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A quick thanks for the replies - just what I needed. Definitely looking forward to a quick tour of Seattle - even if it's raining! And if I don't get a dip at Phillipe's I'll make up for it with pizza at Giordano's in CHI. :P Trip report to follow.

Hi all, Have a nice loop trip coming up - SAS to LAX to SEA to CHI and back home. Wife wants an Alaska cruise out of SEA, so I get to burn a few of those AGR points. Hey she gets her cruise and I get my "cruise"! The west coast portion will be new to me, so had a couple of questions...

Advance warning - "slightly" long! Well Ms Jay (MJ) had been bugging me to take her to New York City for quite a while, and being the true Texan that I am, I steadfastly refused, until I was promised a train ride if I would go. Well, it didn't go exactly like, that - but I did get my train...

Alan - good point. On my recent ride on 21/421 there were folks in the revenue rooms in the dorm; quite likely they were ticketed as train 21 pax. I was in the full sleeper and ticketed as 421 even though my res was only for SAS (and I never asked for 421), so I'm betting you're exactly right...

Yep, it's a real shell game in SAS, especially since the 421/422 sleeper is mid-consist on 21/22. Blake I do believe you have it right. The protect sleeper (and/or coach) are typically stored east of the station a ways and not likely too visible for those arriving or departing on 21/22. Just...

There's normally a spare coach and sleeper in SAS to maintain the consist for the NB Eagle on those days when it doesn't get them from the SSL. For a relatively small station, SAS can be an interesting place for switching action; especially on Mon nights / Tuesday mornings (1, 2, 21, 22 all...

Wow - for the second time, thanks for the many responses! I'm sure we'll do fine - all part of the Amtrak "adventure", right? :) Will be in sleeper and will have my scanner handy, also plan to make some time to explore NYP a bit prior to departure day. Who knows, I may get hooked on the...

Thanks to all - Redcaps it will be. On using the CA lounge, even though no direct path to trains, will they still somehow board the sleeper pax as a group ahead of others or will we have to "fend for ourselves" among the masses when the track assignment or boarding call is made? Also -...

What jimhudson said! By all means enjoy your time in San Antonio - just be prepared for the heat. The Riverwalk is a great place to spend your spare time and enjoy a nice dinner. The mentioned Best Western Sunset is a nice option for you based on location and price - an easy walk from the...

Well Ms. Jay finally got her way and we are headed to the Big City in early Nov. But I got my way too - we are going by train (I knew those AGR points would come in handy one day!) The Amtrak part is easy, SAS-NOL-NYP going up and NYP-CHI-SAS on the way home. However I would like some...

The sleeper off of #2 gets placed just ahead of the diner on #22 (behind the trans-dorm), and the coach gets tacked on to the end of 22. Used to be the #2 sleeper was on the tail end of 22 - but no more. Current way keeps the consist a bit more normal and avoids a long walk for sleeper pax to...

Steve, Thanks for the great trip report - really enjoyed meeting you and being able to talk trains during dinner - we'll have to do it again sometime! Yeah that approach into SAS on 21 is always super slow. Just about a mile before the station our young engineer was tested by UP when they...

Bigval, just wanted to say thanks for this thread - I'm not as good as I should be in checking my AGR point balance and sure enough, I was missing points too. Was able to get MBNA to investigate and looks like they did credit me the missing points, but only for my June statement. Suppose I'll...

OK, I know it's not much, but the Magnolia Room first class lounge is now open at NOUPT after being closed since Katrina. New furniture and a new TV (with a satellite receiver no less)! Yes, it's still pretty sparse compared to other lounges, but I take it as a positive sign. The NO crew base...

Just got back from a trip on #1 and #2 and I heard the same rumor on the eggs from the LSA. Must be something to it (especially if from Gene) and I'll gladly welcome it! My thoughts on the new Simplified Dining are in the trip reports section - not ALL bad . . . . but not great by any means...

Just returned from a R/T on the Sunset, SAS-NOL, NOL-SAS. Had my first experience with Simplified Dining and have to say it was not all gloom and doom, although there were some low points. As is well known, cooked to order eggs and steaks are gone from the menu, as are grits and bacon. The...

(sorry for the double posting) Bill, Amtrak finally has the service disruption bulletin on the web site, and it looks like you may actually luck out on this one. On Mar 23 train 20 will originate in ATL, so in all likelihood an on-time departure (and dinner) for you, minus the Greyhound ride...

No problem, Bill. I don't blame you for playing it safe concerning Amtrak OTP. I'll be out your way again in the coming months anyway and we can try again. If you haven't already, be sure you check with Amtrak on your planned trip. I am now hearing the track work project will run from early...

Bill, I'll be boarding in ATL if all goes according to plan. I'll have roomette 01 which you would be welcome to share. As for watching the OTP (and speaking of my luck) I just got home to find a voice mail advising me that my original reservation on 20 to ATL from NOL on March 6 had been...

Bill, My current plans call for me to be on 19 the morning of the 23rd, ATL - NOL. Don't suppose I could convince you to take the gamble and ride along? :-) Actually 19 hasn't been doing all that bad into BHM most days from what I have seen - but of course if your luck is like mine . . . . ...