It was homecoming time at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, VA. So once again I braved the roll the dice CSX line from Florence, SC to Richmond. The odds seem to be very much in my favor these days.
If you consider 15 minutes late as on time (thanks to waiting for the Silver Star to clear Staples Mill station), I batted one thousand. The equipment was ok, the Business class continues to increase ridership, and the food was, well, Amfood.
Nothing remarkable to report just a pleasant ride both directions with picture perfect fall weather all three days. Our tailgate tent (and cold beverages) felt good because of the strength of the sun. I am definitely not 21 anymore when it comes to partying.
One Ashland note. The Henry Clay Inn went up for auction a couple weeks ago. Not surprising given its gradual decline over the past few years. The college tried to buy it but the town wanted to keep it as a retail establishment. It sold at auction for $800+k. The new owner (from New Jersey) takes over at the end of November and will keep it as an inn and, supposedly, bring back its restaurant.
The Iron Horse restaurant was as good as ever and overflowing with party goers. I suspect some of those sitting around our table of 6 wished they were elsewhere.
The Palmetto really did outgrow its 18 seat 2/1 BC/cafe car. I counted 38 in BC leaving Richmond on Sunday. Too bad Amtrak hasn't figured out that people will pay more for only a modest improvement in amenities (as they remove them from the A-T and others). On the Palmetto that meant more room on a busy travel weekend and wifi that worked flawlessly for both trips. I don't count the anemic can of soda.
CSX did a good job dispatching and I passed many freights in the hole for us. Only one 5 minute delay for a meet with a UPS/FedEx intermodal.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Great report, thanks.
I hope that this is good news for the Henry Clay Inn.
Wouldn't mind if trains 79,80, 89, & 90 added Ashland, VA as a station stop either.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
David, I agree that an Ashland stop from the south would be great. On one occasion because we were running late into RVR and I missed my 66 connection, the conductor on 90 did make an Ashland stop for me. Now, friends pick me up at RVR but my return on Sunday is often via 67 with a 2 hour connection. A beautiful fall morning found me on RVR's nice patio with coffee and paper in hand watching occasional CSX and Amtrak traffic.
In my college days on more than one occasion, when underclassmen didn't have cars, a return to Ashland found us at Broad St. station asking the RF&P Conductor to stop the Havana Special. Guess they took pity on some slightly inebriated college kids as they usually would. Back then it was a different world as we'd be sporting coats and ties.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
A pity that my wife considers Ashland to be too close to DC to consider as a retirement location.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
And yet another trip to Ashland, VA on the Palmetto from Florence, SC.
Two observations:
CSX and Amtrak finally have their act together on this route. The train was 10-20 min. early at most stations both directions. Thanks to good dispatching, we made running meets with the Carolinian and Palmetto northbound and with the Carolinian southbound. Freights were waitng for us in sidings. Southbound we unloaded at the grade crossing by the station in Wilson so our northbound counterpart could arrive as we pulled out (there is only one track with a platform on that double track segment). The train crew and slightly frazzled station agent were hustling to get that done fast as we had to make a quick stop for baggage then one of the coaches. Lost about 2 or 3 minutes. Two buses were waiting for the connections to eastern NC points.
Not sure if its the time of the year or the price of gas, but passenger counts were much lower than my October trip. Only two of the four coaches were used to Richmond. Three southbound, but the third only had a handful of people. Still a large crowd waiting to board in RVR. The BC count was down to 25 from 38 in October leaving Richmond.
Overall good trip and enjoyed watching the action from a three hour dinner at the Ironhorse. RMC is now ranked No. 11 in Divison 3 basketball and should move up after defeating No. 6. The Trackside Grill (across the street) has become a very popular lunch spot with good food. Ironically our waitress was the daughter of the owner and told us it was named because of her mom's involvement with horse racing. She knew the trainer for Secretariat. New owners are at the Henry Clay. Told us they will make improvements slowly but knew they were needed. The lady who I guess was the GM, and lives in Richmond, is the sister of the owner in NJ who bought it last fall. She's a councilwoman for Hoboken.
But don't try to take the Palmetto south of Florence during most of February and March. A track program will be underway. "No alternate transportation provided".
