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We board the Sunset Limited today at 2:30 pm in LAX. I am traveling with my husband and another couple that we have convinced to try the LD train. We are going all the way to New Orleans. In my monitoring over the past month the #2 averaged 2.3 hours late, excluding a 10 hour outlier due to a fatal accident. So we hope to be in New Orleans at a reasonable hour. Today's #2 is running essentially on time and expected early! Our return trip will be bus from Galvestan to Houston and then #1 home on the 15th. Will do a trip report once I am home. Would love to be met with bagpipes at any station along the way. Wish us luck!
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Good Luck Miss Vickie; I think you and "Mr.' know what to expect; and something tells me, being the straight talking gal you have established yourself to be here at the Forum, the other couple traveling with you has been properly briefed that things CAN go wrong, but if one embarks on an Amtrak LD with the idea that they are on a travel adventure, it may not be all that bad.
Hopefully, you will have a good supply of your "Private Stock'; I always have mine. I think that the three Members here who know me 'face to face' will attest that I'm not 'cheap', but rather I enjoy varietals that I could not reasonably expect Amtrak to offer for sale.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Enjoy your trip Viki. I was on a Southbound Surfliner from Santa Barbara when you boarded today. I hope you are having an enjoyable trip.
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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Looks like Vicki's Sunset trundled into it's nocturnal Tucson station call 100 minutes late. Deming, NM is estimated for 7:10am (M), just 55 minutes late.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Estimated now to arrive in Sanderson, TX at 5:55pm (M)......that's one hour and forty-four minutes late.
Anybody wanna take bets on it?
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Vicki's number 2 'held steady' and arrived in Houston just two hours and five minutes late this morning. With padding they might shave a little of that off by New Orleans.
This performance could (and has) have been far worse. Seriously, who among us would have expected to ride the Sunset and get in less than two hours late?
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Ouch! #1 is running 7 hours late heading into LAX tonight. Could be an interesting trip report from Vicky.
Posts: 34 | From: Kansas City, MO | Registered: Feb 2005
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Good things happen sometimes when the train is late. Back in '98 I took the sunst limited to N.O. With a stopover in San Antonio. It was running 3 hours late when I arrived at S.A. The hotel I was booked to spend a few nights was full except for the top room in the Fairmont which I got for the same price that I reserved a regular room. For two nights I was in a room that was bigger than my condo. Trains are more than a mode of transportation, they're also an adventure.
Posts: 229 | From: Long Beach CA | Registered: Jan 2007
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The train certainly is an adventure. Several years ago I was on the Texas Eagle..same train as the Sunset, at least as far as San Antonio. I was heading to Chicago from LA. We arrived in SAS 12 hours late missing 22, so we were put up overnight at the Red Roof Inn, which I didn t mind. The bonus part of this trip was being upgraded to a family bedroom when I reboarded in San Antonio the next morning. Sometimes lengthy delays are worth it.
On the other hand, on another trip up to Chicago we were late again on 422, but not late enough for an overnight stay, We were bustituted from El Paso to Fort Worth, almost a 12 hour bus ride in the middle of the night! I did get compensation from Amtrak and a travel voucher,though.
You have to look at each Amtrak trip as an adventure. Its worked for me many times.
Posts: 176 | From: Bloomsburg Pa | Registered: Jul 2000
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Preliminary report on timeliness only - arrived in New Orleans 1 1/2 hours late, thought that was great. Arrived home at LAX 7 hours late. My full report will explain some of that and I will have a few questions for those of you who know all. Meanwhile just know that we are safely home and had a great time. More to follow soon when I have time.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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