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I'm leaving Tuesday morning for Washington, D.C., from LSE, making the second leg on the Capitol. Does anyone have any last-minute advice or news? We have never travelled on the Capitol, nor have I travelled in the east since 9-11, and I getting a bit nervous about the whole deal.
Posts: 51 | From: La Crosse, WI, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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You'll be fine and I am sure you will have a great trip - just be sure to have patience and a good attitude when riding Amtrak. It often goes a long way! Be sure to camp out in the Sightseer Lounge after breakfast. It's a nice ride from Pittsburgh to DC - but don't get up too early! You may notice heightened security in the East Coast cities (DC and NYC the most apparent) than your last trip pre-9/11. Just go with the flow and try not to think about it. Enjoy yourself!
If you are going First Class, the Capitol Limited trainsets had some Superliner II sleepers as well as renovated Superliner I's these past few months. So if you are going First Class, you'll probably get a nice sleeper - as opposed to the rundown Superliner I sleepers that once were part of this trains' consist. If in coach - I have seen some newer coaches on the Capitol too.
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i am full agreement with JP you will be fine clwood enjoy your trip and let us know how it went when you return
Posts: 193 | From: illinois | Registered: Jan 2004
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I think, Ms. Wood, one of the more interesting facets of a Capitol Ltd journey is the passage over the Allegheny Mtns. This is, Eastward from Pittsburgh to Cumberland and during summer months, it will be entirely in daylight.
Eastward, you will follow the Yiougheny River and will pass through a community named Confluence. This is where three rivers join at a reservior.
At that point, you will be within 15 miles of where on 9/11 "the bravest of the brave" ensured that loss of life from UA 93 would be limited to themselves and those sickheads that wanted to go meet "their Maker" anyway.
Your ascent continues through Sand Patch (essentially on the MD-PA line); after passing through several tunnels, your descent along the Casselman River will start, where at Cumberland, it joins up with the Potomac.
At Cumberland, the route diverges from the Potomac, taking a more straight line to Wash than does the River. At Martinsburg look off to the Fireman's side and note the railroad roundhouse being restored. Also, when you get to Harpers Ferry, on the Engineer side is a scenic crossing of the Potomac where immediately after X-ing, you will go into a tunnel and bid the Potomac a "farewell'.
From this "reasonably regular' Capitol Ltd rider, enjoy.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 06-28-2004).]
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Here's a question. Are there any restroom facilities in the dining car? Last year on the Empire Builder I took my little one, then three, back to our car when she needed to "go," and the dining car steward didn't like it one bit.
Posts: 51 | From: La Crosse, WI, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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No there aren't any, but the lounge (usually right behind the diner) does (downstairs). I bet the steward would have much preferred your little one to use the facilities rather than had a little "accident" in the diner!!
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Do all Superliner lounges have restrooms? It seems I have been on some in which the restroom downstairs either doesn't exist or has been remodeled into a storage area or something.
For CL - if you can't find a restroom in the lounge behind the diner, all the coach cars (ahead of the diner) will have lower-level restrooms.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Just reporting in: We made it to Washington yesterday, 2 hours late on the Capitol Ltd. Our luggage took almost an hour to unload. That was almost the hardest part. We were *** -tired and the kids were scrapping. The track on much of the route was horribly rough-- my bones feel like they've been jarred out of place. There were several first-time riders in our sleeping car and they commented that Amtrak's photos of the sleeping compartments were deceptively made to make them look bigger than they are. I also heard this on my trip out west last year. Our deluxe room was OK but certainly needed a good scrubbing. Something looked like soot on the ceiing, but I believe it may have been mold. Washington Union Station is beautiful.
[This message has been edited by clwood (edited 06-24-2004).]
Posts: 51 | From: La Crosse, WI, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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