Our family is taking the sunset limited to Orlando tomorrow. Which stations along the way would you guys recommend for us to get off the train and get some fresh air? (we have two kids)
posted
Only the ones where they tell you you can get off! Otherwise you may get left behind. There are 1-2 service stops per day. The ones I can remember: - Tucson, AZ - El Paso, TX - San Antonio, TX (early morning) - New Orleans, LA - possible Pensacola, but during the night
The crew should announce the stops and you may get between 10-20 minutes to wander around. Stay close to the train and board at the door that you exited (good attendants do a head count).
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
The average station stop is five minutes or less. Sometimes much less. Never leave the train unless you ask the conductor or car attendant if it's okay.
Note that while the printed train timetable indicates longer stops (of 10 minutes or more) at certain cities, NEVER take the timetable as gospel.
If your train is running behind schedule, it may not linger at the station for the full ten minutes. If you or any family members are off wandering somewhere, the train will leave without you.
The only truly lengthy "daylight" (actually late evening) stop is at New Orleans. You should have roughly two hours to wander. But even there, ask the conductor how long the stop will be and listen for departure annnouncements over the station PA.
Elsewhere, always stay no more than a few steps from the train.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 10-23-2003).]
posted
Jacksonville is also a good place to get off the Sunset and stretch for a few minutes.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Dilly is right, But most stops are atleast five minutes, and if tere not, Most likely you wouldnt be getting off there to look because it was not a nice station..
GOOD LUCK anton
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I got off an Amtrak train and was left behind in Washington, DC once. I was traveling in a roomette on The Southern Crescent from New Orleans to New York City. The timetable indicated the train would have a 45 minute layover at Washington Union Station. There were these two guys I had met in the train's lounge car during the trip. They were on leave from the Army, and they'd never seen Washington. Since we had a bit of a layover, I suggested we hire a cab and take a quick spin around the Capitol. It took some convincing but I'm a risk taker and a salesman and after some debate they agreed it would be fun and worthwhile. We left the train upon arrival and came upstairs. Union Station was pretty decrepit back in those days, We got a cab. The cab driver listened to our plan. He was an islander with a very pleasant personality. It turned out he was also more interested in making a buck than being rewarded for following directions. I told him about our time constraint and directed him to go past The Capitol and then make a right on the mall and another right halfway down the mall. This would give the boys a view of The Washington Monument, a brief glimpse of The White House, and some of The Smithsonian Museums before we turned back towards the station. The driver, however, sped past The Capitol and then all the way to the Potomac River. I spoke up as he turned right to the follow the waterfront. The views were superb, but I had strong doubts. The driver went as far as The Jefferson Monument. I knew we were in trouble but he assured me we would make it in time. But then of course we got stuck in heavy traffic near The Lincoln Monument. when we reached the station I knew we were sunk, but we ran across the concourse anyway. Sure enough, our train had departed for New York. Since the mini tour of DC was my idea, a certain amount of placating on my part was in order, though confidentially I felt awful and had no idea what was going to happen next. So I just sugggested we go to the Stationmaster's office and tell whoever we found there what we'd done. It turned out that the Stationmaster was a pretty nice guy. He personally accompanied us to the next regular corridor train to New York and after explaining our plight to the coach attendant we were put on board. The Stationmaster also made contact with his comrade in New York. We were told that upon arriving at Penn Station we should find the platform where the Crescent had arrived and most likely we would be able to retrieve our belongings. Our corridor train reached Penn Station just a few minutes after the Crescent. My luggage was still in my roomette. The soldier's belongings were on the overhead racks in the coach where they'd been sitting. If the G.I.'s were angry at me, at that point all was forgotten. We said goodbye with a sense of relief rather than resentment. It's said that all's well that ends well, but getting left behind was a stressful experience!
Posts: 284 | From: Ithaca, NY USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
The member who started this thread has probably already left on his/her trip, so this is for the benefit of any first-time Amtrak travelers. . . .
There are very few places in the country where a passenger, who has been left behind, can simply catch the next train an hour or so later.
Most Amtrak routes only host one train in each direction every 24 hours. The Sunset Limited runs only three times weekly.
In other words, if you get left behind, you'll probably be waiting for the next train for a very long time -- and Amtrak is under no obligation to provide alternate transportation (plane, bus, rental car) to your destination.
posted
I might suggest that you do what our good friend Mr. Toy does to check out the fresh air. It seems that you would be much more comfortable checking out the fresh air from the lower lever vestibule.
This way you are able to take in the local aromas of each locations without having to worry about reboarding the train on time and end the remote possibility of being left behind by your train.
I think that Dilly is correct when she stated that Amtrak has no obligation or responsibility to a passenger who gets off the train and fails to get back on the train before it pulls out.
My advice would be to stay on the train and avoid the possibility of turning what a very nice enjoyable and enjoyable trip into your worst nightmare in a matter of seconds.
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