Friday night I dropped a few relatives off at the station to catch the west bound Sunset Limited. Ofcourse it was 4 hours late arriving at 11:20pm instead of 6:40pm. There were about 17 people waiting for the train. After watching several KCS, BNSF, and UP trains go pass, Amtrak finally arrived. I would estimate about 100 people got off the train. Only about 7 was for the Beaumont stop, the other 93 were smokers. I got mixed in the crowd of smokers on the platform. A group of smokers were talking about a racist guy being kicked off the train. One lady was concerned the guy would be raped if left behind at a Texas station. Good-grief!!! I shook my head and went over to check out the other coaches. After 15 minutes, I was concerned why Amtrak was still at the station. Beaumont is usually just a 10 minute stop. Then I noticed a couple of Beaumont Police cars pulling up to the station. Yes I was noisy. It turned out to be some kind of racist fight or bad argument on the train between a black guy and white guy. The police took both off the train. Neither could walk straight. My guess it was alcohol. One of the men was begging the police, "If you let me get back on the train, I won't open my %#@$@#*&@! mouth again." Ofcourse the police said," NO, Amtrak don't want you on their train." People boarded the train, the horn blew, Sunset Limited off to Houston. When I left the station, an Amtrak representive, police, and the 2 guys still handcuffed in the police cars. I guess the moral of the story, Amtrak don't tolerate bad passengers. Imagine being in a jail with no money away from your destination.
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
It's stories like this that exemplify what makes Amtrak such an unique mode of travel.
I cannot recall any long distance trip where I didn't cross paths with some wacky fellow traveler. Some are loony by genetics, some by self-medication.
I've entertained several theories of why each train seems to have it's resident cuckoo or two. For example, maybe Amtrak actively recruits and compensates them for providing onboard entertainment. These loco's can distract you from fretting over Amtrak service shortcomings. Another theory is Amtrak has secret transportation contracts with major corporate operators of mental health facilities. Or maybe it's simply the only alternative left for people banned from Greyhound.
Whatever the reason, they seem to find the train. And all too often, they seem to find a seat too close to mine.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Sounds more like Greyhound to me! But thats a really intereasting story!!! I heard a few tales similar (not as wild) from a thruway bus driver while waiting for a train once but thats pretty intereasting...And its true: "Amtrak Dont tolerate bad passengers."
Posted by North American Railroader (Member # 3398) on :
Yeah, its experiences like this which make it so much fun to ride Amtrak (as long as you're not in the middle of it). Personally, I've seen it all: heart attacks, thieves, drunkards, etc. It always gives an interesting yarn to tell. Glad you weren't in the coach gp35, it would really stink to have to put up with two drunk guys arguing until the next station!
Posted by gp35 (Member # 3971) on :
On a sad note. Today ambulance and police were called out to the station for people passing out in the heat. For those who don't know, the Beaumont station was torn down 2 years ago but never rebuilt. The city has cleared plans for a new downtown station, however KCS is refusing the use of it's tracks for a station. Amtrak already run on those tracks, btw. My guess it was older people out in that heat. They don't know how to track the trains progress when it's late. So they show up at the schedule time. KCS will hear from me.
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
quote:Originally posted by gp35: Friday night I dropped a few relatives off at the station to catch the west bound Sunset Limited. Ofcourse it was 4 hours late arriving at 11:20pm instead of 6:40pm. There were about 17 people waiting for the train. After watching several KCS, BNSF, and UP trains go pass, Amtrak finally arrived. I would estimate about 100 people got off the train. Only about 7 was for the Beaumont stop, the other 93 were smokers. I got mixed in the crowd of smokers on the platform. A group of smokers were talking about a racist guy being kicked off the train. One lady was concerned the guy would be raped if left behind at a Texas station. Good-grief!!! I shook my head and went over to check out the other coaches. After 15 minutes, I was concerned why Amtrak was still at the station. Beaumont is usually just a 10 minute stop. Then I noticed a couple of Beaumont Police cars pulling up to the station. Yes I was noisy. It turned out to be some kind of racist fight or bad argument on the train between a black guy and white guy. The police took both off the train. Neither could walk straight. My guess it was alcohol. One of the men was begging the police, "If you let me get back on the train, I won't open my %#@$@#*&@! mouth again." Ofcourse the police said," NO, Amtrak don't want you on their train." People boarded the train, the horn blew, Sunset Limited off to Houston. When I left the station, an Amtrak representive, police, and the 2 guys still handcuffed in the police cars. I guess the moral of the story, Amtrak don't tolerate bad passengers. Imagine being in a jail with no money away from your destination.
