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    Chicago to Indianapolis and back

    We did not use the overhead walkways because the weather was fantatic. In the early evening, it was ideal for walking around outside and dining outside. We did feel some rumbling in the hotel from passing trains, but not enough to bother us in any way.
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    Chicago to Indianapolis and back

    I just got back from a Chicago to Indianapolis trip. I was attending a conference there and this seemed like a good excuse to ride Amtrak. With the AAA discount, the one way price was $23. For two travelers, the train fare worked out to be less expensive than driving. Note that parking at the...
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    Chicago to New Orelans, and back

    Thanks for the advice about the street car. That is good to know, as I have hopes of repeating this trip next year. I already did some advance checking on the Amtrak pricing for early Jan 2014, and it seems prices on this route have gone up significantly. I plan to watch the rates and see if...
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    Chicago to New Orelans, and back

    My wife and I live in the Chicago area, and last summer we started planning a winter escape for January 2013. We were mainly interested in a Caribbean cruise and did not care which port we cruised from. We found some very attractive pricing on the Navigator of the Seas out of New Orleans. To...
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    Union Station Chicago - some questions

    I will be riding to New Orleans in roomette from Chicago. When I arrive at the station with my bags, can I go direct to the lounge and check in and check bags there, or do I need to go to one of the Amtrak desks first? Also, where do taxi's drop off at the station, and from that point, how do...
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    store bags at NOL?

    Well, if there is no problem with checking bags early, then that is what we'll do. After checking the bags, we'll take a cab and have a nice meal. This is good news. If I have four hours to spend in New Orleans, I would rather spend them someplace else than watching my bags in a waiting area.
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    store bags at NOL?

    I will be riding the City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans for a cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. In a way, my cruise will start as soon as I step on the train. I have a roomette and am very much looking foward to this trip. Here's my question: on the way back, I will have roughly...
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    Things to do in Chicago on a Layover

    This suggestion won’t work for your trip because you are getting into Chicago too late in the afternoon, but for other travelers it might work. Take a cab to the Hancock building and have lunch in the Signature Room, which is on the 95th floor. The Signature Room is just one floor below the...
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    City of New Orleans in January

    I did some research on the original Illinois Central route. I did most of this on the Web, but I also read the book "Main Line of Mid-America", which was printed in 1951 on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Illinois Central. Track construction for the original Illinois Central system...
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    City of New Orleans in January

    After reading the responses, I am curious if anyone knows how closely the current City of New Orleans follows the original 1947 CONO route? I am also wondering if the CONO route in Illinois follows the original Illinois Central route that dates to the early 1850’s. I know that Lincoln served as...
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    City of New Orleans in January

    I have enjoyed several day trips on Amtrak, and now I have just booked my first overnight trip. We’re in a roomette on the CONO all the way from Chicago to New Orleans. I’m very excited about the trip. January may not be the ideal time for this journey, but we’re cruising out of New Orleans and...
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    Riding the Empire Builder in October

    jim55 is right about the layout of observation car.
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    Riding the Empire Builder in October

    This was our first trip on a long distance train. I made the reservations for my wife and me about two months ago. We live within a ten-minute drive of the Glenview station (GLN in Illinois), so boarding in Glenview made for an easy start (and end) to the trip. We opted for a roomette in order...
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    Advice on booking the EP for next Aug or Sept

    The Empire Builder from Chicago to Glacier National Park fills up amazing quickly for travel during the summer months. If I want to travel next August or September, it is time to book. I am curious as to what the best strategy is. Amtrak allows you to book trains up to 11 months in advance. To...
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    Riding the Hiawatha

    The cars I saw looked a bit different. Some had large letters on the side: "Arizona" and "Grand Canyon." It looked very odd. I assumed it was some type of touring train, but I didn't have time to check it out. Of course, it could be that all the beer I consumed at Irishfest has fogged my memory.
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    Riding the Hiawatha

    By the shores of Gitche Gumee, otherwise known as Lake Michigan in this travelogue, I went on my very first Amtrak trip. What follows are the observations and thoughts of a first time rider. This was a short trip from Glenview, IL to Milwaukee, WI and back. My wife and I were off to a weekend...
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    New Member

    I'm looking forward both to the trip to the start of the college football season. As you might have guessed, I'm a Northwestern alum (so is Mrs. Astro). We're season ticket holders and the stadium is within walking distance of our home. Have a good trip yourself, -Astro
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    New Member

    AstroCat here. I have been reading the forum for a few weeks and posting questions as I plan my first trip. I probably will not have much more to say until I take that trip. This forum seems like a pleasant and informative place for Amtrak conversation, and I like the pro-rail attitude...
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    To Milwaukee and back

    Thank you all for the helpful replies. At this point, I think we will take the train to Milwaukee. For two people, driving would be a little cheaper (but not by that much when you consider the cost of storing the car in the hotel parking garage for two days). However, the purpose of this trip is...
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    To Milwaukee and back

    My Glenview (Illinois) to St. Paul trip in October was going to be my first Amtrak experience. However, I am going to Milwaukee in a few weeks and it occurs to me that it might be fun to ride the Hiawatha instead of driving. The Milwaukee trip would then be a warm-up for the St. Paul trip. I...
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