NYP-DLB and back on the Silver Meteor - live report

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cpotisch

Engineer
Joined
Sep 2, 2017
Messages
7,496
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Hello all! This is my first time attempting a trip report so please bear with me.

I left school at 1:34 PM, caught the 3 up to NYP, and got into the ClubAcela at 1:57. The Meteor is currently running on time, and the plan is to head down from the lower level and board early. Currently chilling solo in the ClubAcela, with a Pepsi (I so wish they had coke) and a coffee. Dad should be meeting me here in about a minute.

This is the 2/3 station at Penn, taken right after getting off the 3.

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The outside of the CA:

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The inside of the CA! ^_^

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On the train now! Dad arrived and watched my stuff while I went and got Krispy Kreme. We headed down to the platform around 2:40 (PM), and after a little trial and error, found the Meteor on track 14. We asked the SCA if we could hop on now, and she was totally cool with it. :)  So we got to hop on about half an before departure, without even needing a Red Cap.

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On the train now! Dad arrived and watched my stuff while I went and got Krispy Kreme. We headed down to the platform around 2:40 (PM), and after a little trial and error, found the Meteor on track 14. We asked the SCA if we could hop on now, and she was totally cool with it. :)  So we got to hop on about half an before departure, without even needing a Red Cap.

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Bon Voyage!

As the Late,Great Fred Allen said: " Florida is Great if you're an Orange." :giggle:
 
In New Jersey. Just passed the NJT yard that I’m sure someone here knows the name of.

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And a nice touch that I’ve never experienced before on Amtrak is the little welcome placard with our names that was already in our rooms when we boarded. Not a big thing but it’s just nice.
 

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Very nice start--thanks! What is your SCA's name? And which dining car do you have?
We have 68003 “Augusta” (this will be my third ViewDiner). Unfortunately, I sort of forget exactly what her name is (she has a strong accent). But the “Welcome Aboard” card in our room says that her name is “E. Delabistede”. I am kind of surprised that it doesn’t have the first name on there instead of the last name and an initial. :wacko:
 
We left Trenton maybe 20 minutes ago (mercifully, Patty), so Philly is coming up.

The LSA came through a little while ago taking reservations, and we got a 7:30 dinner seating. The plan is to see the Potomac while we eat, which is always nice.  :)
 
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There really is no need to “go to the lower level and find the track” to board early. From the CA, they 

  1. Announce the track early, and
  2. Escort you to the track & train early
I don’t think you understand. LD trains arrive at NYP from Sunnyside a solid 30-40 minutes before departure, WELL BEFORE they announce the track ANYWHERE. Dad and I went down to the track and boarded at about 2:40 PM (and the train had clearly already been there for a fair bit, even then). They announced the track in the ClubAcela at about 2:58 PM. So we boarded the train give or take 20 minutes before the other sleeper passengers, and if we were ready earlier, probably could have even done so several minutes before that.

Boarding from the lower level allows you to get on the train basically as soon as it arrives from the yard. They announce the tracks and officially start boarding, much later.
 
We left Baltimore a few minutes ago, but I unfortunately wasn’t able to get any decent pics in time. While we were in the station I saw the light rail and two MARC trains; one pulled by an MP36PH and the other by an SC-44 (this was my first time seeing a MARC charger).

These are the least worst pics I got in Wilmington:

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And I’ll check the car number while we’re in WAS, but here is our sleeper:

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Just got back from the dining car, where we had an “entertaining” conversation with this older couple heading down to Disney World. The woman did the vast majority of the talking, and was definitely quite a character, but it was an enjoyable enough meal...despite the food.

The food tonight was really subpar. My vegetarian pasta was 80% sauce, with a total of literally eight noodles in a whole plate, and though the sauce was reasonably tasty, there was just way too much of it for me to eat. It also didn’t help that it was served lukewarm. And while in the past they have pretty much always served the side salad pre-tossed, this time it was just some lettuce topped with a bunch of shredded carrots and three giant cherry tomatoes. As many members here have said, though the Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Butternut Squash Risotto are still on the menu, they haven’t actually been served for many months. And I took forever to get served and to get the check. The flourless chocolate cake was decent and had some nice whipped cream on top, but it was still incredibly dense and rich, and despite it being tiny, I couldn’t finish it. Dining on Amtrak has never been amazing, but my experiences at the beginning of this year were much better than what I experienced tonight. :(

