Last year a group of us who worked together back in the '70's but hadn't seen each other since decide to get together at one of the more successful's home in Sarasota. We had such a good time we did it again this year. Some came from AZ, others from MO, KS, IN and I was the representative from MA. What follows are my notes on the trip down AND back on Amtrak's Acela and Silver Meteor.
BOS/WAS:Took the C&J Limo (bus) from Newburyport to South Station. The trip did not begin well. I left my copy of the Amtak reservation at home. When I had my tickets issued at the station, Isaac the agent said it was probably better I hadn't tried to print the tickets from the machine with the bar code from the reservation. He said multiticket itineraries have a tendency to jamb. I was logged into the A Club by agent Manny. I boarded the First Class car of Acela Express 2253 and we were off on time. We arrived WAS on time after losing/gaining time between BOS/NYP. Met a Northeast Regional about 15" out of PVD at about 135MPH and it felt like we hit something when the bow waves met. The same thing happened near South Brunswick when we met a northbound Acela. F/C Attendant Charmane did an excellent job with an almost full load in the last car. Had a Bloody Mary to relax and ordred the seared Turbot for lunch. It was excellent, but the sauce with vegetables had enough sodium for the next two weeks! The menu for the service between NYP/WAS is the same as BOS/WAS. I passed on the meal service out of NYP planning to have dinner on the Silver Meteor out of WAS.
The SM was ON TIME into and out of WAS. It pretty much stayed that way arriving ORL just 8 minutes behind schedule. The connection bus arrived SRA at 1700, 40 minutes early. The on board service staff; Jay the Sleeping Car Attendant and Linda the Dining Car Steward and Richard one of her able assistants made the tirp comfortable and pleasant. As a bonus I met a very attracive and vivacious woman just 12 years my junior, Victoria who had roomette 1 just across the hall from mine. We got along famously, so much so we dined together sharing a bottle of Chardonnay to compliment our meals. She ordered the Vegetable Lasagna and I had the steak. Victoria was detraining at Charleston about five a.m. so after dinner we said adieu and turned in. At breakfast I sat with Jim and veteran of the PRR and Amtrak. We both opted for the Continental Breakfast. At lunch I sat with a couple from Montreal on their way to Kissimmee. We all had the Angus Burger, which I washed down with a Sam Adams. I'll list the consist at the end of the post.
After nearly a week enjoying old frineds, the sun and the Red Sox I waited for the Amtrak Thruway Connection but at the appointed place in downtown Sarasota. The northbound Meteor was about an hour late into/out of ORL. While I waited a short CSX frieght and a tardy southbound Meteor came through.(See below for the consist).We finally departed, our delay having been a product of the CSX and late southbound Meteor requiring the norhtbound Meteor to wait at Kissimmee unitl they passed. I had lunch upon boarding, (salad w/albacore tuna). Pual the Sleeping Car Attendant was efficient if not pleasant. If I have to choose one, I'll take efficient every time. Lester the Dining Car Steward was BOTH efficient AND pleasant. I introduced myself to my neighbors in Roomette 2 across the hall; two charming women, Jan and Shirely. While waiting for their dinner seating they nibbled on biscuits with cheese and crudites while sipping red wine...a couple of first class ladies. I,on the other hand mereley slugged down a Martini...no class at all. The three of us sat together for dinner. Shirely ordered the steak, Jan the Maryland Crab Cakes, while I opted for the Rainbow Trout. All choicew were excellent. After running an hour to an hour and a half late during the night we left Alexandria about 8a.m.
