Going To Gathering VI

[WhoozOn1st]

Well, Valued Readers (both of you), following a string of reports about trips that were heavy on rail but light on actual riding, along comes one that figures to be a whole lotta both.

Yes, Team Whooz is getting underway once again - this time riding the rails from the outset - for the cross-country Amtrak ride to the Amtrak Unlimited 6th Annual Gathering - aka Gathering VI.

Today's departure is a twin bill: Pacific Surfliner to Southwest Chief. Along the way we'll be riding the Cardinal, a couple Keystones, several Northeast Regionals (exact number TBD en route), the Boston section of the Lakeshore Limited, the City of New Orleans, and the Sunset Limited. Not bad, eh?

Also on the agenda is a Railfest at the B&O Museum in Baltimore, and several days of rental car roaming, exact activities still unknown - but sure to be rail-centric!

Along the way we'll be updating this ongoing rant as time, connections, and material permit. I'm guessing the first major addition will come in a few days, during the Chicago layover. But who knows?

While I generally like to include some photographs and/or videos, as well as links to more, obviously there's nothing to begin with. And a montage of the MayhemMobile in my driveway while we're loading up and getting outta here wouldn't be a very attractive photo kickoff, now, would it?

But we don't wanna start off with just plenty o' nuthin', either. So to conclude this inaugural installment here's a two-year-old semi-generic view of Los Angeles Union Station, from which we'll REALLY be getting underway later today.

See you along the way!!

Pacific Surfliner departing on track 12, seen from deck outside board room of Metro headquarters building. Note Gold Line flyover to Chinatown, and a bit of Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine at top left.

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[pennyk]

Have a great trip Patrick. See you in a week (or so).

 

[Shanghai]

Have a great trip. Please don't break the Cardinal. I will be on that train one week after

the Gathering!!

 

[jb64]

Enjoy your trip. Looking forward to your pictures.

 

[rrdude]

Patrick, I'll do whatever I can to greet you in B'More. Please advise when you have an actual date for the B & O. It's not a bad museum at all. Even "non-railfans" like it.

Ryan, we should figure out something to "Welcome" Patrick and his entourage to B'more..........

 

[Guestlsa]

When you be on sunset limited ? I don't even return back to work until October 9 and in which I be working Texas eagle portion following day

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Greetings from Chicago, where the first order of business will be relocation from this hideous noisy rathole near Midway airport to more suitable lodging downtown. Until the move is accomplished it's well nigh impossible to even think straight. Team Whooz had never stayed at an airport-adjacent hotel before, and never will again. Good thing we'd already switched from a similar dump at Philadelphia. The noise is unbelieveable, and that's not even counting the aircraft!

The diamonds at Los Nietos, seen from the last coach of the Southwest Chief during Team Whooz' departure from southern California on 9-27-12.

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[pennyk]

Greetings from Chicago, where the first order of business will be relocation from this hideous noisy rathole near Midway airport to more suitable lodging downtown. Until the move is accomplished it's well nigh impossible to even think straight. Team Whooz had never stayed at an airport-adjacent hotel before, and never will again. Good thing we'd already switched from a similar dump at Philadelphia. The noise is unbelieveable, and that's not even counting the aircraft!

The diamonds at Los Nietos, seen from the last coach of the Southwest Chief during Team Whooz' departure from southern California on 9-27-12.

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nice photo Patrick. I hope your move to downtown Chicago works. Will you be chatting tonight?

 

[WhoozOn1st]

I hope your move to downtown Chicago works. Will you be chatting tonight?

Whooz gonna chat when there are trains to ride!? Does Metra have Wi-Fi? Guess I'll be finding out shortly!

Greetings from DOWNTOWN Chicago, where the relocation has been successfully accomplished. After completion of the move we did a cool Metra Milwaukee District West run out to Elgin. To maximize our $7 weekend passes we're about to scoot over to Millenium Park station - not far from the new hotel - for a Metra Electric joyride down to University Park and back. FUN!

EDIT: No Wi-Fi on Metra Electric. Using a smartphone to log into chat from the train I was able to say hey, but that was about it. Typing on the itsy-bitsy keyboard, then trying to send from the teensy-weensy screen was more hassle that it was worth while enjoying a train ride.

