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Sorry I haven't been on line much but wanted to make a short report of a quick trip. I had some business in Chicago and a friend to see in Milwaukee, and decided instead of going the usual route I'd go through Michigan, since I'd never been in that state or on its trains and since I wanted to visit the capitol in Lansing (I'm saving Dearborn for another time, when I have more time). I caught the Lakeshore Ltd west from Albany--it was quite late getting in, which was irritating, since you would think it would be ready to roll out of NYP on time. But apparently not. Anyway, I waited around in Albany and finally the train came. I had to have dinner late, but also had its benefits, which was breakfast before we got to Toledo. Dinner seemed improved--more choices than the LSL with limited menu had last March. Breakfast had improved roasted potatoes, instead of those bad shredded ones of times past, but the cheese omelette seemed overcooked a dryish.
Catching the bus in Toledo was no problem, as promised here. It wasn't too busy because I guess the Capitol LTd folks had been sent on ahead. This was my first time ever in the state of Michigan, and I got to see something of downtown Detroit but very little of Deerfield and Ann Arbor (to both of which I hope to return some time) before arriving in East Lansing. I stayed at the Kellogg Hotel right on campus. They had a shuttle but it was always busy, so I used taxis to visit the capitol and state museum in Lansing. I also ate in a very good restaurant that had been the Lansing train station at one time--very good food and reasonable prices, though sad it was the train staiton no more.
The working train station in East Lansing, in contrast, is very plain and just a tad above Amshack grade, but waiting there next morning for my Blue Water was no problem. The train was very busy--I was surprised there is talk of its termination! I enjoyed the ride through new places to me, Kalamazoooooooo, Battle Creek, and so on. Definitely some nicer train station along the way. I arrived in Chicago right on time.
I had business in Chicago, but I also made a train trip on the Hiawatha line to Milwaukee. That worked out fine--the trains were very nice and clean, and it's a quick easy trip. Milwaukee station is new, or newly redone, and quite conveniently located downtown. I really liked this city, nice blend of older and newer architecture, including very architecturally interesting modern building for an art museum right on the lake--I watched the wings open at 10AM. Based on recommendations here, I also explored the 3rd Ward, warehouses-turned- galleries etc., including a visit to the Milwaukee Market and to the Eisner Advertising Museum. The only mild disappointment of my trip to Milwaukee was the German food, seemed a little tired in both Karl Ratsche's and Maders . . . maybe I ordered the wrong thing (sauerbraten & soggy strudel in KR, schnitzel in Maders).
Chicago stop was all business, and I returned from this fairly quick trip again on the Lakeshore Ltd, no problems eastbound, and the breakfast was better. I enjoyed the wine and cheese (and grapes) in lieu of dinner after preboarding, and I had some kind of pork stew special for lunch next day, quite tasty, though I could have done without the styrofoam bowl. Will china ever be coming back to Amtrak?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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I wish they would bring "real" dishes back on Amtrak. I'm not a believer in man-made global warming, or being "green", but I do believe in not being extremely wasteful like Amtrak is being with the MASSIVE quantities of disposable dishes that they use. I'm surprised that "green" groups haven't gone after Amtrak for this---really surprised.
(sojourner: Don't forget that this Friday is the MONK series finale!!! Did you see Part 1 last Friday?)
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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I don't know about global warming, but I was thinking less about the waste and more about the health issues. At least, I have heard that styrofoam is very unhealthy, esp if they warm it up or microwave it. I guess it's likely OK for a few times, but I'd rather not eat from it too often!
Re Monk: It makes me sad to hear it's the finale--but I never remember to watch TV when it's on; I get the DVDs from the library when they come out. So I still have the season before this one for Monk on order--it just came out a while back on DVD and it's very popular.
Also, I just watched the latest DVD season of Numb3rs, season 5 (that would be last year, not this, I suppose). Still watchable and not too violent (some of the crime shows are simply too gory for me). There was one big train episode too (but it was based on that awful crash near LA!).
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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When you get around to the DVD's for this season, you will enjoy the episode that just aired last Friday. It was Part 1 of 2, and a good chunk of it took place in Union Station, as well as a BNSF freight yard. I think some of it was at Fillmore also, but I'm not sure. The show is supposed to take place in San Francisco, however, the station scenes were all Union Station in Los Angeles. It was a daytime shoot, which surprised me since that is such a crowded place! They had the whole place for filming---the main hall and everything! At one point, all of the people panic and have to run out of the building---it was cool seeing that at a location that I've spent so much time in.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Am not sure where the Cincinnatian ran, but I'm certainly sure I wish it did! I wish all the old trains ran! It's hard to believe there is no train directly from NYC to Detroit.
And I wish the Blue Water went all the way to Toronto!!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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The Cincinnatian ran on the Toledo division of the B&O "back in the day", making the N/S run Detroit-Cincinnati in around 6 hours.
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Sojourner -- good report! I'm glad to hear that the restaurant in the old Grand Trunk station in downtown Lansing is still active -- is it still known as "Clara's?" When I lived in Lansing many years ago, I was at that old station to watch President Ford's campaign train come through town in 1976!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Thanks for the report, Sojourner. I especially enjoyed your comments on the Hiawatha / Milwaukee segment since I'll be spending some time in that city next summer.
And Ocala Mike, the Cincinnatian was a classic train. Arriving Cincinnati on L&N's Pan American on a boyhood trip, I remember looking out the window seeing that train and its gorgeous streamline Pacific steam engine. It made quite an impression. A good article on it in Classic Trains' recent special edition on Dream Trains.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Sojourner -- good report! I'm glad to hear that the restaurant in the old Grand Trunk station in downtown Lansing is still active -- is it still known as "Clara's?" When I lived in Lansing many years ago, I was at that old station to watch President Ford's campaign train come through town in 1976!!
How ironic! I have a co-worker (a History teacher of course) who was working on a Masters Degree at Michigan State at that time and has a framed 8 x 10 photo (which he took) of Gerald Ford campaigning from the train in Lansing that day.
Small world, huh?
-------------------- 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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RRRich, Yes, it is called Clara's. I had a tasty lunch, reasonably priced, and the place looks very fine. I actually sat in the old train car parked to the right of the ornate main "station."
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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David P -- I believe you have mentioned that before about your friend the history teacher who was also in Lansing that day. I'd love to see his photo -- maybe I am in it??????????
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Smitty, I missed your post before--will love seeing the Union Station show. I wonder how they cleared it out to use. Wouldn't it have been fun to be an extra?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: David P -- I believe you have mentioned that before about your friend the history teacher who was also in Lansing that day. I'd love to see his photo -- maybe I am in it??????????
I'll ask him about the possibility of scanning his photo.
Give me a little time - he and I are no longer assigned to the same school.....though we do still get together for lunch on Teacher Workdays when we don't have students.
-------------------- 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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