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GBN Takes a Joyride
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: [QB] It appears that over this past weekend, I made an exception to my long standing "I don't do joyrides or other excursions'. For whatever reason, I did not go to Florida this past season - first time in some 28 years, While not always, many of my journeys there involved use of the Auto Train - others conventional trains. Since it further appears that I will fly for this upcoming "honour of your presence" event during September, there was a distinct possibility I would not board any Amtrak train during '08. Like Ms. Sojourner, I guess every so often "I need a fix". Mine was to take the Zephyr #5(5) Chicago-Denver, thence return Southwest Airlines 2477 DEN-MDW July 6. Much to my surprise, especially the latter, both fares were so low I simply couldn't afford NOT to take the journey. To say the least, both journeys rail and air were "eventful". BNSF 1-1312 left 18.34 on time and arrived CUS same, however with so many travelers attending the various events downtown on the Holiday weekend, there were two SECTIONS of 1312 (BTW, the protocol I note is railroad for a scheduled train running in sections). 1-1312 made stops only to Western Springs, thence non-stop to CUS; 2-1312 made the skipped stops. With the non-stop run the Conductor had time for words with me about the "Seniors Ride Free" RTA program. He thought it absurd to see Seniors from DuPage County flashing their passes and their $5000 Rolex is visible. While a $150 Seiko is the ARMament (there's one for the punsters around here) for me, I don't need the program myself; yet I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. After some newspaper reading in the Great Hall (only place in CUS where there is enough light for me to be able to read), it is time for the Zephyr. The consist of #5(5) was 3 P-42, Bagg, T-Dorm, 2 Sleeper, Diner, Lounge, 3 Coach, Sleeper (CHI-DEN). I was in Line 0531 - next to Diner - #32058. Departure was OT, and It was fun to ride by 18.34 (first time to have done so on Amtrak since 1981). Since this was the "maiden voyage" over the route since the flooding and was questionable until about July 4 if it were to be such, the passenger loadings would have brought, warm chuckles, and of course rants from the likes of Dr. Utt, Rep Istook, and their assorted colleagues at Heritage Foundation. My Sleeper was at best half occupied. I asked the Attendant if there was a Lower Level Roomette open in place of #3 assigned "take any room you like, Sir" I guess I could have "interpreted" that to mean the Family or Special Room, but didn't. If there were 100 Coach passengers on there any time I did a walk through, I'd be amazed. The scenic highlight of the trip was of course the devastation the flood has caused. The town of Gulfport IL was a TV News "ground zero"; all I can say for once "it's real folks". There was at least five miles of 10mph through the area. Normal speed was not resumed until ascending the hill West of Burlington. At Ottumwa, we were one hour down when I pulled down the Upper rack (Attendant wanted to see that I had the safety strap properly secured - don't blame him). The Des Moines River, where the Q crosses such, was again "lapping at the bridge" (the other two bad boys, the Cedar and the Iowa, both flow into Ol Man River about 15 miles N of Burlington) . As the Jerome Kern song composed for "Showboat" goes...[URL=http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/showboat/olmanriver.htm] "Ol Man River[/URL]....he just keeps rolling along..." There was much freight traffic on the line, for come morning when I noted a stop and had come "down below" to the "sitting room" and expected to see Akron, there was McCook. We were three hours down. But from there, where Nebraska changes from farmland to badland, we held schedule with numerous coal trains and their "pushers" taking siding for us. We even ran around a WB. Everything looked fine until the announcement that the both Conductor and Engineer had died (term was used on the PA, but was quickly clarified). All I could think was Oh Oh, at a place called Irondale or 20 miles short of Denver, we stop, but a quick look out the Fireman side allowed to to see a Renzenberger crew van. Fortunately, the delay was slight and we arrived Denver 940A or 2'25" down. At DUT, which apparently is operated by the mass transit agency, the RTD, the Ski Train (SKTX reporting marks) was parked. Save the F-40's, the ex-CN "Tempo" cars are definitely showing their 40 years of wear. But somehow I don't think the "gentleman with a badge and Glock" standing at the foot of the ramp to Amtrak track was about to allow a little "up close and personal" time with the Ski Train, let along the two Creative Charters domed "PV" also parked there. Well so much for the rail portion of the journey; my "homeless in Denver" time was filled with walking around the darned attractive dowtown (much of which is an auto-free "mall"), reading the Sunday Times bought at a Starbucks, having lunch at the Oxford House hotel (a flophouse when I was last in Denver some 40 years ago), riding an RTD bus for the airport, and having a few "overpriced ones" at a DIA bar waiting out a two hour late SWA (weather; bad thunderstorms)/ Thanks to the badly delayed SWA flight meant I got back to 18.34 on BNSF 1323 and home about 1130P. Oh and finally now that the trip is completed, here is what I adressed regarding "can't afford NOT to" fares. Chi to Den on Amtrak was $250.75, of which $170 was the Roomette. For a "comparo", check out some rates for other summer days of travel if any are even available. DEN-MDW on WN, or Southwest, was $186.50 - surprisingly low for considering the Holiday weekend. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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