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I was just checking to see the effects of the weather on the Empire Builder #8 that left SEA 11/22/10. It's 18hrs and 35min late pulling out of Grand Forks, ND.
Has anyone on the forum ever been that late on a train? What goes on in coach? What about issues with food, toilets? Just curious.
Joe
notelvis Member # 3071
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Once about 7 or 8 years ago I saw a Sunset Limited running about 36 hours late.
Another time, just this past spring I saw the westbound California Zephyr about 10 hours late in Utah.
The latest I have personally been on was a Coast Starlight in 2005 that was 9 hours late into Portland, OR.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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At 5:09 am today No. 8 departed Winona 18 hours 58 minutes late.
I was on a No. 5 that was 24-25 hours late into Oakland one day in 1994 during the huge Mississippi River floods. The train had to be rerouted all over hell and gone along with umpteen freights. Soured me on McDonald's for the rest of my life. I swear most of the crew was suffering from PTSD by the time we limped into Oakland. Conditions were not too bad (except for meals) for sleeper passengers, but I don't even want to think about what went on in coach.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The "best", i.e. worst, I can recall in the late department was 16hrs aboard a SB #53 Auto Train during Dec 1996. NB #52 was some seven hours late arriving account ice storms, my #53 left about 9PM or six hours late.
By daybreak, we passed Fayetteville and I knew that was going to be the trip to remember. Owing to both frozen switches that had to be manually swept by the Train crews as well as a "dark railroad" (no signals), we were a good sixteen hours late by Charleston; however from there, we held schedule into Sanford.
Dinner and Breakfast were "as usual", Lunch was Amtrak's version of "Carnival Spam" or Dinty Moore Beef Stew (another Hormel product BTW). Dinner was what would have been served to 52's passengers.
All "hotel" services worked fine, and by and large even with a passenger load from a region "not exactly' known for its civility or stoicism, no real "eruptions" occurred.
I survived; now it's off to Iowa and a stay at a Holiday Inn in Coralville complete with "rooms with a view" (Rock Island).
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Enjoy your stay in Coralville, Gil. No football traffic in Iowa City this weekend, as the Hawkeyes travel to Minnesota.
Maybe you'll have time to railfan the CRANDIC (or whatever it is now - Iowa Interstate?) while you're in the area.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Yesterday's No. 8 departed Glenview at 11:38 a.m., 20 hours 29 minutes late. Sure hope the folks aboard get turkey today.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Mr Kisor, It sounds like they are almost going to arrive on time. Just a day late!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The Holiday Inn Express, Coralville IA most definitely has a "room with a view" , practically all rooms at this hotel are of such.
This morning at 655A from the room, I observed an Eastbound IAIS train with two units on the head, 103 cars; most of which were tank cars from ADM or Cargill in Cedar Rapids, and a rear unit "pusher".
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