Arrived early to LAX. Settled in the lounge area at Traxx Bar. Coffee and juice only available.
Lots of pink tents and furniture in the patio are for a reception for awards from BET. And the old ticket office is in use for filming with big drapes hung across the arched window. Commisurated with the CS "Lounge" attendant about the old Harvey House, etc. and the lack of a first class lounge.
My receipt worked perfectly at the Quik Trak. Spewed out the four tickets. They have moved all the ticket machines to near the departure/arrival screen. Hertz has moved to where the Quik Trak used to be.
The old, unused restrooms are being torn down and a Famina food place is coming. Over by baggage claim will be a Subway and Wetzels Pretzels. The old Hertz area is just empty although the seating area seems more spread out.
The usable restrooms have new automatic flushing (so quick you barely get the paper in before it goes), auto water and auto dryers that actually work. Interesting changes.
Only two red caps working so took a while to come get us. Boarded at 10:00 and departed on time. We are in 1432 bedroom E. Long walk to the PPC and diner. Toni is our attendant. Trisha in the diner and Greg in the PPC. The PPC wifi pretends to hook up but won't stay connected.
Had lunch in the PPC in SBA (hi Frank). Sandwich on cibbata bread. Mostly bread. Wifi still not functioning. I don't need it for my iPhone, thank goodness. The track is very rough north of SBA. Passing by the fabulous ocean scenery now and my windows are clean too. I look at the off shore drilling rigs with new trepidation. And a coyote ran from the train. Huge amounts of sea weed floating out there.
Met the SB 11 at SLO and got some air. Wine tasting to happen without me. On the Cuesta Grade I see our consist of two locos, baggage, trans dorm, three sleepers, PPC, diner, obs car and four coaches.
Dinner in the PPC, lamb in a sauce. Very tasty. Carrot cake, tasted good but the cake was at most 1/4" high and the frosting 3/4" high. Strange. No china dishes just the usual Corelle. Now at Salinas. Passed lovely fields of lettuce, grapes and mystery veges in sunlight. Suddenly the clouds/fog closed in and it is quite dark at 7:00. But the sun returned at 8:00 and finally set by 9:00.
Had Toni do the room at 10:30 and tried to sleep. It doesn't happen for me on trains. Saw Sacramento, Redding and Dunsmuir. Mt Shasta was beautiful at 6:00 am and we went to the diner at 6:30 for French Toast. Lots of folks there already. Nice chat with a couple from Pittsburgh who have been on a long train trip similar to what I plan next year. They did the Cardinal, Zephyr, Starlight and will take the Builder from Portland. He does model trains too, the Amtrak ones. Lost me in his discussion of the various engines. I just know they pull or push the rest of us.
Klamath Falls was sunny but cool. We stayed there for about an hour to continue the ontime schedule and we are heading to the mountains. Pray for continued toilet functioning. The scenery contnues to be excellent with Upper Klamath Lake and the various snow topped mountains. First Mt McLoughlin then Mt Scott and Thielson. Later we ran along Lookout Point Lake and Dexter Lake and finally the middle fork of the Willamette. Mountains passed without any problems. Toni is a very conscientious attendant, always checking in with us, brewing coffee and cleaning.
Lunch was the burger and a piece of normal carrot cake. Ate with a professor of religious studies and environmental studies. In other words, he could ask for divine guidance for the gulf. He was traveling San Jose to Victoria for vacation. We continue on time as of Salem.
Early to PDX so will be here for an hour. Visited the lovely station. A Cascades from Seattle came in- two business, one diner, one bistro, six coach and an engine on each end. Those Talgo cars look like midgets next to a Superliner. The EB Builder is here ready to go in about an hour and a half. And it is hot here, the natives must be thrilled.
Dinner in the PPC, bison meatloaf in chipotle sauce. Spicy but I liked it. We are going to be on time or early.
In summary, all the staff we met were pleasant, working hard and efficient. Toni was above average. Greg in the PPC was also excellent. Although I enjoy meeting people in the diner the atmosphere there is noisy, very busy, sometimes slow service. The PPC has fewer choices but the ambiance is better. The one staffer has at most six tables with one or two people per table. It makes for very personalized service. Now if only we could get that china as promised.
No food I wanted ran out and no plumbing problems arose. A great trip. Let's hope the return on #11(12) will be as good. I wil post a briefer report on that in two weeks.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Great report Vicki! I waved to you and Mr. Art as you crossed Mission Street. Of course I was on our deck so you might have missed me.
Keep us posted on the rest of the adventure, even though it might be a tad OT.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I'm glad the trip went well! That's interesting about the changes at Union Station. I have a friend who approached the ownership of that building (I forget the corporation's name now) about wanting to put in a Subway Sandwich shop, and he was told that they will NEVER do any such thing. Hah! They did exactly what they said they will never do. Well, I for one am happy to hear that they put some food outlets in there. Wetzel's Pretzels are great-----get a big old jalapeno dog with a large lemonade. Mmmmmmmm......good stuff.
What ship will you be on? I'll try that marine tracker again, and also see if your ship has a bridge cam to watch.
Posted by 20th Century (Member # 2196) on :
Thanks Vicki. It was a nice report. Is bedroom E near the stairs? Did you find it convenient? I will be traveling in bedroom E on one of our train travel segments from Trenton to Portland,OR in August. The more good reports I hear the more excited I am becoming. Enjoy that cruise. That's another great way to travel.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I'm getting the itch to see Los Angeles Union Station again...... though I sure wish they would get ticketing out of the pit by the concourse entrance and put it back in that grand ticketing hall..... what an inspiring space to begin a railroad journey.
