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Well, I'm back planning another Amtrak trip with my two younger kids and this time I'd like to visit friends near DC and take the train south from there, circling home to Chicago via the City of New Orleans.
I'm hoping for the Cardinal, with an overnight stay in either White Sulphur Springs or Clifton Forge. BTW, is there a particular day I'd have to leave Chicago to avoid having to spend two nights here? And any hotel recs as I don't think I'll pop for the Homestead or Greenbrier.
For the southern part of the journey, I remember reading about a really special train, (maybe the Piedmont?) that is far nicer than the regular East Coast Amtrak fleet. I'm having trouble understanding how to connect with this train from studying the timetable.
Can anyone assist with recommendations for this itinerary in general, and confirm if the Peidmont is the train I'm thinking of and why it's so special?
Thanks for your help!
I Missed the Ma&Pa Member # 4300
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A little confused by your planned itinerary.
After your DC area visit, are you looking to travel South from DC to White Sulphur Springs/Clifton Forge, then back to Charlottesville, then South to New Orleans to return to Chicago via the City of New Orleans?
From the looks of things on the schedule, it does look like it's a required 2 night stay in WSS/CF. About the only short stay option for these towns is (schedule adherance permitting) is a 5 hour stop from the Chicago area and returning to same on the later in the day WB.
As for the Piedmont, it only makes stops in NC. I believe its special trait is that it is the last Amtrak train to use "Heritage" equipment, the older boxier cars that are more reminiscent of the Golden Era. These cars are owned by the state of North Carolina and underwent a rehab for their current assignment.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Hi Mary,
Sadly there is no way you could take only one night off the Cardinal in Clifton Forge or White Sulpher Springs. As the Cardinal operates tri-weekly, any stop you would make along it's route would be two or even three nights.
One possibility might be to move your off train night to Charlottesville, VA where you could spend one night off the train and then catch the Crescent into the DC area the following morning.
The nice southern train you've heard about is North Carolina's Piedmont. It is nicer because it uses refurbished coaches from the Kansas City Southern Railroad which were built new in the mid-1960's. These coaches have huge windows and lot's of legroom.....better than business class on most other eastern trains. Also, because the Piedmont makes only a Raleigh-Charlotte roundtrip, it's timekeeping is relatively good.
Working the Piedmont into your itinerary will be a challenge because it connects with virtually nothing except the southbound Silver Star. Here is how you could do it if you had the time though......
Following your DC visit on Day 1 take the Carolinian from DC to Raleigh, NC. Spend the night off the train in a hotel.
The next morning, Day 2, catch the Piedmont from Raleigh to Charlotte. You'll have about a 7 hour layover in Charlotte. I'm not sure of your children's ages but there are things to do in Charlotte that would appeal to them.
That afternoon, about 5:30pm, take the Piedmont back to Greensboro, NC. You'll be there about 7pm or so. Five hours and fifteen minutes later...
.......at 12:15am on Day 3, catch the southbound Crescent on to New Orleans.
Probably getting on the Piedmont is going to take more effort than it's worth but it's doable with a little imagination.
mary_228 Member # 3826
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I guess the Piedmont train doesn't sound worth the bother.
The cardinal stop is specifically to see one of those fabulous historic resort, so Charlottesville won't work unless I rent a car and drive back there.
Maybe now I'll go up to NY after seeing our friends near DC and take the Adirondack up to Montreal and then home from there.
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