George K
Conductor
When there's a longer stop, do you get off for a bit?
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Option #1 changed to reflect state of slumber!When its in the wee hours I usually don't get off but stay asleep.
4. The weather is agreeable to my clothingI would say I always do under the conditions that...
1. I am awake
2. The attendant opens the door
3. I am not in the dining car eating.
They can never leave earlyI generally get off at WAS when taking the Crescent to/from Atlanta.
I once even ignored advice and ran up into the station for some reason. (I do believe we were fairly early and I knew how long the engine change would take and since we were SB, it would not leave early.)
Making for an expensive cab ride to Alpine or San Antonio!Informing the sca will not make a difference. When the conductor says high ball, it's leaving. A lady got left in del rio while using the bathroom in the station.
I've never paid attention (since I usually don't get off), but is there a warning that says "Hey, we're leaving in 3 minutes" or something like that? I know the two short blasts of the horn mean that we're about to start moving, but how about "get your buns back on board NOW."?Making for an expensive cab ride to Alpine or San Antonio!Informing the sca will not make a difference. When the conductor says high ball, it's leaving. A lady got left in del rio while using the bathroom in the station.
Northbound they can and do. Washington and points north are discharge only, so once they've detrained all passengers, if there's a slot available, they'll take it and leave early.They can never leave earlyI generally get off at WAS when taking the Crescent to/from Atlanta.
I once even ignored advice and ran up into the station for some reason. (I do believe we were fairly early and I knew how long the engine change would take and since we were SB, it would not leave early.)
The "last call" announcement in the station is a very good indication. The "All Aboard" means if you are not aboard in a minute or two you'd be out of luck.I've never paid attention (since I usually don't get off), but is there a warning that says "Hey, we're leaving in 3 minutes" or something like that? I know the two short blasts of the horn mean that we're about to start moving, but how about "get your buns back on board NOW."?Making for an expensive cab ride to Alpine or San Antonio!Informing the sca will not make a difference. When the conductor says high ball, it's leaving. A lady got left in del rio while using the bathroom in the station.
Duh. Of course! I never really paid attention to the "Last Call!" because I've always boarded as early as I could, and I was settling in my room(ette) at the time of the call. And that explains why I've never noticed the "All aboard!" either.The "last call" announcement in the station is a very good indication. The "All Aboard" means if you are not aboard in a minute or two you'd be out of luck.
I think the time left after "All Aboard" is less than that usually. I would put it at a minute at the outside, most of the time. When they call "All Aboard" the train is going to GO. If you aren't at trainside on the platform when "All Aboard" is called you are likely to get left. If you aren't outside your car, board the car you are nearest to.The "last call" announcement in the station is a very good indication. The "All Aboard" means if you are not aboard in a minute or two you'd be out of luck.I've never paid attention (since I usually don't get off), but is there a warning that says "Hey, we're leaving in 3 minutes" or something like that? I know the two short blasts of the horn mean that we're about to start moving, but how about "get your buns back on board NOW."?Making for an expensive cab ride to Alpine or San Antonio!Informing the sca will not make a difference. When the conductor says high ball, it's leaving. A lady got left in del rio while using the bathroom in the station.
Yes, people unfortunately can be quite selfish either deliberately or cluelessly. Delaying an entire train seems to be of little concern to some. On train 6 once a mother left her children on the train and went of shopping. Her absence was discovered after the train had departed the station. Amtrak had to arrange to taxi the mother over to some obscure railroad crossing to reunite her with her children. Fortunately the resulting delay was minimal.Shanghai and I were at WAS going on a points run when our Silver Star was held up because someone went into starbucks and his girlfriend made a big fuss. He took longer than it took to change the locos...