I'm boarding the Capitol Ltd in Waterloo, IN later this week, en-route to Chicago. Does anybody know if the diner will still be open for breakfast? I know they used to close early if the train was terminating in the morning. For reference it leaves at 06:36 EDT and arrives 08:45 CDT. At least I hope it arrives within 3 hours of the latter otherwise I'll have a problem.
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
Geoff, sorry I cannot answer your question but I had to take this opportunity to recall my trips on the Capital Limited in the 1960's. I had business in DC and was living in Chicago so I chose to ride the overnight Capital. I remember breakfast between Cumberland and Hagerstown on the blue Centenary pattern china, a B & O icon. The food and service were wonderful for all three meals which I enjoyed several times. Mr. Norman can likely endorse these memories.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
I would be inclined to have a little something in pocket to tide me over in case they did not and take a chance. At worst, if the train is more or less on time, you will be having breakfast something like about 9:00. If the train is late, then you better take the time "wasted" as an opportunity to get the breakfast that probably won't be served on the train.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
Thanks. I'm hoping the snack car will be open and reasonably stocked as a back up plan. I'm a cereal and milk type of man, nothing fancy, but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity for some French toast and sausage patties in the diner if they're available.
As for lateness, if the train is already significantly late by the time I wake up then my back up plan is a flight instead (Fort Wayne has a few departures to Chicago in the morning). However, if the delay is 3+ hours en-route after Waterloo then it's a bit more of a problem. I'm well aware I'm going against the normal advice of this forum!
Posted by MDRR (Member # 2992) on :
Dining Car...last call at Elkhart, Closed at South Bend. Lounge Car, last call SB, Closed at HMI. Enjoy your Bkfast in the diner.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
MDRR, thanks.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
On time at Waterloo, after the ticket check I headed straight for the diner where I had a huge breakfast of scrambled egg (which looked more like a folded omelette but I guess it's the same thing), potato, raisin bread, sausage patties, tea, and juice. So big I couldn't finish it. Not bad for $7 and the table company were pleasant. The servers had brusque, rapidfire temperaments though.
Nice to have 110v sockets in the lounge car (at the tables). Interestingly, in reference to another thread about people wanting to travel facing forwards, there were a fair smattering of people choosing to face backwards when sitting at an empty table. Plenty facing forward too, of course.
Twenty minutes early into Chicago, straight in without backing up or stopping.
Posted by Stephen W (Member # 6059) on :
Having just finished my Frosties (other breakfast cereals are available) I am very jealous of your feast. Can't wait for next year when (health permitting) I hope I will be there to try out a Great Amtrak Breakfast too!