It's been a while since I've been here. I have fond memories of this site and the people who frequent this place.
I just wanted you all to know that I have posted an informative "blog" about the first day that the New Mexico Rail Runner ran between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
I encourage you to sign my guestbook after you read the article.
Thank you for reading this and I wish you well.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Nice work......wouldn't mind seeing more of your writing here at the Railforum again!
Charles Reuben Member # 2263
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Thank you for the kind words, notelvis. I shall return. But you must understand that I have been on a literal "high" since I stopped travelling by Amtrak.
Do you guys realize that I went for about 15 years travelling exclusively by Amtrak and never setting foot on a plane?
Well, those days are over. I loaded up on flonase, antihistimines and afrin and actually climbed aboard a Southwest Airlines flight and my eardrums did not perferate. And I actually got somewhere in less than 18 hours! It's like being in a time machine. I even get a thrill by going through security. I've never felt so safe in my life!
Anyway, my next story will be about my ride on the Acella. I blew something like 12,000 Guest Reward points to do that (I treated my sister for the ride). But in the meantime, that story about the Rail Runner will stay for a while.
I know the Rail Runner is off topic, sort of. But it does share the same platform as the Southwest Chief and it does follow the same route for about 10 miles or so. And I have posted like 300 diatribes, so I hope you will cut me some slack.
And by the way, where's ol' Gilbert?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I sincerely appreciate your candor regarding flying v. rail, Mr. Reuben. I too have been troubled in the past with ear blockages which have made air travel quite painful. However the prescription medication you note, Flonaise (well it's a generic for me; Medicare Part D 'don't pay too good' on the high price varietals), means "clear passages" nowadays.
Even if I have held for likely the past fifty years (well before A-Day and likely with the view formulated in great part by readings of DPM as well as of course my years in the railroad industry) that Long Distance trains have existed only for reasons of political expediency, my Amtrak experiences can be fairly described as "more positives than negatives'. However, the superlatives went the way of the Century, Broadway, Panama, Super, and City.
Today, travel has ceased to be a pastime for me and is now undertaken only to "keep friends friends and family family'. Since my family resides in the Northeast (Sister and husband Riverside CT; her three kids and their respective spouses all in Brooklyn), I have little reason to venture to the West of Chicago. In the past, I've made trips East on Amtrak either using the Lake Shore or Capitol Ltd/NEC. While the Westbound schedule of either is perfectly convenient, the Eastbound simply makes for too late an arrival in Stamford to plan any activities evening of arrival. Since, even when visiting family notwithstanding, I stay at hotels and rent autos, and further, since those travel necessities (to me at least) cost about $300/day in the NY area, I feel strong compulsion to make every minute count - and the Eastbound rail journey is not conducive to that end. Hopping off a conveyance just to go to a hotel and hit the hay makes little sense (how many Fortune 500's nowadays will pay "night before' Meals and Lodging? Isn't the 6AM flight now more the order of the day?) . Sure, plane out train back would work, but one way auto rentals (rent at KHPN drop at STM) and many a time one way flights simply add to the hassle and cost.
So just like you, Mr. Reuben, the only ways I can see my occasions to use Amtrak LD's are as diminishing.
Charles Reuben Member # 2263
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Well, I'm only 52 years old, so I don't know anything about the golden era of passenger rail travel, except for what I hear about in the media. Maybe the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago could set up an old Pullman rail car so that us young un's could at least gaze at the age of "private varnish" and mourn it's passing.
It's not beyond Amtrak to resusitate such things, I have learned. Did any of you see the "Christmas Carol Train" that came through the major cities last summer? Disney filled those trains with the fanciest of woodwork (thought I don't think it was varnished) and it was all crafted in modern Amtrak train cars.
And Gilbert, is it just me, or is there still some magic left in a few of the Amtrak train routes? Certainly that magic space between Raton, NM and Lamy is worth the price of a ticket on the Southwest Chief. And who can forget the pristine journey of the Coast Starlight on the Vandenberg AFB?
For some reason I just cannot get my my sisters, one of who lives in Brooklyn and the other who lives on Ottawa, Ontario to climb aboard the Adirondack. Is it just me or isn't the Adirondack one of the crown jewels in Amtrak's arsenal?
