rrdude
Engineer
Co-worker found out I was the oddball taking the train south from BAL to ORL for our company's annual conference, and he ended up sharing my roomette. ("Yes" we both got bonus AGR points!)
His home-land is India, so he is no stranger to overnight trains, but had never taken Amtrak, outside of NEC, before.
We met in DC, and boarded. He came very late, so his luggage couldn't be checked, but luckily fit in the "attic" of the roomette.
The Meteor had a heritage diner, and the crew and service was average in the diner. The steak was actually pretty good.
My co-worker was fascinated by the "backyard" scenery, and all of the businesses that "at one time" had a spur or siding servicing them. Our TA-S was great, young kid, been out on the road for two years. He had not yet succumbed to many of the bad habits that some of the old-heads pass down.
After a bottle of wine, (personal stash) it was time for bed. Had one of the best night's rest ever on a train, didn't even need the (wrapped) blanket. Good hot shower in the AM, breakfast of omelet and grits, and a lot of coffee, started the day. Slept right thru lunch, and arrived in ORL almost on time.
Saw fellow AU-er Penny at the ORL station, getting ready to head north for an OTOL meeting of some sort.
All in all, a good trip, and probably a new Amtrak rider, as he has a family with young kids, he is strongly considering the Auto Train.
Amtrak wins one, for once. For me, it truly is the first time, in over a dozen times, that I have "talked it up" (with caveats) that the passenger was thrilled with the experience. Maybe because this guy talks as much, or more, than I do. (He even talked me to sleep..............
His home-land is India, so he is no stranger to overnight trains, but had never taken Amtrak, outside of NEC, before.
We met in DC, and boarded. He came very late, so his luggage couldn't be checked, but luckily fit in the "attic" of the roomette.
The Meteor had a heritage diner, and the crew and service was average in the diner. The steak was actually pretty good.
My co-worker was fascinated by the "backyard" scenery, and all of the businesses that "at one time" had a spur or siding servicing them. Our TA-S was great, young kid, been out on the road for two years. He had not yet succumbed to many of the bad habits that some of the old-heads pass down.
After a bottle of wine, (personal stash) it was time for bed. Had one of the best night's rest ever on a train, didn't even need the (wrapped) blanket. Good hot shower in the AM, breakfast of omelet and grits, and a lot of coffee, started the day. Slept right thru lunch, and arrived in ORL almost on time.
Saw fellow AU-er Penny at the ORL station, getting ready to head north for an OTOL meeting of some sort.
All in all, a good trip, and probably a new Amtrak rider, as he has a family with young kids, he is strongly considering the Auto Train.
Amtrak wins one, for once. For me, it truly is the first time, in over a dozen times, that I have "talked it up" (with caveats) that the passenger was thrilled with the experience. Maybe because this guy talks as much, or more, than I do. (He even talked me to sleep..............