Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
This trip report will be put on in two parts in the same thread
EDIT: here are the pics links up here read the post at bottom for info about them
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenmontero...untryTrainTrip#
Part 1 The Cardinal Train #51 NYP->CHI 8-24 8-25
In a rommette.
Consist:
Electric Engine 907 to WAS
Engine WAS to CHI 161
Coach 25084 Amfleet 2
Coach 25049 Amfleet 1
Coach 25068 Amfleet 2
Cafe/Diner 28014
Sleeper Viewliner 62014
The trip started with an early morning ride into NYC where I got dropped off right in front of Penn Station perfect. I arrived at 5:50 AM to find a quite empty and quiet NYP compared to other times I've seen it. So with an hour to kill I figured I would take advantage of Club Acela since I was booked in a Rommette. Only to find that on Sundays the club Acela opens at 7 A.M., which is after, or at the same time almost all LD trains leave before that time. No big deal though I just flashed my ticket and got into the regular waiting area no problems. The track announcement wasn't made until 6:40 AM for a 6:55 departure, which surprised me. I got onboard and found my SA S. Johnson no problem. She offered to get me some coffee since the machine in the car was broken. This turned out to be a good thing because for the duration of the trip I could get coffee from the Cafe rather then chance the pot that was sitting there longer. Breakfast was called around 7:40 where i promptly went and was getting ready for my first meal of the trip. I had the French Toast and sausage patties. Both were delicious and the Server who was by herself waiting and serving food did a great job of handling things. Then back to the room to look out the window. At Washington I got out and spoke with the guys doing the power change. One came aboard to try and fix the coffee maker since it was jutting out into the hall. He was able to fix that. Anyway, lunch came I hand the Burger witch was again fantastic. Met some good tablemates who were also riding the train like me for no reason at all. After lunch my SA came around to tell us our toilets were not working and we wouldn't have anyone aboard to fix them for about two hours. I am writing this on the train so at the moment 4 hours after the toilets stopped working and 2 stations later nothing has been done so have had to use coach restrooms. This has been the biggest issue. Wondering when this will be taken care of but not really bent out of shape over it. At this point just waiting the call for dinner then I will write more. Well back from dinner and I had the Pizza of the Day, which was Buffalo Chicken it was good and was served, hot so that’s all I could ask for. I was feeling full so I decided to skip dessert we'll see if I regret that later. Met a great guy at dinner his first LD trip and he was really sorry he didn't get a sleeper. It was interesting none the same. Coming in to Charleston WV the sold out train is pretty empty. Coach is about half full, 1 empty bedroom and 3 open roomettes. Which is interesting since the website told me it was sold out all the way from NYP to CUS. Anyway that’s it for now. Well I stand corrected at Charleston we picked up quite a few filling the sleep for the overnight. Still no toilets and there never will be so I guess a call to customer service is in order. We are 55 minutes late at the moment, which to me doesn't seem to bad to me compared to what it could be. Well I am going to get my room changed and try and stay up till we hit Kentucky. Woke up WAY early while we were sitting in IND watched them put to more cars on the end then went back to bed. Wake up around 8:00 AM Central Time had the cheese omelet and sausage. The omelet was was okay even though I could tell the cheese inside was fake it was still tasty. Last meal in the car so gave the server her tip realized i probably shouldn't have waited and tipped at each meal but whatever. Had to wait for my room to be changed so I sat in the other half of the diner known as the lounge. Sat with a woman who was a writer and worked in Hollywood who was going to catch the Southwestern Chief Later in the day. We talked about some of her writing and about the farmland. Then we hit the last stop before CHI, which is kind of sad. My guess is we'll be a little over an hour late. Which isn't bad we made up some time. I was shocked to learn that I was the only sleeper passenger who went end to end. And there were only 9 coach paxs to do the route entirely which told me that these places out here really do need more then service 3 days a week. But that’s a whole other thread lol. I'll have to get the info off the other 2 cars when I get off in CHI. Overall I enjoyed the first leg of the trip. I slept well and all the meals were not the greatest food I've ever had but it worked. The toilets broke at Washington Union so my attendant was very apologetic about that and I guess I'll talk it over with Customer Service later today. Sorry this was so long but I wanted to write it as it happened vs. thinking back on it when I get back I think it will make it less opinionated and more factual.
Tuesday I start the CZ and will be writing the same style report for it in this thread.
Sorry for all the mistakes I’ve only used spell check and have not proof read any of it.