Our Southwest Chief backs into Los Angeles Union Station to be spotted for the Team Whooz departure on the (rail)road to Amtrak Unlimited Gathering VI, 9-27-12.

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[WhoozOn1st]

On Team Whooz' second full day at Chicago there was time for some riding, onboard railfanning, and general photography to go along with housekeeping chores and lots of walking.

The big fun was a Metra ride up to Waukegan on the Union Pacific North Line. We departed in midafternoon, meaning lots of meets with outbound rush hour trains during our inbound return.

Tuesday we head to Philadelphia, from where the next installment will likely originate. Looks like a proper trip report will have to wait until after our return home to California (assuming the inclination to create one remains), and this ongoing rant will be more of progressive a trip diary.

Monday Chicago views, from the top: Metra train backs at Waukegan to change tracks and respot to board for the return run to Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center; Meeting an outbound rush hour train as we near downtown Chicago - note Wrigley (a name almost synonymous with the city) billboard; View from the Team Whooz 18th floor Command Post. We do not "give in" to Giordano's, as we're made of sterner stuff. And speaking of stuffed, it's well known where many AU types get it when in Chicago.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

A surprise quick post from Chicago Union Station and the Amtrak Morbid Obsesity Lounge, where the internet connection is excellent!

The big news: It's WINDY in Chicago!! Who woulda thunk it!?

Everything has gone smoothly, from hotel check-out to Amtrak check-in. Killed a few hours railfanning around the immediate downtown area, including views of the shops from Roosevelt Rd., and some Metra and Amtrak arrivals and departures at a nearby grade crossing. Even managed an L shot. No riding so far today, but hey, we're about to board the Cardinal, the consist of which I believe we've already seen at the yard. If so, looks like there's private varnish on the tail to block the view from the last coach. Hmmm.

Next: City of Brotherly Loath.

 

[Steve4031]

Enjoying the trip report from the side lines as the Harlan sophomore football team beats that azz.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

No idea what that irrelevant sports reference has to do with the price of eggs.

Greetings from Philadelphia, where Team Whooz awaits the AU mob arrival with a mixture of fear and revulsion.

The Cardinal arrived about a half hour down, after regaining 30 minutes of apparent padding since D.C. It sure is fun jamming along at 100+ mph, and a really different sound experience from the best coast usual. A pleasant surprise of the ride was the amount of jointed rail encountered during the run from Chicago. The New River Gorge was pleasant enough, and it's easy to see why pioneers kept moving westward, to where the REAL scenery is!

Turned out I was correct in believing that a consist seen in the Chicago yard was our train with private varnish tacked to the back. The Pullman sleeper "Chebanse" came off at Indianapolis, but was not responsible for blocking the view: On walking the train I found the window out the back of the last Amfleet was blacked. Criminal. Amtrak touts scenery, then intentionally eliminates the second best view (cab's best, but...); talk about head up the wazoo!

Tight headway: Two Metra trains arrive at Chicago Union Station on the same track, while an Amtrak push/pull departure disappears into the afternoon distance around a curve.

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[Steve4031]

1349366699[/url]' post='397682']No idea what that irrelevant sports reference has to do with the price of eggs.

It's relevant IMHO because that's what I was doing as I was reading your trip report. Enjoying the best of both worlds.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

BREAKING NEWS: AU Sighting at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. AlanB, his mom Grace, and member Misty were spotted and stopped while hovering about suspiciously near the SEPTA ticket booth. Further reports as this tense situation develops. We now return you to the rant already in progress.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Now putting a wrap on the first day in Philadelphia, Team Whooz enjoyed a warm and humid one of learning our way around and purchasing Gathering tickets in advance where possible. We look forward to a weekend of fine riding, and hope the weather holds (with maybe less humidity). The day's pics included this westbound Frankford-Market Line train arriving, and a morning view from the Team Whooz Keystone Kommand Post:

 

[caravanman]

Hi,

Enjoying reading your posts... guess the gathering will be more of a "feztival" now your team have arrived... Sorry to miss out attending again this year.