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Just returned from a RMC reunion in Ashland. No Palmetto this time, but had lots of opportunities to check out Amtrak and CSX activity. Ironically one couple from our group did take the train, from Kingston, RI., and very glad to avoid the drive or plane.
Our group took over most of the rooms in the Henry Clay Inn for the long graduation weekend. New owners are working hard to fix the place up. They've restored the kitchen and are starting to renovate the rooms. Although prices are higher, it now includes an excellent cooked to order breakfast. They also prepared a good dinner for all 22 of us. Later this year they will add lunch and dinner and get a liquor license (we had to get one for our event). But more work is needed, including new paint and HVAC.
It doesn't get any better than sitting on its porch with lifelong friends, sipping something cool, and watching the parade of trains. Since all have always been amused by my train interest they kept me updated if I missed something: the longest train someone counted was 180 cars. Saw several 110 car coal trains (no doubt Clinchfield reroutes), and of course lots of Amtrak trains.
The Auto Train seemed to be somewhat smaller, the Star looked liked the Palmetto (but with two sleepers), and one of the Meteors had two PV's on the rear. Lots of passenger traffic at the Ashland station, far more than in the 60's when I was there.
With the large crowd gathered for commencement exercises, the horn was blowing frequently for the college crossings in spite of the quiet zone through town. Also of interest were many signs in stores that said 'No high speed rail'. Don't see how that could ever happen without destroying the town. The alternative of a bypass line also seems unlikely.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Sounds like you had an enjoyable time, Mr. Palmland. I'm glad they're fixing up the Henry Clay Inn and glad the breakfast was very good.
Speaking of the Palmetto, the 2016-2 issue of Passenger Train Journal says (for Jan, Feb, & Mar. 2016) the ridership was up 106.6 % (!). The closest to that figure was the Calif. Zephyr up 20.9%.
Also, speaking of the state of Virginia, I wonder if anyone knows what progress has been made in rehabilitating the Virginia Railway Roanoke train station. It, supposedly, was the only brick station along the route of the Virginia Railway. Over the weekend, I watched an old episode of the "Tracks Ahead", on PBS, and it showed the station, currently, and what it looked like in its heyday. It was built in 1909 and discontinued service in 1956.
Richard
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: Also of interest were many signs in stores that said 'No high speed rail'. Don't see how that could ever happen without destroying the town. The alternative of a bypass line also seems unlikely.
When it comes to these areas demanding bypass because of multiple grade crossings, horns, and so forth no one seems to think of one of the routes that would probably be much easier from the point of view of right of way, additional distances, multiple overpasses/underpasses, utility relocations, etc., etc., that is move the line 25 feet . . . . straight up. Yes, elevate the blooming thing. Solves trespassing, most utility problems, simplifies grade separations, and NO additional right of way.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Richard, here is a photo of the Virginian Railway Roanoke station after damage sustained in a fire, and for which, as you note, a preservation group intends to restore it.
But alas, we are starting to stray from topic.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
I saw that Palmetto ridership increase year over year - very impressive. Contributing factors, I'm sure, are passengers shunning the diner-less Star as well as a particularly harsh 2015 winter that we're comparing 2016 winter to for travel.
Still, a remarkable count for one quarter and I'm wondering if that might be a record for this route.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
George-an elevated track would be a good idea but tough in Ashland as it's on a something of a plateau. Significant grade into town from both directions. And with the main streets of town close to the track on both sides, not sure how you would build an elevated structure.
Perhaps a cut and cover would be easier. But what do you do about the train traffic during construction. Diverting over the C&O at Doswell would be a mess without massive upgrades.
A few years ago CSX built cross walks in multiple locations through town. I guess the logic is since people are going to cross anyway, a crosswalk is safer.
Mike- the Palmetto did see a significant increase in ridership but I think a lot of it is due to Amtrak eliminating two NEC regionals on the weekend with that traffic now handled on the Palmetto to Washington - where several coaches are switched off/on along with the engine swap.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: George-an elevated track would be a good idea but tough in Ashland as it's on a something of a plateau. Significant grade into town from both directions. And with the main streets of town close to the track on both sides, not sure how you would build an elevated structure.
Perhaps a cut and cover would be easier. But what do you do about the train traffic during construction. Diverting over the C&O at Doswell would be a mess without massive upgrades.
