We leave tomorrow on the Texas Eagle connecting in Chicago with the LSL to Boston. A week from today we leave BOS for New York on the Acela. The following Monday down to Philadelphia for a couple of days. Then we take the Three Rivers to Chicago. After a few days there, back home on the Eagle. Sleepers all the way, deluxe for me and the Mrs., standard for our two kids. We have only done the train once before; FTW to SAS round trip so this will be a new experience for us.
Thanks to all of the wisdom to be found here I think that we are well prepared. I have been tracking the OTP for all of our trains so I have and idea of what to expect.
I do find it unfortunate that whenever anyone asks about my trip they say "Driving or flying?" and that they are surprised to hear that we are going by train. I think most people aren't even aware that Amtrak exists any more. I also think that it's unfortunate that one really has to want to ride and enjoy the train because for all of the virtues there are very many warts. Hopefully Mr. Gunn can turn things around and someday we'll have a really viable option to the other modes of transportation. Enough soapbox...
I plan to keep a journal and will let you all know how things went.
See y'all in a couple of weeks...
Mark
Posts: 102 | From: Fort Worth,TX,USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Looking forward to your trip report I am really interested in the Lake Shore part of the trip. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable vacation!! Jack M
Posts: 25 | Registered: May 2002
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Have a great trip, Mr. mho!!! Let us know all about it. I will be leaving on my big trip in 3 weeks (6/28)
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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To rrrich; Hope you also will post your trip. Will be looking forward to reading about it,give us both good and bad (if any) parts. Have a great time!! Jack M
Posts: 25 | Registered: May 2002
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Jack - I certainly will do a complete travelogue of my trip, and, as always, I will mention both the positive and the negative aspects. My trip is June 28-July 10, so my travelogue will probably be ready by the end of July. --Rich K
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Looks like mho's train #22 is about 2&1/2 hours down. If nothing gets worse, he should be into CHI at about 5PM. Doing a lot better than my trip when I was about 9 hours off the scheduled.
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I wonder if anyone knows if Amtrak has moved the Bos. section of the LSL to the forward end of train at Albany? I read in current issue of Trains that they did. Any info would be helpful. Thanks Jack M
Posts: 25 | Registered: May 2002
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Looks like mho's #22 did arrive CHI about 5PM. Just checked the Amtrak web-site & the Lake Shore Ltd. is running about 1 & 1/2 hours late. Reggie
Posts: 462 | From: Bakersfield Ca., 93312 | Registered: Jul 2000
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we're in boston (sorry about caps but i'm not used to this laptop keyboard)
had the very best crew on #22
sleeper attendant was linda and she was the greatest
#48/448 was good but the crew wasn't as good as 22. i'll give more detail when i get back
yes - the 448 part was on the head end - we had to walk through a mile of coaches to get to the diner.
we dropped the tail end at albany and picked up a cafe car on the end
there was a private car on the end of the train in chicago that continued on the ny section. i have some photos that i can upload when i get back if anyone is interested in seeing the car.
so far we are all very pleased and enjoyed our train rides. it is nice to be on solid ground for a while though.
acela to nyp on friday!
cheers,
mark
Posts: 102 | From: Fort Worth,TX,USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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---Can you imagine that? A whole trip on the Texas Eagle and another whole trip on the Lake Shore Limited and not one reported incident of motion sickness. Amazing.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote:Originally posted by The Amtrak Mole: ---Can you imagine that? A whole trip on the Texas Eagle and another whole trip on the Lake Shore Limited and not one reported incident of motion sickness. Amazing.
------------------ ---The Amtrak Mole ---All your PCs are belong to trash
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Very interested in your trip in that my family and I will be taking pretty much the same trip in August. I am interested primarily in the roominess of the coaches and if they are similar to the coaches of the Texas Eagle. Glad your having a good time. I'll never take an overnight car trip again if I can get there by train.
Posts: 22 | From: Little Rock, AR | Registered: Jun 2001
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I m just about two weeks away from my cross country Amtrak journey. I ve done these every year since 1990 and the anticipation is always great. My itinerary: New York-DC, DC-Chicago on the Capital Limited, Zephyr to Denver, two days in Colorado, on to Reno,overnight, to Emeryville switching to the Coast Starlight to Portland, the Empire Builde to Whitefish, two days there, back on the EB to Portland, the Starlight to Oakland, a day there, back on the Starlight to LA...then to San Diego and back to LA, a day there..then the SW Chief to Chicago and the LS Limited back to New York.
I ll be gone about 16 days. Theres nothing like a great train vacation and I get excited about each one like its my first time. This is a great time of year,too..maximum daylight. Sure hope the Pacific parlor car is on the Coast Starlight. I ve never taken a sleeper on that route and I m looking foward to all the luxuries that come with first class service.
I was a little apprehensive when I read about the possible shutdown,but I m optomistic. I ve been travelling on Amtrak for over twelve years and I have never had a dissapinting trip..hey its all in the attitude!
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Hey Graynt; I sure like your attitude, my wife& I take two trips a year on Amtrak & having a positive attitude is the way to travel. I know people will say you should expect good service for good money but if you dont take a chance on anything you will never do anything.So with this in mind we are going to Flagstaff this Sept. We will give you a report and see if our luck holds Jack M
Posts: 25 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by graynt: Sure hope the Pacific parlor car is on the Coast Starlight. I ve never taken a sleeper on that route and I m looking foward to all the luxuries that come with first class service.
I really enjoyed the Parlor Car on my recent trip. Unlike the Sightseer lounge seats which turn people away from each other, the Pacific Parlor Car is designed for socializing. It is very much like the lounge cars of Amtrak's early years, and the streamliner era the preceeded that.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
acela was a nice ride. we got to nyp right on time. of course it doesn't do the real high speed stuff the whole way. we leave tomorrow for phl but that is a metroliner and a fairly short trip.
mark
Posts: 102 | From: Fort Worth,TX,USA | Registered: Dec 2001
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See y'all in a couple of weeks... 
