Part I:The Trip North
After a year of not riding Amtrak, I scheduled a Day Trip from Austin to Temple to Austin for Wed, 1/10.
After a Cold night( for here,), I awoke to a rising Sun and a Text Message from Amtrak that #21/#421, my ride home from Temple in the evening was stopped in East Texas outside Marshall due to a Broken Rail, and a 2 Hour Delay was expected!
Ate Breakfast, packed my Day Pack and headed for the Amtrak Station,which now opens @ 9AM for the 921AM Scheduled #22.
Track a Train told me there was a delay of 30 minutes due to UP Freight Congestion between San Marcos and Austin, which is SOP now on this Route.
Got my Free Parking Pass from the Friendly Long time Amtrak Agents (2) on Duty since UP owns the Station and Parking Lot( Now required to avoid towing since Parking in Downtown Austin is a Nightmare)
There were about 25 people waiting to board, with most outside under the Canopy,where 2 Lines are used to board, Sleepers to the Left, Coach to the Right.
At 9:50am, the Robo Boarding Announcement played, the Luggage Cart was brought out and #22 chugged around the bend from the Bridge where it crosses the Lady Bird Lake Trestle.( built in 1881)
I was glad to see that the Conductor was an old friend with whom Ive ridden many miles on the Sunset Ltd and the Eagle.(the AC with him was a Newbie )
We were asked our names by the Conductor,and he checked us off on his Scanner, e-tickets were not scanned as in the past.
The consist was the now usual 4 Car one pulled by 1 P-42( #53) and front to back had the Diner/Lounge( CCC), 2 Coaches and the Sleeper on the rear,!
We boarded, chose out own Seats( the Attendant had given us Seat Checks as we were scanned) listened to the Last Call for Breakfast announcement for Sleeper Passengers ,( still slinging Flex Food)and Last Call for the Cafe.( there are now 2 LSAs sharing the CCC, previously there was only 1 doing several people's jobs)
Both Coaches were rehabbed with the Faux Grey Leatherette Seats and Digital Lighting and Controls@( but the Bathroooms were still the Old style!)
The Coacheswere about 1/2 Full so had a Seat by myself( I was in the Coach/Bag Car next to the CCC.
At 10 AM, the All Aboard was called, the Horm tooted and we rolled out headed North!
Made the Stop @ Taylor where about 10 boarded , then rolled out about 1045AM headed for Temple.
Rolled into Temple about 11:45AM, only 20 minutes down, after a Smooth Trip!
Went into the Station to say HI to my friend the ex-Agent that is now a Route Manager and has heroffice there.
After a nice visit to catch up after a year, I headed for downtown( w Blocks away) to eat Lunch and check out the City.
After a year of not riding Amtrak, I scheduled a Day Trip from Austin to Temple to Austin for Wed, 1/10.
After a Cold night( for here,), I awoke to a rising Sun and a Text Message from Amtrak that #21/#421, my ride home from Temple in the evening was stopped in East Texas outside Marshall due to a Broken Rail, and a 2 Hour Delay was expected!
Ate Breakfast, packed my Day Pack and headed for the Amtrak Station,which now opens @ 9AM for the 921AM Scheduled #22.
Track a Train told me there was a delay of 30 minutes due to UP Freight Congestion between San Marcos and Austin, which is SOP now on this Route.
Got my Free Parking Pass from the Friendly Long time Amtrak Agents (2) on Duty since UP owns the Station and Parking Lot( Now required to avoid towing since Parking in Downtown Austin is a Nightmare)
There were about 25 people waiting to board, with most outside under the Canopy,where 2 Lines are used to board, Sleepers to the Left, Coach to the Right.
At 9:50am, the Robo Boarding Announcement played, the Luggage Cart was brought out and #22 chugged around the bend from the Bridge where it crosses the Lady Bird Lake Trestle.( built in 1881)
I was glad to see that the Conductor was an old friend with whom Ive ridden many miles on the Sunset Ltd and the Eagle.(the AC with him was a Newbie )
We were asked our names by the Conductor,and he checked us off on his Scanner, e-tickets were not scanned as in the past.
The consist was the now usual 4 Car one pulled by 1 P-42( #53) and front to back had the Diner/Lounge( CCC), 2 Coaches and the Sleeper on the rear,!
We boarded, chose out own Seats( the Attendant had given us Seat Checks as we were scanned) listened to the Last Call for Breakfast announcement for Sleeper Passengers ,( still slinging Flex Food)and Last Call for the Cafe.( there are now 2 LSAs sharing the CCC, previously there was only 1 doing several people's jobs)
Both Coaches were rehabbed with the Faux Grey Leatherette Seats and Digital Lighting and Controls@( but the Bathroooms were still the Old style!)
The Coacheswere about 1/2 Full so had a Seat by myself( I was in the Coach/Bag Car next to the CCC.
At 10 AM, the All Aboard was called, the Horm tooted and we rolled out headed North!
Made the Stop @ Taylor where about 10 boarded , then rolled out about 1045AM headed for Temple.
Rolled into Temple about 11:45AM, only 20 minutes down, after a Smooth Trip!
Went into the Station to say HI to my friend the ex-Agent that is now a Route Manager and has heroffice there.
After a nice visit to catch up after a year, I headed for downtown( w Blocks away) to eat Lunch and check out the City.
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( my Car Attendant, an Old Timer told me this is common on the Chicago originating Trains )
are returned to my home Train!
)
. Good to see you are out riding the rails Jim.
