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Looks like a fantastic trip. After you return you will have seen most of the greatest remaining US railroad stations and I'd be interested to hear your impressions and comparison of the stations in Washington (from your last trip), Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia......
I also like the Atlanta station BUT as it was intended to merely be a suburban stop some 80 years ago, it is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of a city Atlanta's size even for a single pair of daily passenger trains.
-------------------- 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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The Atlanta station was called the Brookwood Station in my childhood years. The main station for Southern Railway was in downtown Atlanta. It was called the Atlanta Terminal Station (I think.) You might know more than I do!
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Dr. Hale, there were two passenger train stations in Downtown Atlanta. One was Terminal Station, which was located where the Georgia State Convention Center is today. Roads that used Terminal Station were the SRY, A&WP, SAL, and CofG. I departed from Terminal Station on SRY#38, The Crescent, during August 1962.
The other station was Union Station, which was more or less adjacent to Terminal (about where Georgia Dome is located. The roads that used this station were L&N and ACL. I never had occasion to arrive or depart from this station, but did see it intact (it outlived Terminal).
Even if the existing Peachtree Station is woefully inadequate to handle existing traffic (I know first-hand "the drill", or maybe I should say Chinese Fire Drill, attempting to meet Mr. Haithcoat there during May 2011), equally absurd would have been for either of those mausoleums to be "taken" by some preservationist group and used for no purpose other than to serve a "one a day".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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It would be nice if a modern addition could be added behind the existing Atlanta 'Brookwood' Station' .... though the rear area has already been expanded and modernized once. Escalators to/from the platform would be nice as well.
Even this may be too much of an investment for a single train each way and it doesn't resolve the issue of insufficient parking.
The last widening of I-85 adjacent to Brookwood really limits any possibility of making a meaningful improvement to the existing station.
-------------------- 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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Speaking of stations, the beautifully restored St. Paul Union Depot is supposed to start hosting the Empire Builder sometime this year. The escalators are in and the tracks are laid. For those of you on Facebook with a lot of time there are some great photos at http://www.facebook.com/uniondepot/photos
I am not sure if they will continue to stop at the current MSP Amshack which is about 7 miles further west.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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I see that your August trip will be bringing you to the Pacific Northwest. I don't know if I can get down to PDX, but I notice that your itinerary doesn't show you riding any Cascades trains. And that, in my opinion, is a serious planning error . The Cascades service uses the Talgo trains that can only be found on the Cascades corridor. The trains were designed by the Spanish train builder, Talgo, and they are designed to tilt through turns, which allows the train to move more quickly through curves. Talgo trains save about 30 minutes over Superliners on the Seattle to Portland schedule. But there's a fair amount of controvery about these trains. Some people think they're junk, others think they're great. Also, Wisconsin purchased 2 trainsets for the Hiawatha service and they are almost ready for delivery. But since a change in governorship, WI apparently now plans to install the trains on some railroad siding as a monument to liberal profligacy. It would be a shame for you to come all the way to Oregon and not take a tilt on a Talgo.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Even if I am a "one ride veteran" of Talgo trains in this life, namely Bilbao-Madrid during 1990, and was not overly impressed, to ride the Cascades will be a lesson in how equipment designed for the type of profile found between Seattle and Portland has resulted in a schedule reduction of 30min when compared with previous equipment used. I'll accept Mr. Vincent's statement that the Talgos provide a comfortable ride in an attractive setting.
Now regarding the Talgos acquired by Wisconsin (under a previous pro-rail administration), they are completely unsuited for the virtually tangent route as the Pendular technology will provide no benefit whatever regarding reduced schedule time. While to have newly built equipment sitting about doing less than nothing as it can only provide a "whipping post' for the anti-rail factions, I hope they do enter revenue service (I give it a 50-50). However I hope that wiser heads than are screwed atop most ideologue zealot politicians (that doesn't mean all pols BTW) will prevail and a rail passenger agency (even if overseas) whose operations are over a conducive profile will step forward and acquire these cars.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I'm taking a trip similar to your August adventure at the end of June. My plan is to spend a night in Seattle, then take the Talgo to Portland where I'll spend a night before taking the Enpire Builder east. I recommend that you consider traveling on the Portland leg of that trip because along the Columbia River is a lovely ride. Last time I did that ride, my roomette was on the the "wrong" side, but I convinced a young man traveling alone to let me sit in his roomette to enjoy the scenery with him. We had our boxed dinners (more than adequate) & chatted all the way to Pasco where he got off. He was a great travel companion, and being from the area, he proved a great tour guide, too.
