Recent content by auxplage

Thanks for that. It's interesting to know the history like that. I guess I could have checked Wikipedia first - the answer for everything. Maybe Virginia will get funds to bring that line up to date and subsidize it. I jest. We have no money for anything, which only requires a quick look at...

Looking at that map, it makes me question why there is no longer a Charlottesville - Richmond train. It is not all that far, so I do not see why they force a bus ride between the two. If it existed, southeastern Virginia (i.e., Hampton Roads) would be much better served - not that I have an...

Thanks. The scenario you described is what I imagined happening to me: I am sometimes over cautious. However, since the station is staffed as you mentioned, all will be well. :)

Should I pick up my tickets in advance or just wait until the day of departure (I am planning on getting to the station around an hour before departure)? The station, Newport News (which I assume is not too busy), is around forty minutes from my house, so it is not too far - just far enough for...

Thanks for all the replies. It is good to hear about all different options. I appreciate it.

I am confused as to what you mean here. I am leaving from NPN to WAS on a Friday on a Regional on May 16th. I would have a cushion of about 6 hours, so that should be plenty of time.

As some of you know, I am taking a train from Newport News to Reno for my first train trip. On the way home, I honestly cannot afford to take a train all the way back, so I was looking for a least-cost option. My plan was to fly into Chicago O'Hare at 2PM, and then catch the Capitol Limited at...

In Norfolk, VA, we have our main roads go underneath the rails. The rail lines remain at a constant grade. There are two negatives. One, it is ugly. Two, since Norfolk floods very easily, those underpasses quite often flood, though they have improved.

You could do the Texas Eagle. Thus, you would go from Tucson to San Antonio on the Sunset Limited, and leave from San Antonio on the Texas Eagle up to Chicago (Technically, the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle are the same train from Tucson to San Antonio). From there, do what you had planned...

While coffee is a matter of taste (I used to work at Starbucks unfortunately), I must say that I am not fond of any their coffee, and I prefer 7-11 most of the time for plain, black coffee. It could use some improvement. Americanos and Soy Lattes are the way to go, which is good since they...

That makes sense. For the record, it will be in May, so I guess that would be summer? Thanks

Hmm. This sparks another question. Where is the dining car in relation to the front or back of the train (This is my first train trip obviously)? I guess that I want to know, usually, in what order are the cars? For example, engine, crew, dining, sleepers, coach . . .

I just read a post about the number of the train car, and it caught my interest. From Chicago to Reno on the Zephyr, it says my roomette is located in car 532 (You guy have already cleared up for me the location of my roomette). Is anyone familiar with this car? Just interested to see if it...

So, is the Capitol Limited SDS? What about the California Zephyr? I am a vegetarian, so I just wanted to know what SDS meant for vegetarian options. I am going to call before I leave to make sure.

An interesting article in my local newspaper (The Virginian Pilot) about rail expansion in the Southeast by Norfolk Southern. I thought about any possible benefits Amtrak might receive from this even though they are not mentioned in the article. Story