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I just introduced myself on the "new people" forum, but I wanted to post here, as well. I'm a 62 year old grandmother who has recently resurrected my childhood love of trains, and plan to ride all the Amtrak "scenic routes" during the next year. . . God willing!
Be sure to check out the blog for the whole story! My childhood stories are already on the blog, as are the things that led up to my decision to explore by rail as Train Granny!
My first trip is 25 days from today... Savannah, GA to Montreal. It will be my first time in a sleeper car! I would love to have you follow my blog and give me suggestions as I travel!
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Welcome to the forum, Train Granny! I'm not sure how active the new member forum is, but this one is where we all "hang out".
Looking forward to hearing about your Amtrak adventure. Feel free to ask us questions or advice. There's a great deal of knowledge on here, and you will find we are pretty darn friendly. Not like those "other" boards. Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Welcome aboard Train Granny. I have enjoyed your blog immensely.
You have a fellow blogger on this forum whose work you might enjoy, Mr. Henry Kisor: http://trainweb.org/henrykisor/ He also has an excellent book on the California Zephyr which will also come out as an ebook this April.
Many of us here, like yourself, are retirees who now have the time rekindle our love of trains. A decade ago I first learned of this forum over lunch with 3 strangers on the Empire Builder in North Dakota. One was on business, another had just discovered trains and was hooked for life (got all her advice from this forum), and the third was the "never again" guy who wanted to know where he could get off and get to an airport. It was a lively and entertaining discussion and I have been hooked ever since.
As a child in the '50s I loved trips on the fast Milwaukee Hiawatha and collected timetables. Today the Empire Builder passes 2 blocks from my house and I still walk down to watch it.
You will find all of us here eager to give advice and hear of your travels in detail.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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And if you are lucky Ira will appear and write you a welcome haiku. Enjoy your trip, trains are grand!
TwinStar - you retired? You looked so young lo those many years ago when we met. I haven't been back to the Twin Cities since. My cousins must doubt my attachment to my place of birth. I do know I prefer the weather here.
And for those who are interested I have actual current pictures of GBN available for a small fee.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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While I am as hardly as enthusiastic (and compulsive) about rail travel as are some around here, I find that my Amtrak journeys, both on Long and Short distance trains, have "more positives than negatives".
Be prepared to accept that Amtrak service is hardly as consistent as are other transportation companies, such as airlines, or other national hospitality chains. It is just how things are - and have been for the past forty years. But when an Amtrak employee is courteous to you and goes that "extra unit of measure' for you (many will), they are doing so "from the heart' and not because it's written in the script. Amtrak allows their public contact employees greater latitude to "be themselves" than do many another national concern.
There are no assurances you will enjoy overnight Amtrak travel, but there is only one way to find out and that is try it out.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Yes Vicki, I retired last July and I'm almost 66. And today's weather is no excuse to stay away, -it is 78 and sunny in St. Paul today.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Wow, what a friendly group! I'm thrilled to hear some of you have already enjoyed reading my blog! I'm having so much fun I feel like a kid (a 62 year old kid.) As to my upcoming travels. . . I guess I am definitely taking a chance to book 3 long distance trips before I've done any overnight travel on a train. . . BUT... for some reason, I think I'm going to love it! I greatly appreciate your friendly attitudes and offers of help when I need advice, which will be often!!
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From reviewing your avatar at your blogsite, Ms. Hale, and absent that being your college graduation photo, "I'd say you no age 62" (compliment intended).
Finally, if you are having any apprehensions, how about a "try-out"; say Savannah (732P; you'd get Dinner) to New York (ar 1130A) on 98, Silver Meteor, and fly home. So far as I'm concerned, "overnight is enough"; but again, that's just me.
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: But when an Amtrak employee is courteous to you and goes that "extra unit of measure' for you (many will), they are doing so "from the heart' and not because it's written in the script. Amtrak allows their public contact employees greater latitude to "be themselves" than do many another national concerns.
True that, Mr. Norman. I'm on the "customer side" of the Amtrak fence now (since 2002) but did my best to take care of the passengers when they were in my charge before I got "retired." That "little bit extra" really would go a long way in solving a prickly customer issue. And welcome to the Train Granny; wish you a pleasant rail experience on the Savannah to Montreal run...
RR Bob
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Welcome to the forum, Train Granny!! We are anxiously waiting to hear about all your railroading adventures!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I have now had the occasion to give your blog the credit it deserves.
