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Even before I boarded train 98(10) in Savannah, my excitement was at an all time high. I went to the ticket counter two hours before time for departure. The station was bare, with only one ticket agent working. He was extremely helpful, and even agreed to step out from the behind the counter to let me get a photo with him before leaving on my first trip. Thank you, Ruben DeJesus! You got me off on the right foot, just doing your job the way a professional should.
As far as train service, I’d like to thank the following Amtrak employees who made our trip from Savannah to Montreal and back to Savannah a tremendous success!
Train 98(10)
Billy – our room attendant, our first ever room attendant, a third generation room attendant, you did an outstanding job of pampering us! Your welcoming and friendly attitude made us feel right at home!
Mary – the one-woman-show in the dining room, you did an outstanding job of handling the crowds, and the late-comers who boarded in Savannah. . . and you kept a smile on your face throughout!
Nigel Thirrens – our conductor, who was friendly and helpful to all… courteous and professional… He and flagman, Marvin, made me feel right at home on their train. The train reflected good service and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere!
Trains 69(12) and 68(13)
Maurice – the café attendant! New York to Montreal is quite a haul for a day! A long haul! And Maurice worked the café car for two days non-stop with hardly a break. He worked diligently, offering service with a smile even though the line never died down! I thanked him at the end of the second day for his hard work and his exceptional attitude toward customer service!
Train 97(14)
Leo – our room attendant greeted us immediately when we boarded in New York. He was concerned for the comfort and safety of all of us in “his” car, and it was easy to see his concern. When the train had to stop near Trenton, New Jersey to wait for a new engine to be sent out from Penn Station, Leo went to every door in the car to check on all of us and explain what was going on!
The dining room “crew” – all of you! You were incredible! You worked together to make sure dinner was served in a pleasant atmosphere. More coffee? More tea? Everything ok here? Many thanks to Charles, Guy, Chris, and Claudette!
And, last but not least, Chris Cook, the conductor who boarded in the wee hours of the morning in Florence, SC on the last day of our trip… only a few hours from Savannah. Even though I was only around Chris for a couple of hours, I watched him interact with travelers in a way that was remarkable. As passengers arrived for breakfast in the dining car twenty or thirty minutes before the dining car was scheduled to open, Chris invited those people into the café car with him and began engaging them in conversation while they waited. “Come sit with me,” he said! “I won’t bite!” He inquired about where passengers were headed and where they had been. And, of course he welcomed “TrainGranny” with open arms! He came back to our roomette to say farewell just as we pulled into the Savannah station, and was waving to me as I took photos of the train pulling out of the station.
AmCrew, thank you for making my first TrainGranny trip such a success!
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A lovely tribute to hardworking folks, Granny. These people need to hear encomiums like this. Thank you.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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