Wow, I know how bad those fights can be, I've delt with racist before, some of them even RailFans, nothing upsets me more then those who hate for no reson, it to bad the Afrocan-American got arrested to..
Posted by gp35 (Member # 3971) on :
Well he should have kept his mouth shut and let the other guy hang himself. He was cussing up a storm outside the train, so I can imagine his behavior on the train. My aunt told me the passengers told her both were cussing and using racist names. The n-word, c-word, and the p-word in every sentence. There were a lot of kids on that train. It was best both was kicked off. The black was handcuff first. Then the cop walked the white guy back onto the train. Black passengers waiting to get on the train thought they were arresting the black guy and letting the white guy go free. Tension started building. It turns out the cop was escorting the white guy to get his luggage.
A funny note. It was a white cop handcuffed the black guy and took him to the police car. And a black cop handcuffed the white guy and took him to the other police car. Drama is never far from the Sunset Limited.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
This sort of thing seems to happen more often nowadays. Last week, for the first time in more than 50 years of flying, I saw two passengers removed from a flight. It was on Continental Express from Tallahassee to Houston. The flight attendant later told us that the male was being verbally abusive to the female and she (the F/A) told him that was unacceptable behavior on board. He basically told her to mind her "own f***ing business". When the male saw she was serious and a gate agent boarded he started to cry and say he "would be good". The female chose to go with him and we took a ten minute delay while their bags were removed. Virtually everyone on board told her she had made the right choice.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Frank in Sunny SBA, please help me out here:
"The female chose to go with him...and virtually everyone on board told her she had made the right choice."
Would "the female" be the flight attendant, or the verbally abused passenger?
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Sorry for the confusion, zephyr.
It was the verbally abused passenger who went along. She probably would have gotten applause had she stayed.
It was the last flight of the day to Houston, too, so they spent at least another night in Tally.
Frank in dark, cool SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
It would have been a more interesting story had it been the flight attendant.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
True, but who would have served the great little snack box (Cheese, crackers, pepperoni, trail mix, chocolate bar) and the very nice Santa Ema (Chilean) Chardonnay?
Travel's always an adventure!
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Sounds like the kind of thing on the show AIRLINE on A&E...it sure would be nice if they made a train show like that...it would probably be very entertaining.
Posted by jgart56 (Member # 3968) on :
That reminds me of my very first Amtrak trip on the California Zephyr in 1983. I stopped in the lounge car in mid-afternoon for a snack, and was accosted by a rather drunk individual who demanded that I buy him a drink (he quite obviously had been cut-off). When I said no, he began cursing at me and said that he would belt me into next week. I don't know what made me say this, but I told him he was welcome to take the first shot and if he missed I'd deck him. He immediately backed away. He must have bothered others during the afternoon, because when I got off the train to stretch my legs in Grand Junction, Colorado...the police hauled him away.
In my own mind, alcohol and traveling simply do not mix, even when you're not doing the driving!
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Great idea, CS99. An Amtrak movie of the NAKED GUN/AIRPLANE genre. Call it TRAIN. Ah, material for the script would be limitless.
Posted by jgart56 (Member # 3968) on :
Odds are that the crabby Amtrak Staff would get all the air-time and what a marvelous advertisement for train travel that would be!
Imagine this movie being updated and taking place on the Sunset Limited heading to LA. Like this scene:
Passenger: When will we get to LA? Conductor: We're 16 hours late now and will lose 3 hours more between Winter Park & Sanford. Passenger: Surely you can't be serious. Conductor: I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. Passenger: Really, when will we get there? Conductor: I can't tell. Passenger: I'm a doctor. You can tell me. Conductor: No. I mean, I'm just not sure. Passenger: Well, can you take a guess? Conductor: Well, maybe in four or five days. Passenger: You can't take a guess for another four or five days?