Being from the Atlantic coastal plain, you already know that the scenery to Richmond can best be characterized as "if you've seen one Pine Tree, you've seen 'em all". Now what I did not discern from reviewing your material, do you plan to use Train 98, Silver Meteor, or 92 Silver Star, if the latter there are scenic opportunities from Richmond to Wash, there are many a vista of the Potomac River North of Fredericksburg, and you will X the various tributary rivers such as the James (near Richmond), the Rappahannock (near Fredericksburg), The Occoquan (sort of near Quantico), and of course finally the Potomac itself to enter Wash.
There are some vistas along the NE Corridor Wash to NY, but just be impressed with you are traveling over the most superb piece of predominately passenger railroad anywhere in entire America's, i.e. N & S, land mass.
Presume of course you are aware that you will need to stay over in New York for the next day connection to The Adirondack. In contrast to your "Silver--" train, The Adirondack is one of the most scenic train rides in North America, but in order to maximize the scenery, you will need to do some "fancy footwork". Leaving New York you will want to be on the Fireman's, or Left, side of the train to view the Hudson River, but North of Albany, you'll want to be on the Right to view Lake Champlain. Since I have never ridden the Amtrak era Adirondack (but have the pre-Amtrak Laurentian during the '60's), I'm going to defer to others on how to get the seats of your choice on the journey; also will defer on the need to carry all that "stuff" noted in your blog. Since you are traveling Sleeper, I have to question of much, if any, is really needed.
Good luck.
Oh and finally, here's my blog. Admittedly, it is more directed to Amtrak business and public policy than to travel experiences, but "that's me":
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GBN, why didn't I know you had a blog? I tried to subscribe to the post notification system but that link doesn't work. I guess we will have to rely on you letting us know when you have posted something.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I've read your posts and look forward to hearing how your upcoming rail travel goes..... just been busy at work the last few days and not had much energy for recreational internet 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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Thanks so much to all of you who have read my blog! Gilbert, I enjoyed yours, too, but did not find a way to "follow" the blog. Let me know how to "follow"!
We are going north on the Silver Meteor, I believe, rather than the Silver Star. I thought the two trains followed the same path; but, I have so much to learn. Thanks for the warning about where to sit on the Adirondak. If any of you other members can give more advice on that, I would be grateful! 20 days from today is "ALL ABOARD"...!!!
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Mrs. Hale, #97-98, Silver Meteor, travels the most direct route, that of the Atlantic Coast Line, or officially known by CSX as the A-Line, to New York.
#91-92, Silver Star, takes what could best be described as a gerrymandered route, which is designed to allow service to two state capitals that otherwise would be without service. Northward from Savannah, Silver Star uses the former Seaboard Air Line, or in official CSXese, the S-Line the diverts inland to the Piedmont serving both Columbia and Raleigh. Previously, and I think for some very short sighted reasons, CSX chose to abandon that railroad, North of Raleigh to Richmond. This resulted in the Silver Star having to travel essentially "due" Eastward (and v.v.) to Selma NC on the Norfolk Southern where it joins the previously noted A-Line. South of Savannah, the Star's route is equally gerrymandered; Savannah to Miami VIA TAMPA.
However with all respects extended to Mr. Palmland (retired CSX management), I think CSX adversely affected their freight operations with the abandonment of the S-Line than they ever did to Amtrak and the operation of the Star. But "it's too late now" to go back and undo what has been done.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Train Granny -- Mr. Norman's post may have been a bit misleading for you. Basically, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor follow the exact same route between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonsville, FL, and then between Rocky Mount, NC (actually Selma-Smithfield) and Washington, DC -- they operate on different schedules, however, and Gil may have been alluding to the fact that the N-bound Silver Star operates between Richmond and Washington later in the afternoon, while the N-bound Meteor departs Richmond at 4:35 AM (if it's on time) and arrives in DC at 7:21 AM (again, if on time)-- dark during the winter months!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Perhaps this has been mentioned here already and I somehow missed it but I will add that due to spring trackwork on CSX, the northbound Silver Star is operating on an amended schedule through March 29th or so. This amended schedule is roughly 5 hours earlier than published online and in the National Timetable. Through Raleigh, NC before 4:00am and then following 98's markers from Selma, NC northward hitting it's stride north of Richmond while passegers are sitting down to French Toast in the diner.
During the work period, the Carolinian and Palmetto are operating Fri, Sat, & Sun only.... though the Carolinian is operating Raleigh-Charlotte only Mon - Thu.
To cover the absence of the Carolinian and Palmetto over the A-Line four days a week, the Silver Star has added a stop in Wilson, NC through the end of the work period.
-------------------- 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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