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Ok I got to the station and we were the first people there. Then after that I tried to interview the station agent and he said he was too busy. With no one. Also our tickets on the ACES didn't book, so we had to argue over the phone, till they found it. Then I asked the conductor if I could photograph the train as it pulled in. She said yes. So I carried my bag out. I met some nice people picking up their son, then driving back to Wilmington. The train then came closer and I snapped a night shot. My best ever ( I would post but I have no clue how to). Then the I boarded my viewliner. I had room H, as I was with my grandmother. I also was with my sister, and mom. My sister was visiting our room for awhile, and the attendant Kirk made her go stay in coach and us visit her. Then I slept on the top bunk. Ok well, I was working on the GPS getting it a satellite to the NC boarder, then I fell asleep after about an hour. Then I woke up in Petersburg. So I watched us arrive in Richmond. For what ever odd reason I love that trackage. So I watched that in the twilight. It finally started getting real light, around the Meede Pyramid. When we passed Possum Point I saw an all white ALCO! I then took pictures of the monuments from the train. After that I got off the train in DC for a walk to the head end. I got several awesome shots of the locomotive. Both the new and the old. I was invited into the AEM-7 that they put on. It was super awesome, but very cramped. I ate the railroad french toast. Which I thought was very good. Reginald was our server, and he was one of few smiling faces I saw that day. After that I finally got a good shot of the SEPTA St. Car from the train. I also got some photos of the Junita (spelling)terminal. They had a E-unit in very bad shape. Plus the two oldest billboards I know. I then took some photos of the Amtrak work trains which have some heritage cars in them. Once we arrived in NYC we had to wait sometime for our baggage. So I took my grandmother to Macy's, while the other two in my group took our bags to our room. I took her the long way, by going around the block. We chilled in Macy's in the McDonalds on the 7th floor. After that we couldn't go much further, so we went to the hotel. Radio City Apartments. Once there we really weren't ready to go to bed. My sister went out on the st. and picked up some st. food for us. The vendor she went too, the guy was out of all places, but Elgin. Yes my small town of Elgin, is where he was from. Seeing we knew him, he made us some free things(which I loved). I watched one of my favorite bands at the Tony's. I almost had tickets to it. The next day I tried to get standby tickets to Jimmy Fallon. I couldn't get them, but my sister got one. So while she was at the taping I was at GCT. Then every night after that was broadway night. I went to see Hair which closes soon. I loved it, I had a box seat. The next show I saw was American Idiot, and it was amazing. If you go, you should see it. It starts off getting you pumped up. The next night I went to A Little Night Music, which I wouldn't see again. I didn't like it. The next day we caught the ACES. It was funny the person across the aisle from us in Penn Station, we ended up sitting next too. We went to the track before everyone else, and put our bags on the platform, while I took pictures of the train in Penn. We then held up people getting on, trying to get our luggage up to the upper floor. We don't pack light. It proved my theory it always looks greener when you are still on vacation. I took several photos. I almost had one of the Acella, but my camera takes forever to turn on. We passed a freight on the Delair, so I got a photo or two but not many. We pulled into Atlantic City early. I got some photo's in the station area. After that we went to our hotel Trump Plaza. Reason as it was close to my grandmother's concert (which was on her birthday), and my concert was there. I loved Atlantic City. My concert Franki Avalon was amazing. I had a front row ticket. One of the best concerts in my life. The next day we took the Local to Philly. My sister didn't get the memo that we need to be at the station at 8 for the 8:53. As at 7:45 she was getting breakfast and her stuff was everywhere. My grandmother and I went to the station, and we could have made the 7:47. Our train was very simple, but I loved it. The crew did a good job, as they told us we would be late for trackwork, and how many trains we were waiting on to pass us. My bags in the process were trying to escape as we took turns, so I was up and down, putting back to where we wanted them. I got left on the platform to watch the bags, as they didn't want to carry them up the steps, and the escalator wasn't going the right direction. So I watched a train or two, before a red cap came and helped me up. Then we got the coolest red cap ever Abe. He knew the history of the station, and has met Biden, and Bill Cosby (spelling). I got some photos of our train. Once we got on I went straight to the diner. To my surprise we had Reginald again. I had the hamburger and it was really good. Seeing the diner was empty they let me ride in there till DC. In DC we passed a private rail car, the San Marino. It took forever to get our new locomotives. When we got them we had number 511. I got some photos. In the cafe the refrigerator had problems so we lagged behind. South of DC to Richmond, we barely went any speed, and I took a small nap (ashland-richmond). As I was up till 2 packing my stuff up. I also did my interviews after DC. I interviewed Reginald. I had the steak at dinner, south of Petersburg. It was very good, our cook Marry was amazing. South of Rocky Mt. at Charlie Baker the auto train broke down, so we dropped off the 511 for them. So they cut our power in the dark for about an hour. I sat with Edgardo, Marry, Reginald, and Edger. They really banged us. Edgardo gave us the light sticks they have for emergencies as it was dark as come be. The batteries were fading fast, and the diner had almost no light. The sleepers had a lot of light, but the doors didn't work, so we had to push them open and they stayed. I got off the train about 2:20 minutes late, at around 4. All together a good trip. I hope you enjoyed it
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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Thank you, I couldn't find there website when I was trying to look it up for spelling. Did you like the report?
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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