- Joined
- Nov 13, 2007
- Messages
- 11
We left our home about 4:30 AM to catch the 6:35 #302 Lincoln Service to Chicago. We arrived in downtown St. Louis while it was still dark. Market Street was lit up with lights in the many trees. The Old Courthouse was brightly illuminated. And the Arch reflected the many lights of the city. Beautiful sight. We passed the Savvis Center, home of the St. Louis Blues, and started down several blocks of decrepit old streets to what passes for a station. I will never understand why St. Louis and Amtrak did not keep the trains in Union Station. St. Louis Union Station was once the world's busiest passenger rail center. The old "Amshack", located near the highway overpass, has been replaced by a newer version. It is an improvement but still is substandard. A new intermodal station is supposed to open soon serving MetroLink, Amtrak, and busses. It too will be very close to Union Station.
We picked up our tickets. The agent was polite and friendly. We boarded soon and #302 pulled out of the city. We crossed over highways and railroads. We turned north along the river through the industrial section of the city. The sunrise was developing into a glorius display of orange, pink, red, and purple. The old factories and warehouses took on a beautiful hue. The Arch reflected the bright colors on its east side and was grey and dark on the shady side. Even the plumes of steam from factories were pink and orange toward the sun and lavender and grey away from the sun.
The train crossed the Mississippi River and made its way through the rail yards and little communites of Metro East. Soon we were clear of the area and began to roll smartly across the Illinois prairie. The soil is black as coal and probably the richest agricultural land anywhere. The corn and soybean fields stretch out as far as you can see.
We traveled Business Class and appreciated the new configuration of the seats. It has been a number of years since I have been on Amtrak. We got our complimentary coffee, St. Louis Post Dispatch and bought bagels and cream cheese. We spread out in the cafe section and had breakfast, read the paper, and watched the little farm towns whizzing by, each one with their grain elevators, John Deere dealers, and many boarded up brick buildings in the downtowns.
About an hour out of Chicago the train stops at Joliet. This is the beginning of the urban industrial area. Warehouses, factories, salvage yards line the tracks until we get close to the city. Then the Sears Tower appears and it is joined by the Hancock Buillding and then the rest of the skyline materializes with them. Only New York could boast of a more impressive skyline.
The train passed through the yards and by many Amtrak and Metra trains. We finally entered the train shed and slowly came to a stop. It is dark and noisy. Engines roar and lights are flashing. Now and then you hear someone shouting. Very exciting. We grabbed our luggage and headed into the station. It was very crowded. We were directed to the Metropolitan Lounge. The staff as helpful and polite. We arrived at Union Station in Chicago only 12 minutes late.
Next Chapter: Chicago Union Station, the Loop, and Macy's
We picked up our tickets. The agent was polite and friendly. We boarded soon and #302 pulled out of the city. We crossed over highways and railroads. We turned north along the river through the industrial section of the city. The sunrise was developing into a glorius display of orange, pink, red, and purple. The old factories and warehouses took on a beautiful hue. The Arch reflected the bright colors on its east side and was grey and dark on the shady side. Even the plumes of steam from factories were pink and orange toward the sun and lavender and grey away from the sun.
The train crossed the Mississippi River and made its way through the rail yards and little communites of Metro East. Soon we were clear of the area and began to roll smartly across the Illinois prairie. The soil is black as coal and probably the richest agricultural land anywhere. The corn and soybean fields stretch out as far as you can see.
We traveled Business Class and appreciated the new configuration of the seats. It has been a number of years since I have been on Amtrak. We got our complimentary coffee, St. Louis Post Dispatch and bought bagels and cream cheese. We spread out in the cafe section and had breakfast, read the paper, and watched the little farm towns whizzing by, each one with their grain elevators, John Deere dealers, and many boarded up brick buildings in the downtowns.
About an hour out of Chicago the train stops at Joliet. This is the beginning of the urban industrial area. Warehouses, factories, salvage yards line the tracks until we get close to the city. Then the Sears Tower appears and it is joined by the Hancock Buillding and then the rest of the skyline materializes with them. Only New York could boast of a more impressive skyline.
The train passed through the yards and by many Amtrak and Metra trains. We finally entered the train shed and slowly came to a stop. It is dark and noisy. Engines roar and lights are flashing. Now and then you hear someone shouting. Very exciting. We grabbed our luggage and headed into the station. It was very crowded. We were directed to the Metropolitan Lounge. The staff as helpful and polite. We arrived at Union Station in Chicago only 12 minutes late.
Next Chapter: Chicago Union Station, the Loop, and Macy's
