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No one in my family understands why I love trains so much. What do I do now.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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And will make my trip in June more enjoyable without them complaining the whole way.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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We rail fans ARE crazy. Our insanity is first manifested by an elevation in blood pressure and heart rate whenever we hear the lonesome call of a train whistle in the night. Then, as the bellow of the diesels grows closer, we start breathing rapidly and shallowly. Just before the markers flash past at the grade crossing, specks of foam appear at the corners of our mouths . . .
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Henry that is me in a nutshell I love standing under the train station at Disneyland on Main Street and feeling the rumble of the building as the train goes chugging, albiet smelling like french fries now since they use bio fuel now, overhead.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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I've learned to just shrug and smile. My wife is not too unsupporive, but the kids don't get trains at all. When we took the Coast Starlight to Seattle in 2005, we all flew from Oakland to LA so we could take the whole route. They complained some, and getting to Seattle 5 hrs late didn't help, but overall I think they understood some of the joy - the scenery, eating in the diner, some games in the parlor car, relaxing and doing "nothing". I did make a point that the train travel itself was part of the vacation. The kids did spend quite a bit of time plying what I consider stupid video games, but I figured that's their way to enjoy the time, and let it be.
Posts: 406 | From: La Grange, CA | Registered: Sep 2007
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I had the same problem for years. Finlly I said I do not fly for a number of reasons including the fact that I don't have wings. I love the train and that is how I will travel. Now I just shrug my shoulders and change the subject.Since everyone knows the answer they don't bother to ask the question any more.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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They think I am nuts because I do a search on Amtrak on Youtube.com and turn the sound up.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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That's the best use for Youtube I've found yet! I hope you replay the same clip repeatedly.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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After two Coast to Coast trips my wife now refuses to travel with me on the train. Her problem, she says, is gaining weight on the long trips. She was last on Amtrak in '06. I dont believe she would gain any weight with the wooden veggies they have now.
Posts: 139 | From: myrtle creek oregon | Registered: Jul 2006
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Wayne, You are scaring me now. I have my first overnight in June in a sleeper from NOL-LAX. I wonder if I should bring lots of cup a noodles for my meals now.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by ScottC4746: They think I am nuts because I do a search on Amtrak on Youtube.com and turn the sound up.
Don't stop with Amtrak!
Do some YouTube searches for Tweetsie Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Get some videos of little narrow guage steam locomotives attacking steep mountains.
THEN turn the sound up.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAY UP!
-------------------- 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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No Scot it's me, I do not like frozen veggies and that is my only complaint.
Posts: 139 | From: myrtle creek oregon | Registered: Jul 2006
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quote:Originally posted by wayne72145: After two Coast to Coast trips my wife now refuses to travel with me on the train. Her problem, she says, is gaining weight on the long trips.
While I don't think the problem is that acute with the smaller SDS portions, such is certainly a reason I am "not exactly' an afficiando of cruises. My experiences in this life (6 cruises, 2 'Trans-At' sailings) are that while Love Tub chow definitely lacks for quality, it certainly does not for quantity.
Posts: 9979 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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After seeing Extreme Trains - Empire Builder and watching them load the kitchen, everything seemed to be frozen.
Posts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by wayne72145: After two Coast to Coast trips my wife now refuses to travel with me on the train. Her problem, she says, is gaining weight on the long trips.
While I don't think the problem is that acute with the smaller SDS portions, such is certainly a reason I am "not exactly' an afficiando of cruises. My experiences in this life (6 cruises, 2 'Trans-At' sailings) are that while Love Tub chow definitely lacks for quality, it certainly does not for quantity.
Well that's the nice thing about trains is "this is when we eat and small portions so we do not run out---anything outside those hours go to the cafe car and buy it" Cruises it is all free food all the time. Now we are turning www.railforum.com into www.cruisecritic.comPosts: 89 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Jun 2004
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I am with you on this one. I am a big fan of trains because I love the freedom they give me as opposed to sitting in the car on a long trip. I would much rather be sitting in the lounge car seeing the scenery or eating a good meal in the dining car as opposed to at a fast food restaurant . I would rather sleep in the comfortable coach seats with legrest than sleeping at a Motel 6.
I would rather be sitting on the train while the cars are stopping and going up the Cajon pass or through LA. I would rather have a beer on the train without the worry of a DUI.
i would rather meet people on the train who have the same love of mine than meeting them at a motel pool.
So you see why I love the train. And not to mention that Amtrak allows you to cancel up until the departure of your first segment. They do not charge you to check in the first two bags. You can bring liquids on the train without a problem. There are no long lines to check in and besides would you rather be sitting at LAX airport or Union Station.
And for the real train fan take three trips a month lol. I hope your family will see why you love trains as much as I do. My family knows how much I love trains despite the delays. The delays are worth every cent. I would much rather be delayed on a train than sitting in the airport lounge. On a train I can be enjoying a dinner and a snooze without worrying if I will miss my stop or not.
Posts: 259 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Mr. Travelplus, although I only travel sleeper on overnight trains and my preferences for hotel brands are a bit higher up the food chain than the Accor brand you note, I share most of your same thoughts regarding train travel. I continue to hold my Amtrak experiences to date have "more positives than negatives'.
But unfortunately, my friend, none of the above makes for any case as to why LD passenger trains should be funded into perpetuity from both the public trough and by the Class I industry.
usual disclaimer: positions in BNI NSC UNP
Posts: 9979 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by ScottC4746: Henry that is me in a nutshell I love standing under the train station at Disneyland on Main Street and feeling the rumble of the building as the train goes chugging, albiet smelling like french fries now since they use bio fuel now, overhead.
A steam locomotive that smells like french fries running at one of the World's most popular amusement parks?
That is just perfect. They need a hamburger stand trackside! I am so there.
(Note: It's February in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Warm places with sunshine, a bench to sit on, tolerable food, and the promise of a steam locomotive that smells like french fries is a VERY APPEALING thought right now.)
-------------------- 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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quote:Originally posted by ScottC4746: They think I am nuts because I do a search on Amtrak on Youtube.com and turn the sound up.
Don't stop with Amtrak!
Do some YouTube searches for Tweetsie Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Get some videos of little narrow guage steam locomotives attacking steep mountains.
THEN turn the sound up.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAY UP!
If you really want a rush...search on YouTube for "Union Pacific 3985 [or 844!] at speed"....!!
-------------------- --------Eric H. Bowen
Stop by my website: Streamliner Schedules - Historic timetables of the great trains of the past! Posts: 413 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Mar 2006
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