Calling all Buckeyes: Foaming in Sandusky

[diesteldorf]

Well, I was trying to decide what do do for National Train Day once I got to Chicago. What better thing to do than ride trains. I may take a trip to Glenview and back to rack up some points. I even thought about going to Joliet, Dwight,, Pontiac, IL or Mich, Bloomington, IL perhaps. Is it Normal, I don't know, but I'll be taking that same route for the Gathering so I probably won't.

Then I got to thinking.....How bout Toledo? Ohio's got some cool things to see, happening people ready for adventure. ALC Rail Writer's back yard---practically.

I hated going through Ohio as a kid. It was too damn long..... Driiving from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania to see the relatives during Christmas and summer vacations was always a nice chance to relax since I never had to worry about the traffic and could easily spend the time napping or listening to the tunes on my pre-MP3 electronic device known as a cassette recorder. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana were all great and it remained that way until Ohio.....

After an hour and still in Ohio. Three hours later....."Where are we?" "Ohio."

"Where are we now?" "Still Ohio." It got to the point where we knew we could act up with a feeling of impunity once we hit the Buckeye state since no one would even consider turning the family truckster around, thereby spending even more time in Ohio and having to relive those roads and interstates we spent so long trying to forget.

27 hours later and after a journey that only Dante could truly appreciate, we'd reach Pennsylvania and spend a week or so relaxing before traversing it all over over again as we crossed Ohio in our feeble attempt to reach home.

Of course since I began traveling by train, Ohio is definately not what it used to be. I'd like the opportunity to visit Alliance, hang with Micah or maybe grab a high speed bullet train to Cleveland in a few years. Betty White is coming back to television and chose Ohio as the birthplace of her next big sitcom.....with Valerie Bertinnelli too!!!

So, since I've never actually had the pleasure of spending much formative time in the Buckeye state, I thought about catching the LSL to Toledo and check things out before cathing the Cap back to CHI town. A little Viewliner cocktail with a Superliner chaser.....

Then I thought about thinngs a little more and realized that if I went to Sandusky (and at low bucket rates) I would barely have to get off the train.

I'm hoping the Cap is running just a little late so I won't have to take the LSL in both directions, but, if I do, it should still be a nice ride.

So, to thise that have had the pleasure of Sandusky.....what did you think? Is it more scenic taking the LSL or the Cap and what things should I pay attention too if I am lucky to get that window seat. Oh, and Betty if your reading this.....I truly am your biggest fan. Good luck to you on SNL and tell Vallerie I said 'Hi.'

 

[Sue in KY]

After an hour and still in Ohio. Three hours later....."Where are we?" "Ohio." "Where are we now?" "Still Ohio." It got to the point where we knew we could act up with a feeling of impunity once we hit the Buckeye state since no one would even consider turning the family truckster around, thereby spending even more time in Ohio and having to relive those roads and interstates we spent so long trying to forget.

Hah! Try growing up on the extreme eastern edge of Texas and going to visit grandparents who lived on the extreme western edge! (In the summers. In Texas heat. Pre-air conditioning in cars. Pre-Interstate highways.) Texas is nearly 900 miles wide.

(We now return you to your regularly scheduled on-topic discussion ....)

 

[the_traveler]

Well, I was trying to decide what do do for National Train Day once I got to Chicago. What better thing to do than ride trains.
...

Is it more scenic taking the LSL or the Cap and what things should I pay attention too if I am lucky to get that window seat.

Nothing is better than riding trains! (That is a dumb question!) :lol:

Would this be a 1 day trip out and back? :huh: If so, most of the trip both ways is at night - thus hardly scenic. But during light, you can see the Gary Steel factory for miles and miles and miles and ...! And you pass a few casinos too!

 

[Railroad Bill]

As a raving Buckeye all my life, I would say you missed most of the great scenery in southern Ohio as you traveled across the Ohio Turnpike.

I agree that most of Ohio is always in the dark on the CL and LSL trains. It is a beautiful site when you cross the large bridge over Sandusky Bay and see the lights of Cedar Point and Marblehead Peninsula.

But beware that if your eastbound train is late, you might miss the westbound trains and therefore have to spend an entire day in Sandusky (which is not much excitement until Cedar Point opens later in the month. Toledo at midnight is also not very exciting.

It is a nice ride on the CL in the summer as it is still light across part of western Indiana when you leave.

If you want an enjoyable visit to Ohio, try Cleveland....Rock Hall of Fame, great museums, good places to eat . But you need a whole day to explore and then catch the LSL or CL westbound the next morning. 2am or 3am. Station is o.k. and right across from Browns Stadium and on the Rapid Line that would get you downtown.

Go Bucks!!!

Have a great National Train Day

 

[Long Train Runnin']

Sandusky Ohio was the destination of my first overnight train trip. We were several hours late, so we didn't arrive in the middle of the night. From there we went to Cedar Point. If memory serves there was some kind of station there.

 

[manchacrr]

As a raving Buckeye all my life, I would say you missed most of the great scenery in southern Ohio as you traveled across the Ohio Turnpike. I agree that most of Ohio is always in the dark on the CL and LSL trains. It is a beautiful site when you cross the large bridge over Sandusky Bay and see the lights of Cedar Point and Marblehead Peninsula.

But beware that if your eastbound train is late, you might miss the westbound trains and therefore have to spend an entire day in Sandusky (which is not much excitement until Cedar Point opens later in the month. Toledo at midnight is also not very exciting.

Cedar Point opens May 15th.

 

[diesteldorf]

Well, it's just barely after 8 as I type this in the CHI Metro Lounge. I decided to go for it, so assuming everything goes well, I should arrive in Sandusky at 4:12 AM and catch either the CAP (wishful thinking) or the LSL back to CHI at around 9:30 AM

Hope everyone else enjoyed National Train Day!!!!