The main thing I have against a trench is the ability it gives to our fine upstanding youth to drop bricks, concrete blocks, furniture and various other items on trains or the tracks between trains.
Cut and cover has significant advantages other than the need for ventilation, emergency egress, etc. There are many ways to shuffle tracks around without going on the ex-C&O, which as you say is just not up to handling the traffic, not to mention the major hit it would give to run time. The shuffle would be required whether you go up or down. What could be done is to build a "shan" section one side at a time and then put a ceiling on it. That would also assist in meeting the fire-life-safety requirements. (To explain "shan" look up the Chinese character for mountain, which is usually Romanised as shan.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Yet another RMC Homecoming had me on the Palmetto this past weekend. The trip was not as good as past ones due to recent events. Hurricane Matthew damage is still being repaired and I saw literally hundreds of downed trees recently cleared from the right of way. Lots of slow orders over streams and rivers with significant erosion and new rip-rap dumped along the banks. All trains were out of sync and saw the southbound Auto-train in Ashland late in the evening around 9pm and the northbound one in Richmond on Sunday waiting for a clear track at 11;00 am. In addition the line had been closed for the week during daylight for a previously schedules track program. My Palmetto on Friday was the first one to operate since before Matthew.
With all that the train was just 90 minutes late into Richmond and I made our 7pm group dinner. Southbound on Sunday it was an hour late into Florence. But the biggest problem on the trip was the LSA in the cafe who wouldn't serve beer with my lunch claiming he wasn't allowed to because of state law! Not having that problem in the past, I suspect he was off the extra board had no clue which states on the routes have Blue Laws in effect - after early morning hours I believe only SC and GA and not sure about them. I know my county lifted the restriction several years ago.
But with all that, it sure beats driving I-95, especially after a tough party weekend.
Posted by irish1 (Member # 222) on :
quote:Originally posted by irish1: to g mayo. I saw that crossing from the Wash DC -Norfolk train. couldn't believe my eyes.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
I’m returning home on the Palmetto after another weekend hanging out with with old (more so each year) college buddies at my college Homecoming. This of course involves a round trip on the Palmetto from Florence, SC to Richmond, VA.
The trip north was unremarkable - which is a good thing. Standard consist of 4 coaches, cafe car, Am I BC car, and baggage on the rear. The trip was on time with an efficient crew. For a change they seemed to be actively working to make quick station stops. We were on schedule at all stations. Perhaps EHH Precision Railroad is seeping through to Amtrak. There were a number of freights waiting for us in sidings.
Southbound we were a half hour late out of RVR and then lost a few more minutes waiting for delayed No. 92 to cross over in front of us to head into the station. My car is one of the newly ‘refreshed’ BC cars. I like it, although it took a while to get used to the new seats. They have significant lumbar support, and the seat bottom slides forward while the back reclines but only slightly. Before adjusting the seat bottom seemed too short for my legs, but was fine after scooting it forward, The back support makes it a little harder to snooze as my back seemed slightly arched, but I guess it’s good for your posture!
WiFi worked fine for the whole trip (and Amtrak Connect trip info/map seems to have improved) and had another good crew southbound. The cafe food is still overpriced and tastes like it has been packaged for some time, which I’m sure it has. But a cold beer improves the taste! One change I liked was the seat trays slide back farther - closer to the seat, so it’s easy to work on your electronic gizmo as well as eat a sandwich. The seat back is higher so you do have a bit more privacy. The lighting appears to be all LED and the carpet is clean, for a while.
There was still a lot of new track work underway between RVR and the south end of Acca yard where it connects to the line to Main St. station. Also a massive amount of new construction and main line trackage at a site near Dillon, SC. I read where there is a new SC Inland Port being developed as well as new industry in the area.
There was a good crowd on both trains and the BC car had close to 40 after leaving Richmond. It wasn’t long ago that the 18 seat split BC/cafe car was used and still had empty seats. Maybe Amtrak has figured out you don’t have to do much to collect a premium fare. Of course if the trend continues, BC will be filled as much as a coach and make it less attractive - as I suspect it already is on the NEC.
So I would have to give this year’s trip a B+.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
From TownePlace Suites Fredericksburg VA --
Once again, Mr. Palmland, so near yet so far.