A P42 on the adjacent track while we were in D.C:/monthly_2018_12/DBE8059E-9E46-439F-ACDD-A9E1065E9891.thumb.jpeg.e1c26d3dfc0f19523e1a0b536bad2d13.jpeg
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An Acela on the upper level, just visible from down below:/monthly_2018_12/9F160A68-1863-4DCD-B30F-D842DA7E4ED1.thumb.jpeg.f91458ad14c21f394cd5bf7860a5ccd9.jpeg
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My salad (after mixing it up myself):/monthly_2018_12/B8D27BD5-65FE-4637-A478-010C7134125A.thumb.jpeg.85a39bedc0d3eec77c746a4d9216b434.jpeg
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Vegetarian pasta:/monthly_2018_12/03BA5199-117B-4E27-8714-507F3E8AAD25.thumb.jpeg.5cfea830c81ecfe1d9453fa3e2da774a.jpeg
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Flourless chocolate cake:F7628ED3-E9B1-4241-A7A1-3C401E73B6A5.jpeg
 
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OK, time to get ready for bed, turn down the room, and have a little Looney Tunes movie night. ^_^
 
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Actually there isn't much rhyme or reason to when stuff pulls into Penn Station. Especially if something has you delayed. You should pass 92 tomorrow somewhere with heritage engine 130 on it.
 
We have 68003 “Augusta” (this will be my third ViewDiner). Unfortunately, I sort of forget exactly what her name is (she has a strong accent). But the “Welcome Aboard” card in our room says that her name is “E. Delabistede”. I am kind of surprised that it doesn’t have the first name on there instead of the last name and an initial. :wacko:
Is she a short, thin, very energetic lady? If so, I think I know her, although I can't remember her first name either.

We left Trenton maybe 20 minutes ago (mercifully, Patty), so Philly is coming up.
Yes, TRE is not a place you want to stay in for long (or at all! :p ).
 
Very much enjoying your report....thanks for taking us along.

I noticed in one of your sleeper photo's, a hand soap dispenser by the roomette sink...can you confirm whether it is liquid soap, or the 'foam type' of soap?   Thanks...
 
I don’t think you understand. LD trains arrive at NYP from Sunnyside a solid 30-40 minutes before departure, WELL BEFORE they announce the track ANYWHERE. Dad and I went down to the track and boarded at about 2:40 PM (and the train had clearly already been there for a fair bit, even then). They announced the track in the ClubAcela at about 2:58 PM. So we boarded the train give or take 20 minutes before the other sleeper passengers, and if we were ready earlier, probably could have even done so several minutes before that.

Boarding from the lower level allows you to get on the train basically as soon as it arrives from the yard. They announce the tracks and officially start boarding, much later.
Correct. as mused in this prior thread.    How long before departure was the first boarding announcement made (i.e. and when it appeared on the board), if you can tell? It should have been, roughly 10 minutes prior to departure, if they're still doing it the same way as when I was commuting.

I am, somewhat, amazed they allowed you to board so soon after arrival from Sunnyside. I would have thought it a security concern to allow anyone to board while the train crew (conductors, etc.) are not "on station" at the train.... or were they?   I know NJT trains are closed up until the crew is ready to open them for general boarding (which could be 5-10 minutes prior to the initial boarding announcement and track post).

Anyway, glad you had a good trip. Were you in a roomette or bedroom?
 
We have 68003 “Augusta” (this will be my third ViewDiner). Unfortunately, I sort of forget exactly what her name is (she has a strong accent). But the “Welcome Aboard” card in our room says that her name is “E. Delabistede”. I am kind of surprised that it doesn’t have the first name on there instead of the last name and an initial. :wacko:
 Is she a short, thin, very energetic lady? If so, I think I know her, although I can't remember her first name either.
I think so. She keeps an actual portable stool in her room, if that rings a bell.
 
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Very much enjoying your report....thanks for taking us along.
Glad to hear it and you’re welcome. :)

Very much enjoying your report....thanks for taking us along.

I noticed in one of your sleeper photo's, a hand soap dispenser by the roomette sink...can you confirm whether it is liquid soap, or the 'foam type' of soap?   Thanks...
It’s just some pretty standard liquid soap.
 
She is lovely. You are lucky to have her as your SCA. :)

Are you near Winter Park yet? That's my other favorite place along this route.
We’re currently running I think 50 minutes behind, and just left DeLand station, so Winter Park is next (I love that station as well). Here’s the view of DLD from the upper bunk:

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