Recent content by Opiatephoto

Currently stopped in Princeton IL, waiting out severe weather. Came out on 6 on 6/4 and was almost 8 hours late. Not a good showing for the Zephyr.

Looks like it's about 3 hours late today. It gets much later and I miss my connection in Chicago. If I'd of known about the detour I'd of resecheduled my trip, but I made reservations months ago. I hope they can fit full size touring bicycles in boxes on their busses.

I pack in a Domke 804, so I travel pretty light. It's made of waterproof material and can be carried like a sling bag, a back pack, or a satchel, is tough and unobtrusive. I take: iPad/iPhone combo- with Kindle and Overdrive apps for books, Zinio app for magazines, A couple of New Trent Power...

As I recall, last time on the CZ it was a van, and we have full size bikes, so I don't know if we can count on it. I'll build in an extra day just to make sure. We've ridden the Katy Trail before and we're both excited to ride this one. Thanks for the link to your ride report.

I've got some AGR points burning a hole in my pocket and so next year's vacation will involve my girlfriend and I riding bicycles from Pittsburg to Washington DC and LD trains to and from. Having ridden the Zephyr before, I know late arrivals are part of the trip. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't...

Durango and Silverton. Rode the line on a special behind a wood burning 1800s vintage 4-4-0 once. Lots of stops for water and wood, windows open for cinders and the scent of pine on the mountains. It was just like it was back in the wild west, only with a flush toilet on the train. Plus the High...

In December they chalked it up to "Z" trains. Longer consists that force 5 off the main and on to sidings because they won't fit. Most of the sidings have reduced speed limits, some as low as 5mph.

Once the remodel is done, Denver will be vastly improved. There will be Amtrak, light and heavy commuter rail, local, regional, and long distance bus service, all the way down to pedicabs. The rehab of the building should be nice as well. Plus there is some talk of converting from a stub station...

As a bonus, it is one of the few steam trains that will run at track speed instead of shuffling around at 25 mph. I've a friend who clocked 844 at 75 a couple years back.

The Floridian had poor ridership largely due to the track. It was a rough ride and slow. I recall it was about 14 hours from Nashville to Indianapolis. The other issue, at least in Nashville, is that CSX does not want passenger trains. They've been very forthcoming about that, saying it flatly...

The burger is pretty good, actually. The ham sandwich is pretty tasteless, however. I ate one and got full just in time to hear about some delicious specials in the diner and kick myself.

Well, assuming the cash could be found, a remake of the old SAL Solarium cars would fit that bill. Hollywood Beach The photo was taken back when the car was based in Nashville, TN. I rode it on an excursion once, and it was very nice.

My update hit today, and I got the 32,000 as well, even though the link I signed up with was for 12,000. It's nice to get the upgrade without asking. I'm thinking about a trip to EMY with my girlfriend for her first LD train trip, now.

It never made any money in it's history. The folks running it finally threw in the towel. A replacement company was going to start up, but Amtrak (who was going to provide the crews) and UP threw a wrench in by requiring extra insurance that made it too expensive and the new operator walked away...

If you can walk about three blocks with your bags, you are at the light rail/free mall ride station. The mall ride goes up 16th, and passes a number of boutique hotels. A couple of blocks the other way can get you to a La Quinta. If you were interested in the boutique hotels and have a smart...