posted
Hi-- I'm hoping to take the SW Chief leaving from Albuquerque later this month. My actual destination is northern Illinois & southern Wisconsin, so I don't need to go all the way to Chicago (and would prefer to avoid the heavy urban traffic anyway). I have family in the general area that can pick me up and drop me off(and they would prefer not having to go into Chicago), but I might have to wait a couple of hours at arrival and departure by myself (a female with 2 school age children). I note that the SWC stops in Naperville, Mendota, Princeton (and Galesburg though that's maybe just a tad too far-- but might work if that's the only option). Which of these stations have the best/nicest environment for hanging out while waiting (i.e. not too seedy)? Any tips would be most helpful.
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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The four stations you mention are all just fine - not seedy at all. Princeton and Mendota are not staffed stations, they are only open around train time, so waiting inside for a few hours may not be possible. Galesburg and Naperville stations are staffed. In Galesburg, the station is located downtown with some nice restaurants and shops nearby on South Seminary Street. The Napervile station is a busy suburban stop that also serves METRA commuter trains. Others on this list can probably tell you more about it.
Amtrak's website can give you maps of the station locations; further information is available by clicking on "Station Details." The link is: http://maps.amtrak.com/amtrak/stationfinder.jsp
posted
You may be better off going into Chicago Union Station anyway & connecting on the Hiawatha to Milwaukee or on Metra closer to your destination. Possibly someone could come in on the train to CUS to meet you & help you find the right train. If you have to wait in CUS & the weather is good, consider going across the street to the Sears tower for the view. Otherwise, there are many places to eat in CUS & definitely go to the old main waiting room for a glimpse of the glorious days of train travel. The old waiting room is on the west side of the building & not near where the trains now arrive & depart. The other stations you mention may not have any facilities at all or may not even be open for rest room use when you arrive.
Posts: 122 | From: Milwaukee, WI USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I stopped by Mendota while driving from North Carolina to Madison, WI in June 2001. The station there had just been renovated at the time and was very pleasant.
The east end of the building had a small waiting room (only open a few hours each day though) and the west end of the station housed a railway museum. Wasn't seedy at all and looked like a great place to catch a train. Seemed like the town was pretty close to the interstate too.
With apologies to Grandma Judy, I'd be reluctant to ride into Chicago and try to make the connection to Milwaukee with children. I once missed that connection off a 4 hour late SWC. Amtrak gave me $20.00 and sent me by cab over to the Greyhound Station to catch a bus which didn't arrive in Milwaukee until midnight. What a nightmare. I waited in line 45 minutes just to buy the bus ticket and then got the very last empty seat on the bus......yeah, being picked up west of the city is a wiser choice.
------------------ David Pressley
[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 06-05-2004).]
Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
If your family in "Northern Illinois Southern Wisconsin' is reluctant to drive and pay $10 for 2hrs of parking around CUS, I can understand.
Naperville has an attractive downtown shopping/entertainment area. Even though the Washington Street station used by Amtrak has limited parking, it certainly has accomodations for a "drive by" pick up (you won't be run off such as you will at O'Hare lest you stop for one minute awaiting someone).
Presumably you will be packing a cell phone, so after walking about the interesting specialty shops and restaurants in their entertainment area, you can coordinate a "smooth" meet.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 06-06-2004).]
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Many, many kind thanks everyone for the speedy replies! The links to the station pictures is a great resource to know about too; the stations all look quite spiffy (especially compared to Albuquerque!). I think Naperville looks doable so that's what we'll go with. Many times, boarding and de-boarding destinations are a bit of a compromise. Avoiding the worst of the traffic of the city is preferable if that's not one's actual destination, and in my experience, any snafus are usually more easily handled in smaller or suburban locales. Being routed to an "urban bus depot" due to being late, as per David's experience, is enough to scare all but the most intrepid, I think. Mr. Norman, it's good to know that there are downtown shops, and restaurants near the Naperville station; am I correct in interpreting that these are within reasonable walking distance?
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Station is on Washington; "heart" of entertainment district there is Jefferson. You had American History in order to graduate HS, nuff said.
More help if you choose "off list" gbnorman@chicagonet.net. (address was published until this site chose to remove them - I hide from no one) I live 10 miles away from NPV)
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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