Recent content by thm

I have a several-years-old Garmin 60C, which I've used on several train trips. Also as a Mac user, the general lack of support has been frustrating but not a complete obstacle. There are plenty of programs, and recently some from Garmin, that let you transfer waypoints and tracks and routes...

In DC, there's a brand new Courtyard-Marriott that's right on the Northeast Corridor/ Metro tracks, basically at the New York Avenue Metro station. The inbound Red Line metro gets perhaps 10 feet away from the building. I don't know what the interior layout is like, but it certainly appears as...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions--lots of options I hadn't thought of! It looks like either driving all the way from Chicago, or renting in Galesburg IL would be the best bets. One could drive from Chicago, after the CL arrival, and arrive in Iowa City before the CZ left. So it's a decision...

I need to get to Iowa City, IA (from Washington DC) in January. I'd like to do Capitol Limited + California Zephyr and then rent a car, but the question is, which (if any) of the stations in Iowa would be the best to travel to? Mt. Pleasant is the closest as the crow flies, but Burlington and...

In addition to sending letters and faxes and making phone calls to Congress, you should join NARP (The National Association of Railroad Passengers) as well. Get on their email lists. NARP sends out email alerts when Congress is considering Amtrak-related legislation so that you can send letters...

Actually, between CHI and ALB, trains 48 and 448 are the same train. Some cars are designated 48, others 448. Eastbound, the train is split at Albany, with #448 continuing to Boston and #48 heading to New York City. These trains depart Albany at different times, but the arrival is the same. I'm...

I wouldn't consider the DC cab drivers crooks--its just a screwed-up system. It's a zone system, with the city broken up into 8 zones and the base fare based on how many zones apart your origin and destination are. Add $1.50 for each extra passenger. Add surcharges for rush hour and inclement...