this trip the ac worked adequately, and the friendly crew made the trip pleasant.
The Chicago to St. Louis passengers are placed in the last car, and no freight was running. I spent the first 70 miles from Chicago to just past Dwight, IL at the rear window, watching the tracks. Have not been able to do this for several trips because freight cars are usualy on the back of the long distance trains. I enjoyed every minute of it too.
Dinner in the diner was excellent. I was served a delmonico steak. Delmonico means tha the meant is aged for 21 days. The steak was perfectly prepared, and not at all gristly. The salad was also good. My companions enjoyed their meal too. The service was somewhat slow, but it was friendlly. My companions and I enjoyed pleasant conversation, and two hours and 100 plus miles passed by.
We left the diner as the Eagle departed Springfield. I opted for some more time by the rear window. My companions dozed, or read. We had an ontime arrival into St. Louis. O
Everybody generally despises that Amshack in St. Louis, but I did enjoy the airconditioning in there. It was still 90 and humid when the Eagle arrived.
The return trip back on the Ann Rutledge on Monday was pleasant too. The selection of snacks in the snack car included a cheese in cracker package that I had not seen before. The train operated on time for the entire trip. We took the routing through coal city, IL along the ex-Santa Fe route between Dwight and Joiliet.
As noted in earlier posts, I don't like horizon cars. However, on this trip the ac worked adequately, and the friendly crew made the trip pleasant.
