Tomorrow (April 29), Tzena & I leave on our annual train trip. We'll be on the Eagle from Austin to Chicago and on to Milwaukee. Sunday May 2, we leave Milwaukee for Chicago and the SW Chief, heading to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. We will fly home from Phoenix, so we can spend an extra 2 days in the area, including the Verde Canyon train on Saturday May 8. If any of y'all are on the same train, Look us up. Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Mike -- which one of these guys is you?
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Sorry RRRich.... My wife has requested that I shoot you..... Which do you prefer, 12 gauge or 9mm?
[This message has been edited by mikesmith (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
RRRich, this must be your lucky day!! My wife changed her mind. She now wants me to just throw you in the ditch that's behind her....
Posted by fixj (Member # 3179) on :
Mike, what a wonderful trip you have planned. I too have traveled most of those routes. We used to live in Ft Worth and went to Austin on The Eagle all the time. Great fun. We also traveled to Chicago a lot and did the SW Chief to Flagstaff to see the big ditch. I am sure you know, but there is a great train to the canyon in Williams, and if you have not done that, it is a must. Have a great time, and give us a full report when you return.
Jim Fix
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Jim, we did the GCRR last year.
Yep, this is the second year in a row to visit the Grand Canyon. We determined 3 days just was not enough time last year.
I can't wait for the Verde Canyon RR trip Saturday after next. I plan on having a nice trip report when we return.
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
Say, that "ditch", is it so great?, when I went there, all I seen was a big whole in the ground.
On the the GCRR, did you get robed by cowboys on the way back, I did!
------------------ JONATHON D. ORTIZ
[This message has been edited by JONATHON (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
Hey, Mike. Nice photos of you and your wife. It's nice to have a face to go with your name. It makes the board feel a little more personal.
Here's one o' moi.
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
But... but.... but... There's no horns, Mr Toy......
Did you do a "comb-over" like I did???
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Your trip sounds great! I hope to do something similar coming from the east, getting off in Lamy to see Santa Fe, then continuing to Flagstaff after a few days and from there going to Sedona as well as the Grand Canyon. I also wish there were a way to get to Bryce Canyon by bus or train from Flagstaff but I haven't heard of such a trip--has anyone?
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
I'm tentatively planning a trip next year to Green River UT to do all the desert National Parks next year. I plan on hitting Arches, Canyonland, Bryce, & Zion, returning to Green river and the trip home.
Or I'll do Idaho and visit my parents in Boise....
Posted by Yez Boz (Member # 2938) on :
I'z hopes youz awls haz a reel goot vacashun.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
That sounds fun Mikesmith--Enjoy!
Yez Boz, dont be racist now---and mikesmith dont talk 'bout guns!
------------------ --Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com AIM: pillsburyMN
[This message has been edited by CoastStarlight99 (edited 04-28-2004).]
Posted by Yez Boz (Member # 2938) on :
CS99 hesh up afor i mancuff you to a chair and feed youz sum throat yougart
u no u love da man spray
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Ok, whatever you saw boz!
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
say*
Posted by Rheboi (Member # 2994) on :
Here's hoping you and your wife have a great trip Mikesmith.
I'm looking forward to my SW Chief trip although I won't have time to stop at the "ditch" I'm sure I'll get to see loads of other stuff.
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Last post before we leave. Here's a picture taken south of Raton. We are outahere!
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Mike - PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Our office computer graphics sometimes come out rather dark, and I did not realize, from the photo quality on our computer that that was your wife next to you!! Sorry!!!!!!!!! Good photo of you two.......... Have a great trip!!
To Yez Boz -- is that a photo of you back up a couple posts, or will I get in trouble with you now like I did with Mike?
Posted by sutton (Member # 1612) on :
Hey, is that Rochester up there? Remember when Jack Benny asked the ticket agent for a ticket on the train? The agent asked, "The five dollar ticket or the ten dollar ticket?" "What's the difference?" asked Benny. Agent: "For ten dollars, you get to ride on the Inside." Benny: "Well, of course. After all, I'm not as young as I used to be." Agent: You're not as young as ANYbody used to be!"