Also my first TR so idk if its good or not
EDIT: here are the pics links up here read the post at bottom for info about them
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenmontero...untryTrainTrip#
Part 1 The Cardinal Train #51 NYP->CHI 8-24 8-25
In a rommette.
Consist:
Electric Engine 907 to WAS
Engine WAS to CHI 161
Coach 25084 Amfleet 2
Coach 25049 Amfleet 1
Coach 25068 Amfleet 2
Cafe/Diner 28014
Sleeper Viewliner 62014
The trip started with an early morning ride into NYC where I got dropped off right in front of Penn Station perfect. I arrived at 5:50 AM to find a quite empty and quiet NYP compared to other times I've seen it. So with an hour to kill I figured I would take advantage of Club Acela since I was booked in a Rommette. Only to find that on Sundays the club Acela opens at 7 A.M., which is after, or at the same time almost all LD trains leave before that time. No big deal though I just flashed my ticket and got into the regular waiting area no problems. The track announcement wasn't made until 6:40 AM for a 6:55 departure, which surprised me. I got onboard and found my SA S. Johnson no problem. She offered to get me some coffee since the machine in the car was broken. This turned out to be a good thing because for the duration of the trip I could get coffee from the Cafe rather then chance the pot that was sitting there longer. Breakfast was called around 7:40 where i promptly went and was getting ready for my first meal of the trip. I had the French Toast and sausage patties. Both were delicious and the Server who was by herself waiting and serving food did a great job of handling things. Then back to the room to look out the window. At Washington I got out and spoke with the guys doing the power change. One came aboard to try and fix the coffee maker since it was jutting out into the hall. He was able to fix that. Anyway, lunch came I hand the Burger witch was again fantastic. Met some good tablemates who were also riding the train like me for no reason at all. After lunch my SA came around to tell us our toilets were not working and we wouldn't have anyone aboard to fix them for about two hours. I am writing this on the train so at the moment 4 hours after the toilets stopped working and 2 stations later nothing has been done so have had to use coach restrooms. This has been the biggest issue. Wondering when this will be taken care of but not really bent out of shape over it. At this point just waiting the call for dinner then I will write more. Well back from dinner and I had the Pizza of the Day, which was Buffalo Chicken it was good and was served, hot so that’s all I could ask for. I was feeling full so I decided to skip dessert we'll see if I regret that later. Met a great guy at dinner his first LD trip and he was really sorry he didn't get a sleeper. It was interesting none the same. Coming in to Charleston WV the sold out train is pretty empty. Coach is about half full, 1 empty bedroom and 3 open roomettes. Which is interesting since the website told me it was sold out all the way from NYP to CUS. Anyway that’s it for now. Well I stand corrected at Charleston we picked up quite a few filling the sleep for the overnight. Still no toilets and there never will be so I guess a call to customer service is in order. We are 55 minutes late at the moment, which to me doesn't seem to bad to me compared to what it could be. Well I am going to get my room changed and try and stay up till we hit Kentucky. Woke up WAY early while we were sitting in IND watched them put to more cars on the end then went back to bed. Wake up around 8:00 AM Central Time had the cheese omelet and sausage. The omelet was was okay even though I could tell the cheese inside was fake it was still tasty. Last meal in the car so gave the server her tip realized i probably shouldn't have waited and tipped at each meal but whatever. Had to wait for my room to be changed so I sat in the other half of the diner known as the lounge. Sat with a woman who was a writer and worked in Hollywood who was going to catch the Southwestern Chief Later in the day. We talked about some of her writing and about the farmland. Then we hit the last stop before CHI, which is kind of sad. My guess is we'll be a little over an hour late. Which isn't bad we made up some time. I was shocked to learn that I was the only sleeper passenger who went end to end. And there were only 9 coach paxs to do the route entirely which told me that these places out here really do need more then service 3 days a week. But that’s a whole other thread lol. I'll have to get the info off the other 2 cars when I get off in CHI. Overall I enjoyed the first leg of the trip. I slept well and all the meals were not the greatest food I've ever had but it worked. The toilets broke at Washington Union so my attendant was very apologetic about that and I guess I'll talk it over with Customer Service later today. Sorry this was so long but I wanted to write it as it happened vs. thinking back on it when I get back I think it will make it less opinionated and more factual.
Tuesday I start the CZ and will be writing the same style report for it in this thread.
Sorry for all the mistakes I’ve only used spell check and have not proof read any of it.
Also my first TR so idk if its good or not
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