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I tried to put pictures in the appropriate post, but just tiny thumbnails appear. So, I've shared my Flickr collection from this trip. I've got comments on each picture. I'm not really happy with doing it this way, but I've already spent a great deal of time trying to figure this out. :(...

Very ironic to see a Scott Walker campaign poster at the LaCrosse Amtrak station.

SCA has been around a bit this afternoon. I didn't actually realize who she was. Turns out I'd seen her hanging around the dining car every time we went for lunch or dinner. Staff has been a little better today. I don't know whether it's "put on an extra happy face to deal with all of the...

Turns out the issue outside M/SP (confirmed) was twofold: 1) an elderly woman (with Alz) tried to open the door. 2) while the conductor was assisting with that situation and on the phone to 911, the engineer ran through a red signal. Luckily, there wasn't anything coming from the cross...

Good or bad when it's announced that there's a sing-a-long in the lounge car to kill time.

Currently rotting outside of M/SP due to an investigation into "an alleged crewmember violation." That quote was announced by a manager over the PA. I personally heard specifics which, given the source, seem reliable, but I'm not going to post at this point.

Already 5.5 hrs late. Stuck outside Minneapolis / St Paul waiting for ANOTHER crew change. The Phantom of the Sleeping Car struck again by putting our beds up again even though we had the doors and curtains closed.

How is it that Amtrak knows how long a crew has been on duty, knows the rules for how long they can be on duty, and knows about where that crew will be when it reaches that limit abd yet atill have a train full of passengers sitting still for hours waiting for the replacement crew?? The first...

For lunch, we were told by the SCA (over the loudspeaker) 15 minutes before the dining car opened to make our way down there and line up because the train is boring and as soon as the dining car opened, people would rush there and we'd not get lunch. I knew this was bs and we'd get waitlisted at...

Just under a day into our return trip on the EB and: 1. We're only 15 minutes behind schedule. 2. Our SCA is like the Loch Ness monster. Some claim to have seen her, but I dont have any evidence that's convinced me she exists. 3. Quality Service is not high on any of the employee's priorities...

After the first few hours, the Empire Builder already has better views than any part of the Coast Starlight. To be fair, there were visible signs of the drought's toll on the landscape in CA.

Amtrak PDX eastbound left on-time with us (barely) on-board. First long-distance Amtrak train we've been on that's been on time!

Got to have breakfast with my wife's cousin in Portland (we were going to meet for dinner last night but couldn't due to the delay). The train leaves in 35 minutes and I'm bricking it because we're at the Salt & Straw and not yet at the station. If Amtrak is on time and we miss this train...

Two things:1. I spend a few weeks in London each year and actually just got back a few days before leaving on our San Francisco trip. So, I had to double-check that you didn't call us a family of "wankers" :) 2. Our first trip on the Amtrak was in 2012 and the first leg was to Glacier National...

Arrived at Union Station in Portland. Quick taxi ride to Shilo Inn Rose Garden to find out the don't have our room. :| Bunch of excuses from front desk person until I put and end to that approach and get a room which will work for us to get some sleep tonight. I grew up in service industries...

Currently on the Coast Starlight. Had to sit in Emeryville station 4.5 hrs until 2:30 AM to board. I don't know who the agent was at the Amtrak Station next to the Ferry Building (he had a jacket on over his ID lanyard) but he was a complete prick. Only 3 people said anything to him the hour...

This was the only restaurant that called out this charge on the receipt.

Last day in San Francisco. We didn't manage to leave the hotel until noon when we went to "breakfast" at Hollywood Cafe. We then visited the Musée Mécanique at Fisherman's Warf. It's an playabe arcade museum. It rekindled my obsession with arcade machines. We then watched sea lions that have...

Wow. What a day. After getting an Irish coffee at Buena Vista Cafe, we started walking, found ourselves on the Bay Trail and didn't stop walking until we were in Sausalito. We walked past Fort Mason, Crissy Field, Fort Point, the marina district, over the Golden Gate Bridge down the Coast Trail...

Yesterday started late. We all slept in a bit and switched hotels so we didn't get started until after 11:30. Still, we managed to walk over 9 miles (much uphill). We started by having luch at Boudin's. 1/2 grilled cheese on sourdough and chili in breadbowls took care of us since we'd skipped...