Posted by UncleBuck44 (Member # 2049) on :
Thats extrememly funny with RRRich and Mrs. Smith.
BTW I knew when I saw Mr. Toy post that "having pictures to go with faces makes it more personal" that if Yez Boz saw that line he'd post that picture.
Posted by Yez Boz (Member # 2938) on :
Keep yer crystal ball out and tell us who will win da prezidental election.
Posted by Rheboi (Member # 2994) on :
Never mind who will win the election!!! What are the winning lottery numbers??
Posted by UncleBuck44 (Member # 2049) on :
Lotto Numbers are: 15-26-13-06-21 Power Ball: 11
Next President: Ralph Nader
Munch on that ladies.
Posted by Rheboi (Member # 2994) on :
Hmmm That's Mr. to you!! LOL
Our power ball only goes to 7 and there are 6 numbers in the main draw so your numbers are not really helpful... and who the heck is Ralp Nader?
My crystal ball says that Osama Bin Liner will be found pre election (also hiding in a hole in the ground) and G dubbyah will get back in...
Posted by UncleBuck44 (Member # 2049) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rheboi: Our power ball only goes to 7 and there are 6 numbers in the main draw so your numbers are not really helpful... and who the heck is Ralp Nader?
Is that the nationwide powerball?
Who is Ralp(h) Nader? I dont have time to give a History lesson here young man. All I can say is, he is the next president
Posted by Rheboi (Member # 2994) on :
National Lottery? Our "National" Lottery features number 1-40 of which 6 are drawn for the main draw plus two "bonus" balls.
Then there's a "Power" ball that is numbered 1-8.
Lotto NZ style with a population of 4 million people...
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Well, here's a quick update. I'm using dial-up and I don't know how I managed before with dial-up... It's excessively slow! I'm too cheep to book a hotel with high speed internet...
Leaving Austin, everything was Ok, except no sightseer, a bashed up P-42 (197), and frumpy old equipment. This is the second year that I've experienced old worn out train equipment. I believe Chicago is intentionally giving the Eagle old stuff.
Anyway, we were on time and everything was normal until Normal, IL. The engineer was smelling diesel fuel, opened the door behind him, saw diesel fuel flying all over the engine and shut down the P-42 immediately. The fire department was called, checked out the engine compartment, and caught as much of the diesel fuel as they could. The engine was lunched. 4 hours later, two UP engines were attached and we continued to Chicago with no HEP. That meant no lights, no AC, and no power to flush the commodes...
We had all the windows open for air flow and actually made pretty good time into Chicago. I think UP took pity on us because they had numerous freights sidelined waiting on us to go by.
We arrived 4 hours late, meaning I missed both Hiawathas (3:15 & 5:08) to MKE and had to take another taxi ride to the airport to get my rental from Hertz after arriving on the 9:30 pm train...
More later.
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
Sorry to correct ya UncleBuck, but Kerry is our next president, and bush will go to jail for being a bad president. lol
------------------ JONATHON D. ORTIZ
Posted by panamaclipper (Member # 3058) on :
Yes, when I rode the Eagle in March I thought the state of the equipment was terrible. The sleeper I had was in very poor condition compared to either the EB or CZ rides I've taken of late.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
Mike, It sounds like Amtrak's decision to have only one locomotive on the Eagle was not such a good idea, as NARP pointed out when the decision was made. No HEP sounds like a recipe for a lot of hot and cranky passengers. At least UP expedited your train. There is a silver lining there, and shows that UP, like the GOP, is not entirely bad.
------------------ Sing to the tune of Humoresque: Passengers will please refrain, From flushing toilets while the train, Is standing in the station, I love you.
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 05-02-2004).]
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
I've arrived at Flagstaff and have an addition to the story. #197 was engine #2 on the westbound SW Chief that left Chicago Sunday. That was a fast fix! It arrived in Chicago Friday after 6:00pm and left a short 44 hours later.... #185 was lead, and it had front end damage, too. (197 had hit a truck)
We were on time or ahead of schedule the entire trip. But DO NOT ORDER their country fried steak!!!!! Geez.... Sonic does it better....