Ed

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Thanks caravanman Ed, and hello again Valued Readers!

There was a delay in updating this rant due to a mishap that I greatly feared would cause me to write cliche crap like "Alas, the Amtrak Unlimited 6th Annual Gathering ended for poor Team Whooz before it had really begun."

Fortunately the mishap was not as debilitating as it at first seemed, and Team Whooz was able to enjoy some later Gathering VI activities.

Briefly, my left arm was broken below the shoulder in a hotel room fall while preparing for the Friday riding. That put the kibosh on Gathering VI, Day 1, which was mostly passed in a hospital emergency room. By Saturday things had improved enough for us to join the mob for SEPTA rides following their return from the Amtrak run to Harrisburg.

And as all can now see, I can type, albeit slowly and with pain. So a full report will have to wait, as will a departure from Philadelphia until after a follow-up appointment with an orthopedic specialist.

For now I'd just like to thank all the good folks who made Gathering VI a rebound success for Team Whooz.

The afternoon Philadelphia skyline, seen from the Market-Frankford Line during the final ride of AU Gathering VI.

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[Acela150]

Excellent Photo of the Skyline Whooz! I wish you safe travels back home! Most important the rest of the report.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Excellent Photo of the Skyline Whooz!

Views like that are why I like to ride up front with a forward lookout. Good chatting with you briefly over your CHEESESTEAK!! at Reading Market, and sorry we had to cut out quickly on Team Whooz business before the ride out to Norristown.

The wheels are grinding away here at the Keystone Kommand post, looking to salvage what we can of the venture given the cracked wing. Contingent on seeing a doctor this afternoon we're thinking of scrapping the Amtrak return to SoCal in favor of a cross-country car rental - we're currently getting around in a bile-green Ford Escape Interim MayhemMobile - while at the same time attempting to maintain a rail component of some sort during the westward drive. Tall order, updates as warranted. A more immediate local option might include riding Friday's missed Gathering VI itinerary before departing the Philadelphia area.

Here's a shot of some Gatherers on Saturday afternoon at Chestnut Hill East, by which time Team Whooz had managed to join up and ride out. They (and we) were getting reading to board a SEPTA Silverliner back to 30th Street Station:

 

[Michigan Mom]

I can't remember my password and the reset link isn't working. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Whooz. Wouldn't the train ride back home be more restful for you than driving?? And this might be blasphemous but if time is of the essence, it might be cheaper to (gasp) fly?

Michigan Mom

 

[Everydaymatters]

Sorry to hear about your mishap, Patrick. I hope your return home is fun, but safe. Hope to see you at next year's gathering.

 

[pennyk]

Patrick, however you get back cross country, please do it safely. It was good to see both you and Alice.

My healing thoughts are with you.

 

[Ryan]

Patrick, I'll do whatever I can to greet you in B'More. Please advise when you have an actual date for the B & O. It's not a bad museum at all. Even "non-railfans" like it.

Ryan, we should figure out something to "Welcome" Patrick and his entourage to B'more..........

Shucks, this is the first I've wandered into this thread - was Team Whooz still headed this way? They're among the folks I didn't get nearly enough time to chat with...

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Greetings from Baltimore. There wasn't gonna be a post today, but it was impossible to pass up the date: 10-11-12.

Great thanks for the expressions of concern and well wishes, and though no miraculous healing is on the horizon, neither is anything horrendous - meaning surgery - in store for the fractured limb. One more orthopaedic appointment and we're headed westward.

While biding time until the next medical date we're trying to not waste the Team Whooz stay on the eastern seaboard. A run down I-95 in the Interim MayhemMobile took us to the B&O Museum (my 3rd time), where we enjoyed a rail history afternoon that included docent tours of the roundhouse and former restoration shop. We'll be doing some other freelancing around before changing to a more fuel-efficient auto for the return cross-country trek. What rail element that trek might include remains to be seen, but Valued Readers may rest assured they'll be kept apprised.

Pioneer is a 2-2-2T locomotive of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, built in 1851 and now part of the B&O Museum's Civil War exhibit, "The War Came by Train." ( Not a real person at left.)

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