West MI to New Orleans May 13-17, 2014

[debmep]

Will post in installments as my memory isn't the best anymore. I tried to keep a notebook with up to date notes, but that lasted only the first day. We arrived at the Grand Rapids Pere Marquette train station

around 7AM on the 13th. There was plenty of parking so we knew that the train would not be busy. We walked into the station following a large Amish family. It was interesting to note that there were more

Amish inside the station than English. In the past we have always had to "Check-in" with the person sitting at the small desk. A very "crusty" 50ish year old guy was seated at the desk reading a newspaper. No

Amtrak ID, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. We approached him with our tickets and was told "They will check you in on the train". We took a seat and he continued to give very sharp replies to everyone who

came in with tickets to scan. One gentlemen had issues with printing his tickets and had to ask for assistance twice. The second time he asked, we saw this guy actually roll his eyes and mutter something under

his breath before leaving his newspaper to give some assistance. Thankfully the train boarded right on time, and we never saw Mr Grumpy again.

The train to Chicago was uneventful. We stopped twice for short times and were given reasons why each time. We arrived in Chicago right on time.

Check-in at the Metropolitan Lounge was a bit of a wait. 3 long distance trains arrived at the same time. The line to get into the lounge was way out the door almost past the security desk. We finally made it in

and got our passes then check our luggage. We then took off to see the sites in the city. Water taxi is the way to go this trip. We road it twice. The Pullman Employees set up there little greeting area near the

sliding doors out to the trains. They roped off the little corner circle waiting area, and booted a few non Pullman people out of the area. There were about 6 employee's greeting people, handing out name lanyards

and taking dinner reservations.

About 7:20 we were called to board the CONO. We thought that we would eat soon, but surprise! No call for supper until we were about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. Just one general announcement, no

reservations or early seating. Meals the entire trip were wonderful. We had a new SCA, it was her first trip off of orientation. She did fine, not real talkative but we had no complaints. We were in Roomette #5

both directions and looked west both there and back. We had rain the entire trip south on the night of the13th and morning of the 14th. We were told that the train was full, and we did not see any empty

bedrooms or roomettes the entire trip.

The CONO pulled 6 Pullmans cars on the way down that trip. It made for quite the walk both in Chicago and New Orleans, but it sure was interesting looking into the Pullman cars. We were delayed

once and had a 25 mile slow section but arrived in New Orleans exactly on time. The train backs into the station in New Orleans, so many people were taking photo's of the Pullman cars. Interesting that

it was not a usual run day for the Pullmans. The cars were full of 2 tour groups, one from England and the second group from Germany.

We spent 2 nights in New Orleans at the Hotel Provincial. Love New Orleans and didn't eat, drink, or see near enough.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Enjoying your trip report. We also love New Orleans and looking forward to our next visit.

 

[debmep]

Return to Chicago was on Friday the 16th. We took a taxi from our hotel back to the Amtrak Station. Arrived in time to get two of the "pulpit" chairs in the lounge but not the red couch. Time went quickly and soon we were

escorted out to the train. Seems to have been some type of employee mix up. Our SCA and 2 other train staff did not show up until just before the train departed. A announcement was made to the effect of, these 3 staff

were replacement staff and we should be thankful that they filled in. So the train was in route before introductions were made. He did make an announcement that he would set up the refreshments and coffee first before

coming around. On the return trip dinner reservations were taken, but it ended up that only the first seating was ever announced. The dining staff on the return to Chicago was disorganized, and seemed to struggle. We

ended up just wandering into the dining car after 30 minutes past our scheduled call time. We both had the steak which was as good as we remembered it to be. Our table mates that meal were a couple of similar age from

Australia who were travelling around the US. Next stop for them was a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas, then driving a rental car up to the state of Washington. Good conversation that meal!

An interesting observation that we noticed both for the dinner meal and also breakfast. Many people came to the dining car and requested take-out food. They were all seated at a table closest to the kitchen and filled

out the appropriate menu items. After a short wait, the food was delivered to them in brown paper bags. This happened at both meals on the return trip to Chicago. I have no idea if this was an arrangement with the SCA

and the dining room staff, but we never observed our SCA bringing food into the car for anyone. We saw many people getting take out and bringing food back to their roomettes and bedrooms. Never seen or read about

this happening before. One man was seated at our table for breakfast. When he told the dining car staff that he wanted his food "to go", he was moved to the table by the serving kitchen. He soon left with his bag of food.

Our SCA informed us after supper that he normally turn the beds down during the stop in Memphis, if we required it earlier to please let him know. We noticed that most people were long in bed by Memphis, so he stayed

busy. Our roomette slept fine both directions.

We returned to Chicago again right on time. Check in again into the Metropolitan Lounge was fine. We were a bit ansy to catch the Pere Marquette back to Grand Rapids, but had to wait all day. We did end up going out

to take a long walk along the river.
We loved being escorted thru the masses into the pre-board area just before getting on the Pere Marquette. We missed this last trip as the SWC was 10hour late coming back into Chicago due to a suicide in California.

2 years ago we had to be driven home in a passenger van at 1AM after missing our connection. So this trip it was a surprise not having to join the masses in the main waiting area for the trip back to West MI. I knew that

we could wait in the Metropolitan Lounge for the Pere Marquette, but I did not know that we would be pre boarded with an escort. Nice touch! Arrived back in Grand Rapids 30 minutes early which was also very nice.

It was a quick trip to New Orleans but very much enjoyed. We love train travel and now hope to return to NOLA again.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Sounds like the OBS Crew from NOL-CHI just winged it on the fly! I've never seen a LSA allow "To go" meals to passengers, usually SCAs have to pick them up from the Diner! And Brown Bags sound like a school meal!

Glad y'all enjoyed the trip, and having the option of boarding the MI train from the Metro Lounge is a real plus! Most people know Union Station Coach boardings are a zoo!!!

 

[debmep]

Forgot to add this fun tidbit. On our arrival into NOLA, we exited to the Taxi line. We were directed into a cab already occupied with one gentlemen. Thought that was a bit strange, but went with it. The cab driver had to be 80 years of age

or older. Hubby offered to lift our 2 suitcases into the rear of the SUV, but the driver declined and loaded them up. I sat in the front seat and Hubby sat in the back with stranger guy. We were on the 4 lane road heading towards the French

Quarter when other car horns started blaring. At exactly the same time the SUV's hatchback door opened any MY SUITCASE FELL OUT. Thankfully something caught the last part of the suitcase and it ended up sorta dangling outside the SUV. Old guy taxi driver immediately stopped right in the middle of the road at an intersection, no less. He exited and lifted/pushed my suitcase back into the SUV. Closed the back end again and we were off. Dropped off stranger guy at

his hotel. Noted that he was told the fare was $8.00 because of a second load (us). It was a short drive over to our Hotel and we were also quoted a fare of $8.00. He got $10, only because of his age. Would have been a great story to

have a smashed suitcase because of a taxi driver!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Nice story! The cabbies in NOL are something else! They'll tell people the standard rate is $12-$15 to their Hotel when the " standard" rate is $10! As you know its not that far to the hotels in the biz district and the quarter and I even talked with a guy that was charged $12 to the Holiday Inn by the Superdome which is about 200 yards from Union Station!

Its easy to walk or take the street car to/from your hotel if you don't have lots of luggage and have been in NOL before!