-------------------- 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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Cannot wait to see the finished product at St. Paul and, given that my wife and I both have old friends from separate endeavors earlier in life, I am confident that I will have the opportunity to see SPUD firsthand sooner rather than later.
GBN - I have experienced 3 rides on the Cascade Talgos. The rides were quiet, smooth, and comfortable. Even though the topography in the midwest does not permit the Talgos to take full advantage of their technology, I believe that if more regular commuters on the Hiawatha Service trains were to also make a trip on the Talgos as they now exist in the Pacific Northwest, they would be joining Wisconsin state employees in taking up torches and storming the state house in Madison demanding the Talgos they came near to having for themselves!
-------------------- 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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Simply because my one Talgo ride was at best a "take it or leave it" experience, does not mean others both within and without the railfan community won't find such attractive. It is hard to imagine that the cost per seat (production cost/number of seats = cost per seat) could be "in the league" of a likewise computed cost for same in conventional equipment, but then, the $$$$ have been spent, and it is unreasonable to expect that should this equipment be acquired by another passenger agency, that the Wisconsin taxpayers would be "whole'.
While I'm hardly about to advocate use of specialized equipment absent any special need, I'm fearful in this matter "Alea iacta est".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Judy and Vincent have convinced me that I should look into changing my plans to include that Cascades from Seattle to Portland. Thanks, guy! Watch for updated calendar!!
And, just FYI. . . I had no idea that the train on that route is any different. I had seen references to the Talgo... but, I had no idea what it was! So, I have learned something, also!
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Judy: I want to take the Empire Builder out of Portland, next summer. If I remember correctly, the best side of the train is the right side for the Columbia River Gorge, going up to Spokane, with the left side of the train best going back from Spokane to Portland. Or, is it vice versa? I always thought it strange how the terrain on one side of the Columbia River is so different from the other.
I really encourage everyone to take the Cascade train. Very scenic country. Don't overlook Seattle to Vancouver, BC. I really like the little town of Blaine, WA, right near the border. Border crossing is very easy. Also, they now have a morning run from Vancouver back to Seattle which is a splendid idea.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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I don't think there's a bad side on the Portland to Spokane trip. A room on the right side might have a better view of the Columbia River, but there's still plenty to see from either side. The conductors are usually pretty good about providing information about the geology and history of the area, so it will likely be a good trip. Also, the Sightseer Lounge is on the Portland section, so if you do get a left side room just grab some necklaces and go hang out in the lounge. I think the left hand side of the train will get a better view of the sunset, which should occur shortly before you get to Pasco. If you ever ride the Empire Builder between Seattle and Spokane you will definitely want a seat on the left side leaving Seattle (right side on the way to Seattle). The view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains is worth fighting for.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Is there more to the August trip after Portland to Chicago? We may cross paths in Chicago or heading beyond there.
Posts: 561 | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by SilverStar092: Is there more to the August trip after Portland to Chicago? We may cross paths in Chicago or heading beyond there.
The August trip is just Chicago to EMY to Portland and back to Chicago. I'm flying to and from Chicago. Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder!!!! I know I have to do the Cascades, but will have to do it later!
quote:Originally posted by SilverStar092: Is there more to the August trip after Portland to Chicago? We may cross paths in Chicago or heading beyond there.
The August trip is just Chicago to EMY to Portland and back to Chicago. I'm flying to and from Chicago. Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder!!!! I know I have to do the Cascades, but will have to do it later!
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