Driving North on 95 this past Friday when I saw the Ashland exit I thought of you and Miss Mary.
Also on this same trip, here is a related text to my United Attendant friend who was inbound from Munich:
"Dear, we are so near but yet so far. I'm sitting right now at Gate F 28 awaiting Express Jet ERJ-145 to Richmond and keeping my eye out for your 772 N2888UA to taxi by on its way to Terminal 5.
LoveU" Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
GBN, you drove by Ashland and didn’t stop? I would have bought you a glass of wine at the Alumni reception Friday. We should schedule it next year. I am curious, though. Why RIC and not DCA then metro/ VRE to Fredericksburg.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: I am curious, though. Why RIC and not DCA then metro/ VRE to Fredericksburg.
Easy enough, Mr. Palmland.
Richmond has got to be amongst the easiest airports I know to get through. Arriving Friday, flight was at Gate with "ding ding" at 520P. Mr. Hertz "had me in the driver's seat" by 540P. I was at hotel 645P. My retired Marine friends were there at 655P and we were smack on time for our 715P restaurant reservation at Olde Towne steakhouse.
Returning yesterday, after having left the hotel 11A and driving into town to go to some "world famous" custard place named Carl's. (told by an Atlanta friend "yagottagothere") which was just another Dairy Queen to me (never been to a Coldstone Creamery that seems to be on the bucket list of a number around here). Left there at Noon, got lost, but found the 95 Ex 130, 1245P got to a Wawa on the Perimeter of RIC to gas up, 1P Mr. Hertz had his Nissan Altima back, 110P had my Boarding Pass, 120P through TSA, 125P at the Gate. Flight left OT 155P with me sitting in my favorite EMB-145 23A seat (single seat, great for flightseeing). OT at ORD 315P, home 530P using my "poor man's" way CTA Blue to BNSF.
Any further questions why I use RIC over DCA? If not, class dismissed.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I've never been too excited about Coldstone Creamery ice cream. It seems, to me, that their ice cream has a bubble gum-like texture which I don't find appealing. I like Baskin-Robbins. Even better, I think, are independent ice cream parlors. I hope to sample some ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, in Oregon, if I take the Starlight to Portland next summer. Tillamook cheese is also very good.
Richard
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
We have a container of Tillamook's Oregon Hazelnut and Salted Caramel in the freezer right now. I think it might be time for an ice cream break.
When you're visiting the Bay Area I highly recommend using the San Jose airport (SJC) if it's convenient for your trip. SJC isn't crowded or delay-prone like SFO and it's not a dump like OAK. The rental cars are so easy at SJC; the facility is just an easy walk across from the terminal (no bus ride to a remote lot). On my last trip to SJC my flight arrived early and I was in my rental and on the road before my flight was actually scheduled to land. That's how I like airports to work.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
Ice Cream: Blue Bell, forget the rest.
SJC airport. Yea, and verily, but I will take Oakland over SFO as well, but then I don't really care much about the ambience or lack thereof for an airport. SJC to/from Caltrain can work fairly well. I have done it a couple of times. When it comes to BART to/from OAK, the horizontal cable car set up they have is reasonably nice, but you spend less money if you get off BART and cross the street and catch the bus. However, the local denizens can seem a little creepy, particularly in the evening.
Now back east: Having been a resident of the DC area for quite a few years some 40 years ago, DCA was a close neighbor and us fairly frequent patrons, but my last couple visits to the DC area were via BWI, so I have no idea what has happened to DCA over the last 25 years other that what can be seen riding by on WMATA.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
I’m also not a fan of Coldstone Creamery. We tried Tillamook on a trip. It was good, but I think I like their cheese better! Actually my favorite ice cream is plain old Bryers. And, although my sons find it hard to believe, I’m becoming a fan of those yogurt places where you can build your own adding fresh fruit.
Your choice of RIC makes sense, GBN. But, guess I would be curious about the latest changes at WUT, maybe a little ALX train watching, and then check out the RF&P and see what a ride on VRE is like.
Now for you Ashland fans out there (should there be any), the town is now has a live streaming cam, sponsored by the the hobby shop across the street. The college campus starts in the upper right corners of the screen.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
(Google Maps StreetView)