Maria, the sleeping car attendant on 49(28) was the best I've encountered in 10 years of sleeper travel. She came in to the Albany NY station to meet me & escort me to the train. Everything was in place in my room, including 2 little chocolates and an extra blanket. She asked what time I would like dinner, when should she wake me the next morning with juice and/or coffee, and when would I like the bed made up? When I returned from dinner, my bed was ready, and Maria had put a post-it note on door with my AM wake time noted. While I was at breakfast the next morning, she made up the bed. Everything was in good working order in my room, and wehad an an almost on time arrival in Chicago, despite an hour's delay leaving Albany due to bridge problems. When I praised her work, she thanked me & remarked that she worked very hard. I tipped her well, and I made a point to write Amtrak to express my appreciation. Maria made my trip a true "first class" experience.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
IIRC, this lady was my Attendant aboard #41, Three Rivers, PHL-CHI during May 2003. Hard to believe that she is still in service.
I wholly concur with your thoughts regarding the quality of her service.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Gil, I'm astonished that you remember the name of a sleeping car attendant you had 9 years ago!!! Wish I had that memory power!!
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
That's incredible--never heard of anything like this before.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Of what, Smitty, Maria or GBN's memory?
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
Incidentally Henry, my car attendant on my very first trip ( in 2000 on the CZ) was Bob Reese whom you w rote about in your book which I had just read prior to that trip. He was great, but Maria still wins the prize. And Smitty195, a great attendant can make the trip even more memorable!
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: Of what, Smitty, Maria or GBN's memory?
Hah hah--of Maria! I *know* GBN doesn't miss a trick. I imagine he has quite the filing system of keeping track of these things.