As far as $300 nights at hotels are concerned, I know of at least one place to stay (in your hometown, no less) that is a real gem. Do you know of the Seneca Hotel, right next to the John Hancock Building ( http://www.senecahotel.com/ )? A very nice room can be had for as little as $125 a night.
Having divulged that little gem to you all, I wonder if anybody knows of a similar deal in Montreal, Canada? I ask because I am itching to give my two sisters the treat of a ride on the Adirondack and will need a cheap, tho nice, place to stay in Montreal.....
Well Gilbert, good to see you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. Glad to see you're still on board here. The place wouldn't be the same without you.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by Charles Reuben: And Gilbert, is it just me, or is there still some magic left in a few of the Amtrak train routes? Certainly that magic space between Raton, NM and Lamy is worth the price of a ticket on the Southwest Chief. And who can forget the pristine journey of the Coast Starlight on the Vandenberg AFB?
Of course there remains magic about viewing the Sangre de Christo near Raton and the Pacific Ocean near Vandenberg, but when one's CV of 'been there done thats' includes viewing same from a Pleasure Dome on the Super and a Roomette window on the Lark follwed by Breakfast in the Lark Club, it is a tough act for any bureauracy run operation to follow, especially since it operates over investor owned ROW's, whose managers would just as soon "have it go elsewhere'.
notelvis Member # 3071
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As one who realized (thanks mostly to Southwest Airlines) that it's OK to fly somewhere and then ride the train, I find it ironic that my favorite place to railfan, the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, is one that I've visited four times now.....always by roundtrip air to either Albuquerque or Colorado Springs, and thence by rental car.
While I prefer rail travel when I have the means for my own room, I must admit that many horizons would be left 'unexpanded' were I unwilling or unable to set foot aboard an airplane.
Sidebar - I'll add that I am willing to drive four or even five hours on either end to reach an airport where I can take a nonstop flight in a full-sized jet.
In a nod to the original thread - I would very much like to come try out the Railrunner to Santa Fe. Charles, can you recommend any hotels near the Santa Fe train station?
Charles Reuben Member # 2263
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Sight unseen, I can recommend the Hotel Andaluz, the former La Posada Hotel, which just underwent a $30 million renovation and is evidentally open for business: http://www.hotelandaluz.com/
Since you are a railfan you would probably appreciate the history of this place: It was the first hotel that Conrad Hilton built.
Now, Hotel Andaluz must have just reopened in the last couple days because it's been closed for years. But I remember the La Posada as one of the very nicest places to hang out in Albuquerque. It's just a stone's throw away from Central Ave. (old Highway 66) where there are plenty of nice, spacious, smoke-free bars. The Andaluz is also just a few blocks from the Albuquerque Transit Center (the "ATC), which is directly in front of the platform of the Rail Runner and The Southwest Chief.
If you are going to have access to a car, might I recommend you visit the good people who are restoring the 2926 Steam Locomotive to "full running condition?" They can be seen working on the train every Saturday morning and also on Wednesdays (I do believe). Here is their site: http://www.nmslrhs.org/ If you like the Cumbres & Toltec, you're gonna love what these guys are up to....
rresor Member # 128
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To Charles Reuben:
Thanks for the interesting narrative on the Rail Runner. My sister, husband, and daughter recently moved to ABQ; I'll need to pay them a visit and, while there, ride the train to Santa Fe.
As for cheap hotels in Montreal, actually most of the big commercial ones have good weekend rates. My personal favorite has always been Le Chateau Champlain, once a CP Hotel and now a Marriott. Seems to me I got a $99 CAD rate there last October. It's one block from Central Station (just walk past the new cathedral).
If big commercial hotels are not to your taste, try something in the Vieux Port. I'm sure there are some small hotels with small rates down there.
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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quote:Originally posted by Charles Reuben: Well, I'm only 52 years old, so I don't know anything about the golden era of passenger rail travel, except for what I hear about in the media. Maybe the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago could set up an old Pullman rail car so that us young un's could at least gaze at the age of "private varnish" and mourn it's passing.
A few of the preserved passenger cars I know of...
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