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Definitely some excellent food options for a Chicago visit in this thread. I would urge pizza lovers to try Chicago's thin crust pizza too. It's a bit different than New York pizza and quite yummy. A lot of us native Chicagoans grew up on this type of pizza vs. the stuffed pizza. For our family...

I'm a dog owner and I wouldn't want to bring my dog with me on a train. Travel is hard on dogs. When I moved cross country with my dog, it was difficult. She got nervous. She got tired of the car trip. We got in a car wreck, and had to pay a car service to drive us four hours-- and the...

My thoughts are along the lines of Sarah Z. Most of the places I've lived flown out of (Lubbock, TX/Indianapolis), TSA isn't a nightmare. In Lubbock you can arrive at the airport, park your car, walk from the furthest part of the parking lot, check your bags, get a boarding pass reprint, go...

In the end I guess it's a good thing if the tracks are better and the trains faster. It's a tough schedule though if you're riding through to Detroit or Pontiac and don't / can't arrive after 11PM. But that's just me. On that 7AM train, there's definitely more traffic to Battle Creek, and less...

Wonderful share. A great book filled with 1970s Amtrak photos is Amtrak Trains and Travel by Patrick Dorin published in 1979. I think I checked that book out of the library 10 times as a kid, and my wife bought a copy for me a couple of Christmases ago. If you liked these photos, at the very...

I wish they had done this a few years earlier when I lived in Lafayette! I would have made it a point to take the trip to Chicago at least once. Well maybe when I'm in Chicago for a visit I can make it happen, although I usually hop one of the Michigan trains to visit some family. That however...

In Chicago, the 30 year old very familiar could probably come up with 2 or 3 things the teens would like. The History Buffs, with 8 hours, perhaps the Chicago History Museum. For everyone: Perhaps Navy Pier. It's kind of the touristy thing to do, but it's fun to be on the lake. If it's warm...

Might have been the car then, or might have been not redone track areas. Or I may have been noticing it more with a sore back! Fun ride overall. Great crews too. Not overly crowded. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't ride a lot anymore so I don't have a lot to compare it to... but man parts of porter to k-zoo the train seemed anything but smooth to me. Seemed bumpier than I remember in the summer! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So when we got onto Amtrak rail outside of Chicago the conductor made mention of it and talked about how we'd be going 110 mph. Have they replaced the track, or do the Horizon coaches have a hard time at fast speeds? The ride was uncomfortably rough for a lot of it. Yikes! At least we're on...

Pay more for less. They already have tiers in economy with extra charges. And honestly, I was surprised the soda was complimentary. Why not take another inch from those travels who won't pay for the extra inch or two of legroom? Just will get more people to pay for the "upgrade." The whole pay a...

Flew AA and one of their regionals between Lubbock and Chicago recently and was unimpressed with the experience. All the planes seemed extremely worn,and not really clean considering the dedicated cleaners they brought on before flights to clean. Also, having my flight cancelled out of ORD while...

Good article in the Lafayette J & C. It points out the issue with the train service now, and also the neat things Iowa Pacific is doing with the train. I think IP has the right idea. If you had a few different options to get into Chicago or Indy and can shave a little bit of time off the...

So how did it play out?

I didn't peak beyond the curtain when I was at the cafe, but it was priced significantly higher when I booked. Enough to stifle any curiosity I had about trying it. I was obsessed with Metroliners as a kid, but never got to ride one. I'd like to do the Acela someday. And also the Texas Eagle...

Early into Battle Creek. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Early into Battle Creek. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Today, September 2nd, on 350 The Wolverine to Pontiac, Mi. On time departure from Union Station. No big delays out of Chicago. Windows on the train a little scratchy. Coach is stuffy and humid. Perhaps stopping for a sweat shirt at Walmart on the way to the train not necessary. I'll be posting...

Comparing a pope's visit in 1979 to 2015 isn't really a comparison. It's a spectacularly different time in our Country's history. Obviously, I'm sure the feds, state and local officials all worried about terrorism or someone trying to take the life of the pope, but I don't think the...

Out of Chicago on the Michigan service trains they have the White Castle frozen burgers. Which are about as good as the ones you'd get in the grocery store's frozen section and take home and nuke. (Because that's what they are!) I get they're trying to plug in some regional favorites, but my...