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  1. LookingGlassTie

    Guaranteed cononections/separate reservations

    Hey y'all, Next year, I MIGHT be taking a trip from Norfolk to Orlando in July. I would take a Northeast Regional from NFK to RVR and then take the Silver Star to Orlando (specifically WPK). On the return trip, I would take the Star back to Richmond and then take a Regional back to Norfolk...
  2. LookingGlassTie

    Hierarchy between commercial airline crews and ships' crews

    Got an interesting question for y'all: To use the RMS Titanic as an example (whodathunkit?), the Officer directly under Captain Edward Smith was Chief Officer Henry Wilde. Titanic's first officer was William Murdoch, who was directly under Wilde. Therefore Murdoch was third-in-command...
  3. LookingGlassTie

    Possible trip to New Orleans in July

    Good afternoon, I might be taking a trip to New Orleans in July and I'm seriously considering taking Amtrak as opposed to flying. I would be taking the Northeast Regional from NPN to WAS and then taking the Crescent from WAS to NOL, with an almost 6 hour layover in DC. If the Crescent is on...
  4. LookingGlassTie

    Possible Crescent trip next year

    Hey everyone, I MIGHT be taking the Crescent to NOL in July of next year for a conference. Given that the Crescent is known for delays between Atlanta and New Orleans, how many "buffer" days should I give myself? I would be taking the Northeast Regional from NPN to WAS and then the Crescent...
  5. LookingGlassTie

    Dining for coach passengers

    With all the changes to Amtrak's food services, will there be a return to the time when coach passengers had the option to order meals at their seats? I never did this, but I had heard that it had been done in the past. Although I enjoyed my one and only (so far) dining car experience, I...
  6. LookingGlassTie

    New NS Schedule?

    Got a question: Have any of the Norfolk Southern (NS) schedules changed recently? I ask because during the past few weeks I've seen two NS freights running parallel to each other on the tracks near the southern branch of the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, VA (the same tracks that the...
  7. LookingGlassTie

    Amtrak trains without Conductors?

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Amtrak's rules of operation stipulate that in the absence of a Conductor or Assistant Conductor, the Engineer shall be the person in charge of the entire train. Which I believe is also how the freight railroads handle such situations. Has there ever...
  8. LookingGlassTie

    Capitol Limited and Washington Union Station

    Curious question: When the westbound Capitol Limited (#29) departs WAS, does it go south for a distance and then turn westward? I ask because, as far as I know, the locomotive(s) on the CL are not switched out at WAS. Likewise, does the #30 turn slightly northward before pulling into WAS...
  9. LookingGlassTie

    Raising the "11 foot 8 Bridge" in Durham, NC

    So the famous 11 foot 8 Bridge (AKA "can opener") at Gregson Street in Durham, NC is going to be raised by 8 inches: https://abc11.com/traffic/construction-on-durhams-can-opener-bridge-starts-wednesday-/5636682/ Fewer crashes for our amusement I guess............. :p
  10. LookingGlassTie

    Silver Bridge Collapse

    The Silver Bridge (opened May 18, 1928, collapsed December 15, 1967) carried US-35 across the Ohio River between Point Pleasant, WV and Gallipolis, OH. It was a two-lane suspension bridge. After the collapse, a new bridge was opened about a mile downstream (south) of the original span...
  11. LookingGlassTie

    Coach vs Sleeper for Single Overnight Segments

    Hey guys, When you take multi-segment trips (where each segment is a single overnight), do you go sleeper all the way or do you mix some coach accommodations in there? I've used this example before, but if I were to take a trip to Denver, CO, I would take the Northeast Regional, Capitol...
  12. LookingGlassTie

    Fatal collision in Chesapeake, VA

    Hey everyone, Just wanted to share that a fatal car/train collision occurred in Chesapeake, VA, not far from where I live. Here is the news story: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/chesapeake/person-dies-after-crash-involving-train-in-chesapeake/1889305316 There are no gate arms at this...
  13. LookingGlassTie

    Freight priority?

    Bumping the thread: Amtrak priority notwithstanding, is there a priority order for the different types of freight trains?    Whether it's a mixed-freight manifest train, a unit train or intermodal train, which type gets priority? As an example, I live close to a marine terminal, where large...
  14. LookingGlassTie

    Greyhound vs Megabus vs BoltBus vs Sprinter

    Hey guys, What are your thoughts regarding the accommodations and service among those four bus transportation services?   I've only ridden Greyhound myself so I don't have any personal experience with the other three.    But just in case I might want to use one of the others....... Also, what...
  15. LookingGlassTie

    Washington DC Metro system and ATC (I think)

    Does anyone know if the ATC (I believe that's what it's called) will be re-implemented on the Washington Metrorail?   As far as I know, all trains are equipped with the ability to come to a stop without the operator's input.   However, that capability was disabled/suspended after a significant...
  16. LookingGlassTie

    Silver Star with two Cafe Cars

    I saw a post today on the Amtrak Fans Facebook page where the OP was taking the Silver Star from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa, FL.   He mentioned that that particular consist had two cafe cars and that they were both in use. How common is that?   I naturally assumed that if there were either two...
  17. LookingGlassTie

    Multi-city vs one-way booking

    Hey, got a question: I haven't done this before, but if I wanted to do a cross-country round trip (sort of), would it be better for me to book using multi-city for the whole trip or a one-way segment for each leg? A trip I'd like to take would be:  Northeast Regional, Capitol Limited, Empire...
  18. LookingGlassTie

    L' Enfant Plaza - flag stop?

    On two separate occasions, I have ridden a southbound Northeast Regional through Washington, DC.    Just after departing Union Station, the train stopped at L' Enfant Plaza.   However, that stop is not listed on the schedules for any of the Regionals.   Is it a flag stop?
  19. LookingGlassTie

    Engineer or Driver?

    In railroad jargon, is the operator of the locomotive(s) in a consist more properly called an engineer or driver? Or does it really matter? I've seen both terms used here on AU.
  20. LookingGlassTie

    Silver Star and Sleeper Passengers

    Got a question; do sleeper passengers on the Silver Star have the option to have food from the cafe car brought to their rooms (as they would if the SS had a diner)?
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