But I still need to get back to St. Louis and Kansas City too. The last time I rode the Missouri train I departed from the doublewide and arrived at a cinderblock box below street level..... as Amtrak's station offerings have improved in both cities, it's time for me to let them 'show me'.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
I enjoyed your report - a good mix of scenery spotting and on train evaluations. I too thought china was back on the CS. I guess Amtrak has to study it some more.
Have a good cruise.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by smitty195: I have a friend who approached the ownership of that building [LAUPT] (I forget the corporation's name now).
Catellus; a ProLogis Company.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Thanks, Gil.....I had a brain-lock on the name.
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
Great report.
I likely would have enjoyed talking with the Amtrak modeler from Pittsburgh. In fact I'm currently working on a few P42DCs and F40PHs. Would also be nice to have a P30CH "Pooch", or maybe an SDP40F with a flat nose. Hmmm perhaps an FL9 or maybe a P32BWH.
Are you lost yet Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
The flat nose on your SDP40F needs to be red and the locomotive should be wearing the pointless arrow on it's flanks!
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Sounds like a nice trip. The description of LAUPT reminds me of ALL our previous boardings there...CS/SWC/SL...the CS and SWC more than a couple of times. We enjoy waiting in the comfortable lounge chairs with the Mother Nature Air Conditioning and again have done so on numerous occassions. What we CAN'T understand, especially as 30+ year airline non-revs who recall all airline facilities at LA as a pretty glitzy places, is the complete lack of first class services...lounge and red caps at LAUPT. The latter being especially onerous. It seems there are either too few caps for too many sleeper passengers or too many sleeper passengers for too few caps...(huh?). Either way we've had to make do without red cap service the last three trips through. With the Pacific Parlor Car on the CS and the number of trans con sleeper passengers on the SWC one would think LA should be a first class operation. Even less glamorous locations like NOL and MSP have seperate facilities for sleeper passsengers, even if not really "first class". Thanks again for the report..you did good. Best regards, Rodger
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
Great report, enjoy your cruise
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I enjoyed your report, Vicki. I was recently on the Coast Starlight and could have sworn I had china, but maybe I'm mixing it up with the EB. . . . I liked that bison with chiptle sauce too (though I agree, very hot). Was the Starlight on time into Sacramento? Just wondering. . . .
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Posted by a meyer (Member # 4954) on :
Great report!!
In February the CS had china on my trip. I remember the PPC attendant told me she had to wash the dishes since they brought back the "real stuff". I wonder if that might be a reason why some people have reported china and others plastic??
Andy
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Thanks for the report, Vicki. Sounds like you had a nice time.
If your were early into Portland, the Coast Starlight is doing a much better job as far as on-time performance goes. I havn't taken the Starlight for over 4 years. My last trip we were 6 hrs late, getting into Portland. Made for a very late arrival time for Seattle-bound passengers. I'm glad it's getting better.
Richard
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
All--
Vicki sent me this and asked that I post it.
I can't get enough signal here to completely load the rail forum thread on my trip. Please post this on the thread for me to answer two questions.
For Smitty - I am on the Amsterdam, no bridge cam. But look at the Skagway port cam on Friday. It is aimed right at the dock and will show a ship, perhaps mine. And we will be boarding the White Pass and Yukon there.
Second question was about Bedroom E. Yes it is by the stairs and was very convenient.
I hope to get better reception in future ports.
Bye , Vicki
Frank in gorgeous SBA where the "Wet Wednesday" sail at the Yacht Club is well underway!
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
I personally do not like bedroom E. The one time we used it I found it very noisy with people going up and down stairs and congregating in the "foyer" just outside the door.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Ms. Train Lady's thoughts are of course respected, but let us note that Bedroom E is center car which provides the best riding qualities.
Also, if the car is placed in consist as it should be, i.e. A-End forward, Bedroom E will be forward riding. This is especially more a factor since Amtrak removed, pursuant to an NTSB recommendation arising from Crescent City, the folding 'easy chair' and replaced same with a fixed seat which at best could be referred to as a "jump seat".
But all told, a six year old learns that life is simply one trade-off after another.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
You are right Gil about the location BUT I would sacrifice location for quiet. I don't care for the loud conversations held in the foyer as people drink coffee and often socialize. You get a group out there and they end up in front of your door. But as the saying goes to each his own. I am biased in favor of room C which seems almost perfect to me.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
There was no noise in our foyer area. Agree heartily that LAX should have first class lounge. And our dishes were not plastic but Corelle. Definitely not the promised china.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I saw Corelle dishes (complete sets) sold at my local Safeway yesterday. I have to wonder how much it costs to use them (and wash them, obviously) versus all of the throw-away dishes/cups that Amtrak was using for a few years (and still uses on some trains)? I mean, those throw away dishes are not cheap paper plates! They are heavy stock, and very sturdy---it can't be cheap.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
I am happy for you there was no noise in the foyer area. For what it's worth Corelle is quite strong. I haave had a set for 25 years and it is still intact.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
My parents are still using Corelle that they got as a free gift for taking a tour of a new neighborhood under construction in the Pocono Mountains back in 1970! I was with them, and recall how thrilled I was at getting this big box of new dishes! My parents struggled to raise 6 kids back then, so they took every freebie they could get.
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