posted
I have reposted my western trip report here. as it seemed too long to leave in this forum.
This includes the last segment on the City of New Orleans and, as time allows, will add a few photos.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
The last time I took a train from Stockton to Bakersfield was a segment on the San Francisco Chief, back in the 1960's. Really a dreary stretch of country. However, the San Joaquins have pretty good ridership figures, as you noted. Stockton is a real dump. I went to college there, back in the 1960's. Was bad then and, now, I hear it's much worse.
Each sleeper on the SW Chief with its own password? Is that something we shall soon see on all LD trains?
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Great report, Palmland! I believe I too had Julio as my attendant on the SWC on my 2014 trip, and he was very good.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
plamland --- That's a very interesting and well-written trip report. Thanks for all the details. SO glad ou had such good crews. That does make all the difference.
Shame on the RR for not doing a better job of maintaining the track the CONO uses. No excuse for that. The poor hoghead was damned if he did, and damned if he didn't as far as the speed he ran that train at. If he had slowed down to the point where the ride would not have been so rough, the train would have probably been quite late, but running at the maximum authorized speed made the ride quite rough.
Yes, one does meet some very interesting people on trains. that's one of the best things about train travel.
Too bad poor Amtrak is such a political football, and does not ever get enough funds to run a first-class service. Poor ol' Amtrak is but a mere skeleton of what it could and should be.
Anyhoo -- I love these interesting trip reports, especially when people write about the good experiences they have had on Amtrak, and the good crews they have had.
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by palmland: Arrived Union Station about 25 minutes early! Tonight Bedroom A on Train 59, the City of New Orleans.
I'm certain that Bedroom A (the worst one in the Superliner) hardly helped "the cause". Also not helping "the cause" is there being only one car, the T-Dorm, between you and the engine's horn.
There are reports, substantive I know not, at other sites that both 58-59, City, and 21-22, Eagle, will add V-Bags to their consists. That will put one additional car between the engine and passengers - and for that matter, find a home for seven of the fifteen extra V-Bags.
Even if I would have preferred a steak to the East of CUS, rather than the "ouzo and ompah" to the West, I understand your reluctance to have set a meet up, as there was all too much a chance that your time in town would have been an X-platform Chief to City connection. One of the "bennies" of living here is definitely when traveling rail or air, you can get from here to there without connecting. For me, connecting and checking baggage, are each good for 10 points on Dr. Brooks' "squeezer".
And finally; likely as good as anywhere to present this observation, while I have often noted and avoided their use in my postings, some of the train's initialed abbreviations used around here ARE official Amtrakese - at least so far as the Dining Car Department (or whatever it's known) is concerned. Acronyms used here such as CONO, CZ, and SWC are official. Others used here are not. Ring up the Dining Car menus at the website to find out which terms that are used around here are actually official.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have updated my trip report with a few photos and a few editorial corrections.
Margaret, train travel is certainly a great way to travel. But for the most enjoyment it does require enjoying meeting others and modest expectations as to service levels. Being a railfan helps too!
Richard, I would think with the remote country on the SWC it would be one of the least likely to get WiFi and as noted it really didn't work very well. But it seems that Amtrak is pursuing this for all trains. With the poor quality, I'm not surprised Amtrak has this as a freebie. Will they charge if it gets reliable? On a Delta flight it would have cost us $8.95 to get connected for the day.
GBN, Bedroom A is certainly not our first choice but don't think any room would have improved the ride. Most of the lurching was side to side as we passed over switches or grade crossings. No wonder CN has a very low operating ratio.. It's certainly a far cry from that double track raceway that the IC in the days of the Panama Ltd,, City of Miami or even the real CONO. I was feeling somewhat acrobatic as I negotiated my way to the upper berth.
As to adding a baggage car, not really needed on CONO as a quick look into the coach-baggage car seemed sufficient. The horn didn't really bother us, but a simple solution - put the sleepers on the rear where it worked just fine for the Pullman Co.
That must have been your double we saw as we flew by your station stop. It certainly looked like you. But you can be sure our travels will take us through Chicago again. And I would like to see another game at Wrigley Field - maybe next year will be the year for the Cubs.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
The CNO ride quality is a strong reminder that comfort is well within the limits of safety. That is to say, the tracks do meet the FRA safety standards for the speeds being operated even though the ride quality is exciting. Most lines seem to have figured out that maintaining track quality to a higher level is worthwhile. It means that the equipment requires less maintenance. It may not be enough to make it counting dollars, but it should improve reliability of the power and sure makes it a lot easier on the train crews.
It is worth remembering that a good bit of the line is in terrain having soils with stability problems.
By the way, the schedule of the CNO is very close to that of the Louisiane of the 50's and early 60's. The Louisiane did have quite a few more stops. It appears that the ridership is somewhat similar, in that it could be quite heavy north of Memphis, but seldom was very heavy south of Memphis. Generally, other than the sleepers, the Louisiane's equipment was all pre-streamliner.
Posts: 2810 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
