Hiya All
The story so far - flight over the atlantic was American Airlines - all went well, was on-time, Immigration in Chicago took about 30 mins. I had hoped to get online for the sunday chat, but by the time I got to my hotel here in NYC I didnt' feel like trekking back out to find a net cafe - i got as far as a bar
So far, I've taken two Amtrak trips. I'll detail them now, sorry if it's sort of rambling..
I took the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC last thursday. Chicago Union Station, and the train were busy. For a country that 'doesn't do trains' CUS was much busier than I expected. I took my checked bag to the station in the morning, checked that through to WAS, then headed back downtown. I got back to CUS in time for to book lunch, a quick drink in the lounge (which is pretty good) and then we boarded the Capitol.
Larry was my sleeping car attentant for the trip - he apepared a few times to check if things were okay, ask when I wanted to be woken up. I also got him to make the bed up for me, at around 11pm. Having boarded and found my room, I settled in for the trip. The Superliner I was in was I think one of the refurbed ones, and I was pretty impressed with it.
I held a 8.30 lunch reservation, but that turned into more like 10pm. I think the train was sold out and so things were busy. I had the steak, which was pretty good. I was pretty full, so I didn't bother with a dessert. My seatmates for lunch were a guy returning to DC from a convention and an older couple. I spent a bit of time in the Lounge car, chated to a few random people and saw someone who looked EXACTLY like someone I knew (tho it wasn't them). Lounge car was busy too, one guy had a coolpack and looked like he was there for the night!
Decided to head back to the sleeper at around 11ish as I was tired. I'm not sure how well I slept on the train, I remember waking up a few times. It was cool in the sleeping car, but I'd remembered to pack a warm top in my carry-on. As promised, Larry woke me at 7.30, and I headed downstairs to shower. There was a bit of a queue for the shower, but I was soon able to get clean. Luck would have it that at the time we were stopped for a signal, so I managed to have a shower without being thrown around at 79mph. The shower worked well, the water was warm enough and I was able to get clean! I don't know if Amtrak provide towels, I took along my own travel towel (the sort you use for camping - it folds up small) and the shampoo I'd got from the hotel in Chicago.
Having showered, it was up to the dining car for breakfast. I was given a ticket and had to wait in the lounge to be called. They were busy! At around 10 I got some breakfast, I opted for the omlette which was pretty impressive. One of the others on the table had a breakfast pizza - that looked pretty neat too, but I was pizza-d out from Chicago! Seatmates for breakfast were a guy who was travelling coast-to-coast on amtrak who was trying it 'for a change' and a couple who didn't like to fly. The man of the couple was born not far from where I live in the UK.
At around 12.30 sleeper passengers were called back to the diner for lunch. I didn't know if lunch was included on the Capitol, howerver it seems it was. The waitress told us that lunch was a very 'cut down' option - burger or hotdog! The poor dining crew had been busy all morning, I had the turkey burger for lunch. I wasn't that hungry from breakfast, but it saved me eating in DC that evening! My seatmates were quite critical of the service, howerver I found it fine, and given the dining crew had been rushed off their feet - maybe I'm just more willing to cut people some slack that others?
We arrived into DC around 30 mins late - pretty good for Amtrak! I colleced my bag from the baggage claim, then had to show the bag check, after that I was off into the DC metro.
So, for a first trip it was all pretty good. Maybe I had low expectations and got lucky with a good car and crew, but I had a good trip to DC. I was eating breakfast at Harpers Ferry, so didn't get the chance to take any photos (d'oh!) but it was a nice way to eat breakfast
Onto the second trip - Acela Express from DC to New York Penn. The business class ticket wasn't cheap, and the train was apprently sold out. I was worried I wouldn't be able to store my big bag anywhere on board, but that turned out to not be a problem - there are massive luggage racks at the end of the cars!
Hint for anyone boarding at DC in Business Class - head straight to the front car! It seems to fill up slower so you get a pick of the seats. I took a window seat and has the two to myself for most of the trip - I only had a seat mate from Newark to NYP. I ventured to the cafe once for a drink.
The acela BC seat was very roomy, i flicked through the free magazine and looked out of the (big) window. We arrived into NYP around 10 mins late. Took my bag and headed out into the NY subway..
So, two down and two to go. Will let you know how they go...
Cheers
Chris ... currently in NY.