I called Amtrak and was able to swtich my reservation out of WAS from a Northeast Regional departing at 0925 to Acela 2250 departing at 0900. (I'll start another topic on the subject of boarding which annoyed me in WAS). Suffice it to say I made the Acela. Once on board the First Class car attendant Kim and her partner were gracious,pleasant and efficient. Since I'd breakfasted on the SM I opted for the assorted fruit appetizer...after relaxing with a Bloody Mary! The trip to BOS was routine with nothing special to report, save that First Class was FULL out of WAS AND NYP. We arrived BOS a few minutes late but in enough time (13 minutes) to detrain and get to the bus boarding gates in the South Station Annex. Consists: 97/22 March P42 #72 P42 #43 Baggage #1755* Viewliner #62012 Harbor View* Viewliner #62007 "Viewliner" Viewliner #62092 River View (My sleeper) Diner #8530 Cafe Car #28022 Amfleet II #25089* Amfleet II #25102* Amfleet II #25058* Amfleet II #25091*
97/26 March (as I awaited 98/27 March at ORL) P42 #Unk P42 25 Baggage 1755* Viewliner #62012 Harbor View* Viewliner #62049 Winter View Viewliner #62036 "Viewliner" Diner #8504 Cafe Car #28004 Amfleet II #25089 Amfleet II #25102 Amfleet II #25058 Amfleet II #25091
98/27 March P42 #17 P42 #194 Baggage #1759 Viewliner #62018 Viewliner #62021 Morning View (My sleeper) Viewliner #62043 Sunset View Diner #8550...must be a real veteran Cafe Car #28016 Amfleet II #25038 Amfleet II #25029 Amfleet II #25040 Amfleet II #25028
* Cars on both 97/22 and 97/26. Best regards, Rodger
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
As Rodger has noted with his consist reports, the Viewliners are starting to loose their names. The same also applies to the S-II's.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
What *I* want to know, Rodger, is: Did you get the phone numbers of all those fine women? Are you planning to follow up?
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Henry, look up "Platonic" in your Funk & Wagnals Best regards, Rodger
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Bummer!
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Henry, definately not a BUMMER. I met, dated and after a whirlwind courtship of five years was engaged for two and finally married in 1964. NO way I'd endanger our relationship. My bride was the FIRST to know of my "exploits" on my solo trip down to FL and approved of the way my fellow travelers and I interacted. She's one of a very few women who #1 trusts her husband and #2 has all the reason in the world to know #1 is true. We're coming up on our 45th Anniversary this June and I for one am pleased as punch. I may interact with others whether alone or with my bride but NEVER in a way that would be unfavorable to our relationship. (However nice it might be for my ego) Best regards, Rodger
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Rodger, Mr Kisor is "having a bad day" as his paper today filed a petition for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection
Possibly the newspaper industry should consider the not-for-profit business model (it has been talked about).
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Thank you so much for your trip report, Rodger. As a happily married lady who often travels solo and frequently enjoys meeting fellow travelers of both sexes on the train, I know just where you are coming from!
I am curious for a little more info about the Thruway connecting buses out of Orlando (which I believe also go to Fort Myers, to which I one day hope to go). Where do you catch them? Are they comfortable? How crowded are they?
BTW, does anyone know why there is no Thruway connecting bus to Tallahassee?
Thanks . . .
Posted by Floridian (Member # 8304) on :
Enjoyed your trip report, Rodger. Sounds as if you had "an excellent adventure"!
Sojourner, I had experience with the Thruway on my trip last July. But it was only for an hour between Lakeland and Orlando and return. Both buses were new, clean and fairly comfortable - seats are narrow. They were not filled up, but that may have been because it was summer. If you take the Meteor, it's a 6-plus hour trip from Orlando to Ft. Myers and during some heavy traffic times in St. Pete and Sarasota. Also, you will be let off the bus at the "Travel Plaza" at Ft. Myers around 7:15 PM. The travel plaza is on Interstate 75 at Exit 139 and probably about 20+ miles inland from the coast. Unless you have someone who will meet you and pick you up from the plaza, it's probably not too good an idea to take the Meteor.
The Star, however, goes all the way to Tampa and then the Thruway takes you to Ft. Myers (about 3 1/2 hours) and gets to the travel plaza around 4:35PM. Either way you'll need transportation from the interstate into Ft. Myers.
The Thruway bus stops at Amtrak stations where available on the route - the problem is that there aren't any more Amtrak stations south of Tampa on the west coast.
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Sojourner; The "Thruway Connection" buses out of ORL are operated by Martz, First Class. Though "comfortable" they have narrow seats and the "facilities" on board are rustic to say the least. The buses board adjacent to the baggage area at ORL and move along pretty well, unless there's a traffic tie up. As noted my bus arrived a full 40 minutes ahead of schedule. The drivers run the gamut from excelent ambassadors for Amtrak to hacks making a living driving buses. I've experienced the range from top to bottom on my two round trips between ORL and SRA. C&J Limo(the bus service from Newburyport,MA to Boston South Station) they're not. But if you want to Amtrak it from BOS TO SRA, it's the only show in town. Best regards, Rodger