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I'm departing home Tuesday (4/10) on my next railroad adventure, the first of 2007 unless you count a 20 mile hop on Nashville's new commuter train in February.
Briefly, I will drive to Atlanta (about 4 hours from home) and park at the airport. From there I will utilize MARTA to the Amtrak Depot and catch #20 to Washington, DC. Depending on how much of my six hour layover is compromised by a late train, I may take a MARC ride up to the BWI Rail Station and return or perhaps METRO out to College Park, MD to visit the grounds of my alma mater.....the University of Maryland.
From DC I will take #29 to Chicago for what on paper would be a 6.5 hour layover. I'm nervous about this one as the Capitol Limited has been dragging in anywhere from 3-6 hours late for the past week. In fact, once the Capitol missed the connection to #3 by a good three hours.
Ordinarily I'd have something neat in mind for Chicago like a visit to a museum or a ride up to the new Milwaukee Airport rail station. This trip I'm planning nothing because I may not have time to even leave Union Station. We'll see.
From Chicago it's on to Albuquerque. Arrive on Friday, fly back to my POV at the Atlanta airport, and drive home. Ought to be a relaxing few days!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Sounds like a great trip and I'll have to try the trick of starting in Atlanta to get more mileage for my AGR points. Sorry I missed your comments on the Music City Star as I plan to ride that this summer since it's in the area where I spent many good summers long ago with grandparents and the L&N.
I am surprised you're brave enough to make same day connection in Chicago, but who knows the Capitol may be on time if the stars are correctly aligned. Enjoy the SWC, I certainly did a few months ago. Be sure to check out the semaphores between Raton and Albuquerque. Another vanishing symbol of the past. If you are short on time in DC, it's worth taking a quick look at the postal museum next door - complete with RPO. Bon Voyage.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Actually didn't mke comments on the Music City Star. I hope that it catches on and expands but my favorite ride of that trackage was actually on a Tennessee Central Museum excursion six or seven years ago.....vintage E's and domes trump secondhand F40's and CN&W bilevel coaches!
I'll gamble a same-day connection at CUS when using guest reward points BUT only when traveling east to west. With the Lake Shore now departing eastward at 10:00pm, a change that had not been announced when I planned this trip, I might reconsider that next time.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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David, sounds like another great "trains, planes, and automobiles" trip coming up. When I took mine, I drove to New Orleans, and was able to park my car right at the Amtrak station there for about a week at a good rate.
Maybe you'll get a chance to take the New Mexico RailRunner while in Albuquerque; if you do, tell the engineer not to plow through any brush fires!
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Have a great time David. I hope you make that Chicago connection; I'm planning to do the same from the Capitol Ltd (also using Guest Rewards and gambling on the Chi connection) and sure do hope I make it too! I keep checking 29 arrival times and it's very discouraging. Eastbound I have had less trouble (but this time I'm staying over because I'm taking the Zephyr).
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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This morning, April 10, #29 is expected into Chicago 6 hours late. Ouch.
Left DC on time yesterday......two hours late by Cumberland.....five hours down at Pittsburgh.
Trains on CSX move like sludge.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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If you do have time for a ride up to Milwaukee's airport station, plan to be on the next southbound Hiawatha. The station is really cute, but it has nothing in it but a place to wait out of the weather. (Not even any TP the last time I was there!) Guess there is a vending machine or two, but the Quik-Trak machine was broken.
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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Well David, at least your on a train. Just think, you will be on the SW Chief soon. Enjoy the ride! Any Spring snowstorms out there?
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by 20th Century: Well David, at least your on a train. Just think, you will be on the SW Chief soon. Enjoy the ride! Any Spring snowstorms out there?
In DC now everyone. Club Acela is POSH......at least the restrooms are.....and the Crescent offered a good ride. Got in about 25 minutes ahead of schedule. Smoothest ride on the old Southern Railway mainline I can ever remember. French Toast was good and the servers pleasant.
Anyone know why #29(10) is showing a service disruption?
Full trip report coming when done......and I'm with Mr. Gilbert Norman on another matter....now that I've squarely reached my mid-forties, I could not contemplate going overnight in coach again.
Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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As I mentioned in another strand, I just spoke with an Amtrak person who had phoned me about a slight schedule change (unrelated to LSL/Capitol Ltd). She checked and told me that these horrendous delays on the Capitol Ltd in the past few weeks are due to track work due to end April 12. So . . . I hope that means you won't experience them on your trip. If she is right, you seem to be just on the 'cusp." Good luck!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Mr. Presley should be OK with his 29(11)-CHI-3(12) connection. As of a few moments ago, 29(11) reportedly arrived CHI 1030A or only some 110 min late.
Addendum: I was at MP 18.00 with Roxanne, a little White Husky who visits me when her family is out of town, to observe #3(12) passing on time. Presumably Mr Presley was aboard, and as he noted earlier, viewing from the Engineer's side.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Mr. Presley should be OK with his 29(11)-CHI-3(12) connection. As of a few moments ago, 29(11) reportedly arrived CHI 1030A or only some 110 min late.
Addendum: I was at MP 18.00 with Roxanne, a little White Husky who visits me when her family is out of town, to observe #3(12) passing on time. Presumably Mr Presley was aboard, and as he noted earlier, viewing from the Engineer's side.
Caught a glimpse of you from roommette #4 of the 331 sleeper!!!!
Wasn't certain whether I had an official sighting given that your K-9 companionship has been in flux recently. Guess you could say it was a 'brisk' walk Thursday!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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