The story so far - flight over the atlantic was American Airlines - all went well, was on-time, Immigration in Chicago took about 30 mins. I had hoped to get online for the sunday chat, but by the time I got to my hotel here in NYC I didnt' feel like trekking back out to find a net cafe - i got as far as a bar
So far, I've taken two Amtrak trips. I'll detail them now, sorry if it's sort of rambling..
I took the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC last thursday. Chicago Union Station, and the train were busy. For a country that 'doesn't do trains' CUS was much busier than I expected. I took my checked bag to the station in the morning, checked that through to WAS, then headed back downtown. I got back to CUS in time for to book lunch, a quick drink in the lounge (which is pretty good) and then we boarded the Capitol.
Larry was my sleeping car attentant for the trip - he apepared a few times to check if things were okay, ask when I wanted to be woken up. I also got him to make the bed up for me, at around 11pm. Having boarded and found my room, I settled in for the trip. The Superliner I was in was I think one of the refurbed ones, and I was pretty impressed with it.
I held a 8.30 lunch reservation, but that turned into more like 10pm. I think the train was sold out and so things were busy. I had the steak, which was pretty good. I was pretty full, so I didn't bother with a dessert. My seatmates for lunch were a guy returning to DC from a convention and an older couple. I spent a bit of time in the Lounge car, chated to a few random people and saw someone who looked EXACTLY like someone I knew (tho it wasn't them). Lounge car was busy too, one guy had a coolpack and looked like he was there for the night!
Decided to head back to the sleeper at around 11ish as I was tired. I'm not sure how well I slept on the train, I remember waking up a few times. It was cool in the sleeping car, but I'd remembered to pack a warm top in my carry-on. As promised, Larry woke me at 7.30, and I headed downstairs to shower. There was a bit of a queue for the shower, but I was soon able to get clean. Luck would have it that at the time we were stopped for a signal, so I managed to have a shower without being thrown around at 79mph. The shower worked well, the water was warm enough and I was able to get clean! I don't know if Amtrak provide towels, I took along my own travel towel (the sort you use for camping - it folds up small) and the shampoo I'd got from the hotel in Chicago.
Having showered, it was up to the dining car for breakfast. I was given a ticket and had to wait in the lounge to be called. They were busy! At around 10 I got some breakfast, I opted for the omlette which was pretty impressive. One of the others on the table had a breakfast pizza - that looked pretty neat too, but I was pizza-d out from Chicago! Seatmates for breakfast were a guy who was travelling coast-to-coast on amtrak who was trying it 'for a change' and a couple who didn't like to fly. The man of the couple was born not far from where I live in the UK.
At around 12.30 sleeper passengers were called back to the diner for lunch. I didn't know if lunch was included on the Capitol, howerver it seems it was. The waitress told us that lunch was a very 'cut down' option - burger or hotdog! The poor dining crew had been busy all morning, I had the turkey burger for lunch. I wasn't that hungry from breakfast, but it saved me eating in DC that evening! My seatmates were quite critical of the service, howerver I found it fine, and given the dining crew had been rushed off their feet - maybe I'm just more willing to cut people some slack that others?
We arrived into DC around 30 mins late - pretty good for Amtrak! I colleced my bag from the baggage claim, then had to show the bag check, after that I was off into the DC metro.
So, for a first trip it was all pretty good. Maybe I had low expectations and got lucky with a good car and crew, but I had a good trip to DC. I was eating breakfast at Harpers Ferry, so didn't get the chance to take any photos (d'oh!) but it was a nice way to eat breakfast
Onto the second trip - Acela Express from DC to New York Penn. The business class ticket wasn't cheap, and the train was apprently sold out. I was worried I wouldn't be able to store my big bag anywhere on board, but that turned out to not be a problem - there are massive luggage racks at the end of the cars!
Hint for anyone boarding at DC in Business Class - head straight to the front car! It seems to fill up slower so you get a pick of the seats. I took a window seat and has the two to myself for most of the trip - I only had a seat mate from Newark to NYP. I ventured to the cafe once for a drink.
The acela BC seat was very roomy, i flicked through the free magazine and looked out of the (big) window. We arrived into NYP around 10 mins late. Took my bag and headed out into the NY subway..
So, two down and two to go. Will let you know how they go...
Cheers
Chris ... currently in NY.