Recent content by AFB123

On our way.

Bring wine. We’re drinking some reasonably-priced Masciarelli Montepulciano D’Abruzzo.

Power and HVAC off again. …. and then back.

HVAC & A/C power restored, after a big bump a few minutes ago that I guessed was a switch of an engine or two. No forward movement yet though.

Already joked to the attendant we’d have fresh meat for tomorrow’s short ribs. Sent him into convulsions.

Oh sure, shatter my hope.

I’m taking this moderator move as an encouraging sign we won’t be canceled, just delayed some more. Train horn has blown multiple times in last few minutes, for whatever that means.

Choppers overhead, I assume TV news.

Hillsborough firefighters now on the train asking after passenger health.

Firefghters and cops just passed with flashlights pointed at ground walking from front toward back. We’re in 9214, just ahead of the baggage car. Deceleration when they hit the brakes was rapid enough it was making the door in the unoccupied roomette across from us slam open and closed.

Pretty sure I overhead a crew walkie talkie comment that there was a problem with two of them. Uh oh. Every emergency vehicle in the county just roared by on the highway next the right-of-way and slowed to a stop near the front of the train. Now attendant tells us we hit a cow.

Hour and a half delay leaving Tampa because of both signal and engine issues, according to our sleeper attendant. Now we’re stopped 8 miles short of Lakeland with all engines off. No power or HVAC, only lights working.

Will be curious to hear if anyone can confirm this is indeed the VL order on today’s northbound. We’re on tomorrow’s boarding in Tampa in car 9214, which I assume would mean a 2 if this holds.

My wife and I are longtime NEC riders who are making our first trip from FL tomorrow on the Star.