Just transpose some of those Airplane scenes to the potential blockbuster TRAIN.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Imagine this movie being updated and taking place on the Sunset Limited heading to LA. Like this scene:
Passenger: When will we get to LA? Conductor: We're 16 hours late now and will lose 3 hours more between Winter Park & Sanford. Passenger: Surely you can't be serious. Conductor: I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. Passenger: Really, when will we get there? Conductor: I can't tell. Passenger: I'm a doctor. You can tell me. Conductor: No. I mean, I'm just not sure. Passenger: Well, can you take a guess? Conductor: Well, maybe in four or five days. Passenger: You can't take a guess for another four or five days?
Just transpose some of those Airplane scenes to the potential blockbuster TRAIN.
Thats hillarious! But it sure wouldnt
But jgart56 is probably right..that wouldnt exactly attract many customers to ride a train!
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
CS99, the movie AIRPLANE didn't harm air traffic ticket sales. Nor would TRAIN harm Amtrak. If it does, just remember it was your idea.
Here's another idea for the movie:
Setting: A major railroad's dispatch center (arbitrarily,let's say it's in Omaha, NE). The interior shot shows the expected array of blinking lights on maps, computers, incessant ringing of phones, etc. Dispatchers can be seen in the background. One is hunched over his desk (snoring can be heard over the din). Another is next to his desk doing yoga exercises. A third and fourth are on the floor engaged in-let's say-activities that will ensure the movie will get the much needed R rating. A tune from Snoop Doggie *** is playing in the background.
Scene: A courier rushes in with a top secret urgent impending doom emergency message and finds the Chief Dispatcher.
Script:
Courier: This is from Headquarters. Chief Dispatcher: What's that? Courier: It's a large building where the Board of Directors meet. But that's not important now. Chief Dispatcher: Let me see that. (He grabs the packet from the courier, and flips through several pages most of which are pictures drawn in crayon. When finished, he starts trembling and turns pale). Courier: Anything wrong, sir? Chief Dispatcher: Oh, my. It looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.
Back to Setting: The Dispatch Center erupts in chaotic activity. Metal plates automatically slam down to shield all doors and windows. Numerous neon "Red Alert" signs start blinking. Sirens, train whistles, and crossing guard bells sound. Snoop Doggie *** volume is turned up. The dispatcher doing the yoga exercises grabs a wooden toy train whistle and starts tooting it and marching around the room.
Fade to helicopter shot of the train parked in a siding in a remote swamp somewhere in Louisiana......
Posted by gp35 (Member # 3971) on :
In the movie when the engine breaks down, we can get Jimmy JJ Walker to look under the hood.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
yeah it was my idea :/
Posted by jgart56 (Member # 3968) on :
Gotcha Zephyr,
I missed the point and was thinking about that reality series set at the airport.I actually saw Airplane the other night on TV. I still found myself laughing even though I knew when all the punch lines were coming!
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
Will Otto be in it?
Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :
Frank in SBA...Please keep the cooks away from us in TLH. Were you visiting here? On my Sunset trip last year, two guys were removed in the middle of the night at Crestview as they were rummaging through people's luggage in one of the coaches. On my latest trip in May, a fellow passenger baording at Maricopa kept rambling on and on about what an expert he was (in reality he was crazy) but when he tried to buddy up to a female passenger who was complaining about being unable to check her luggage to Malvern, Araknsas, he had no idea why they wouldn't take it and kept telling her our train doesn't go there. (Well, Malvern is unstaffed and it is on the Texas Eagle line served by through cars). Those two and the thieves on the earlier trip are enough reason to ride in a sleeper.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
SilverStar092--
Yep, I was in Tally to check on some income property I have there. I drove up from Sarasota and had forgotten how pretty some of the countryside is along the way.
Frank in dark, cool SBA
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
jgart56: 'I missed the point and was thinking about that reality series set at the airport.I actually saw Airplane the other night on TV. I still found myself laughing even though I knew when all the punch lines were coming!'
Maybe an 'Airplane'-like 'TRAIN' movie isn't that different from a reality series. All we need to do is vote someone off at each stop. I sometmes found myself still laughing when I checked train status of the SL. Do you think we could get Lloyd Bridges to play the drug-crazed UP dispatcher?
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