Actually back just before the new station opened in Grand Rapids, a former conductor had mentioned to me that a second train was in the works, and yes, it would run like the Thanksgiving extra one, including the termination in Holland for the second one. The demand is there. When I rode from Chicago last Sunday, it was a sold out train. I have a feeling it’ll be a while as the studies are ongoing for a coast to coast train (continuation to Detroit from Grand Rapids). At least we got one of the new engines. LOLthat's pretty cool - they should also run a 2nd Pere Marquette for the Krasl Art Fair in SJ - the fair is right there up on the bluff...of course I was just talking to a conductor the other day about them running 2 trains a day, which has come up a number of times but hasn't happened. We were saying it could be a trial like when they add trains at Thanksgiving and maybe just try it for the summer, or just on weekends, or something like that to see what kind of interest there is. I'd love to see 2x day!
I sat in business class with a woman from St. Joe. I don’t remember seeing so many people getting off there before. We had the new engine on 370. I wasn’t paying close attention when I was on 371. I think it’s a permanent assignment to the Pere Marquette. Here is a picture I took on the Sunday after Thanksgiving between runnings of 370 & 371.I did see that new engine too maybe a week or 2 ago. And yes this train is frequently sold out in the summer for sure and I'm actually surprised how many people I now see getting on the train in St Joe into Chicago on Monday mornings - a lot more than when I started taking it every week in 2006!
I thought you might like seeing a sample of the tulips during the Holland Tulip Festival. They are simply stunning and gorgeous.Thank you all for the information. Can't wait to be in your area.
Yes, we may have been on the same train at the same time. I started riding the PM back in 2007 and have logged over 10,000 miles. I even remember when the train stopped in New Buffalo.I have probably ridden with you before but I don't usually take 370, but DO take 371 into Chicago on Monday mornings! For sure summertime there are a lot of people getting on/of in SJ but it's just been more recently that I've noticed an big increase over the winter months!
As Tim mentioned, the tulips can sometimes bloom after the actual festival. I also remember a year when we had an unseasonably warm spring and they bloomed way too early.
Thankfully, the Tulip Tracker is up and running now.You might want to use that to help plan your trip. The city is absolutely gorgeous when the tulips are showing. (I prefer when the petals are still closed just a bit, but they are gorgeous in full bloom as well.)
Here's the Tulip Tracker: https://www.cityofholland.com/parksandcemeteries/tulip-tracker-centennial-park
Also, I've always enjoyed this video that shows how they plant over 50,000 tulips on Windmill Island. You might get a kick out of it.
yes me too, though I'm happy for the new New Buffalo station/multiple trains as that's where I travel to outbound from Chicago since we are just in St Joe - easy ride.Yes, we may have been on the same train at the same time. I started riding the PM back in 2007 and have logged over 10,000 miles. I even remember when the train stopped in New Buffalo.I have probably ridden with you before but I don't usually take 370, but DO take 371 into Chicago on Monday mornings! For sure summertime there are a lot of people getting on/of in SJ but it's just been more recently that I've noticed an big increase over the winter months!
Almost forgot I’d taken this on 371, Sunday.I have probably ridden with you before but I don't usually take 370, but DO take 371 into Chicago on Monday mornings! For sure summertime there are a lot of people getting on/of in SJ but it's just been more recently that I've noticed an big increase over the winter months!
I’ve never ridden the PM to anywhere but Holland or Chicago, although I did drive to visit the new station in GR when the Exhibit train was there a few years ago. I never went to the old one.From South Bend where I live we drive up to enjoy downtown St. Joe a lot. Those photos are reminding me that (assuming the Chargers are still on the train in May-June) I need to go up and do another dusk photo shoot of the train stopping in St. Joe. Ive visited every stop on the Pete Marquette (fairly easy to do from South Bend) although Grand Rapids is the old station: http://subwaynut.com/amtrak/routes/pere_marquette/index.php
I wish they would add a day return schedule from Chicago daily year-round. The area looks really nice from what I have seen online and I would like to visit but the current schedule requires at least two nights whereas in the other direction it doesn't require any. Is there any major issue with track capacity on the line or is a second frequency only not done because of equipment? I know equipment is limited but there are now far more locomotives available than there used to be and I doubt it would require any more than three cars.And this would not be the first time for these extra trains.
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