Royal Blue
Train Attendant
Other Half and I recently finished our Washington, DC – San Diego – Los Angeles trip on the Capitol Limited, Southwest Chief, and the Pacific Surfliner. All in all, a good trip. All trains were essentially on time, not a DEA agent to be found, and we had some of the best dinner companions ever.
Part 1 – Capitol Limited
We left Washington Union Station on Friday afternoon on the Capitol Limited. Our previous experience on this route (also leaving on a Friday afternoon) last October was not optimal – we got caught in the hours-long delays in Ohio and Indiana, and arrived in Chicago 11 hours late. This trip was much different and better. Our SCA was Emmanuel (Manny), who judging by his accent is African, although we didn't ask. He had been our SCA on the previous trip. We noted that he looked much better rested this time; those long delays last fall must have been terrible for the OBS crews. Manny took impeccable care of his car; he's not really the type to help out in the diner or anything, though. Our waiter was Myles – he was on his own in the dining car, although one of the other attendants helped out during dinner. We were impressed with how well Myles held it together. We enjoyed our first experience with an observation car and the Trails to Rails program. The Trails to Rails guide, Dave, donned a coonskin cap and gave us some fine stories about the area between Harper's Ferry and Cumberland.
The train rolled into Chicago only about 15 minutes late. We overnighted in Chicago since neither of us had ever been outside of O'Hare or Union Station. The downtown Chicago architecture is fabulous! We were fortunate to be able to check into our room at Club Quarters early, then proceeded to the Art Institute of Chicago to admire some favorite works in person. Dinner, following advice from the AU forum, was at Giordano's. The place was crowded, so we sat at the bar and had excellent service from a couple of very attentive bartenders. The deep dish pizza was as advertized.
A dinner companion had asked us if we were going to see the Bean. We originally thought not, because we didn't think there was much to it, but on the way back from a good breakfast at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe (saving Lou Mitchell's for another trip), we stopped to look at the Bean. And, within 30 seconds, were having a fine time taking selfies in the Bean's reflective surface. Later, we popped into the Chicago Cultural Center across from Millennium Park, and were astonished at the beauty of the two Tiffany domes and the stunning mosaic work. This place gives the Library of Congress Jefferson Building a run for its money.
Back to Chicago Union Station to board the Southwest Chief. More to come...
Part 1 – Capitol Limited
We left Washington Union Station on Friday afternoon on the Capitol Limited. Our previous experience on this route (also leaving on a Friday afternoon) last October was not optimal – we got caught in the hours-long delays in Ohio and Indiana, and arrived in Chicago 11 hours late. This trip was much different and better. Our SCA was Emmanuel (Manny), who judging by his accent is African, although we didn't ask. He had been our SCA on the previous trip. We noted that he looked much better rested this time; those long delays last fall must have been terrible for the OBS crews. Manny took impeccable care of his car; he's not really the type to help out in the diner or anything, though. Our waiter was Myles – he was on his own in the dining car, although one of the other attendants helped out during dinner. We were impressed with how well Myles held it together. We enjoyed our first experience with an observation car and the Trails to Rails program. The Trails to Rails guide, Dave, donned a coonskin cap and gave us some fine stories about the area between Harper's Ferry and Cumberland.
The train rolled into Chicago only about 15 minutes late. We overnighted in Chicago since neither of us had ever been outside of O'Hare or Union Station. The downtown Chicago architecture is fabulous! We were fortunate to be able to check into our room at Club Quarters early, then proceeded to the Art Institute of Chicago to admire some favorite works in person. Dinner, following advice from the AU forum, was at Giordano's. The place was crowded, so we sat at the bar and had excellent service from a couple of very attentive bartenders. The deep dish pizza was as advertized.
A dinner companion had asked us if we were going to see the Bean. We originally thought not, because we didn't think there was much to it, but on the way back from a good breakfast at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe (saving Lou Mitchell's for another trip), we stopped to look at the Bean. And, within 30 seconds, were having a fine time taking selfies in the Bean's reflective surface. Later, we popped into the Chicago Cultural Center across from Millennium Park, and were astonished at the beauty of the two Tiffany domes and the stunning mosaic work. This place gives the Library of Congress Jefferson Building a run for its money.
Back to Chicago Union Station to board the Southwest Chief. More to come...
Last edited by a moderator: