Recent content by Widfara

I got off the WB SL at San Antonio one night a couple of years ago, and my friend-who-takes-me-to-trains (since replaced) and I went to the Denny's. Full up with a very strange looking crowd, hardly any staff (post Covid, but...). We didn't stay, and wound up eating in New Braunfels. I'd be wary...

Yup. The family looked like they were moving on board; cooler, pillows, blankets, suitcases, bags. Obviously set for a long sentence in coach. But I bet they'd tried that before, too.

The staff at that station need to be immersed in slime up to their necks for a period (game I play with such problems: think of innovative punishments.) Austin does a lot better, usually. On one occasion they announced the imminent arrival of the Eaglet, and asked boarding passengers to line up...

Anyone know why?

There is a Holiday Inn Express 3/10 mile away, Staybridge suites across the tracks 2/10 mile. Nothing near the Austin station. Not sure about San Marcos. For

The station is small, and in my opinion, needs a serious coat of paint. I may be hypersensitive about this but either the walls or the patrons reeked of secondhand smoke. It is possible just to sit outside, unless too chilly, but I'd be careful about taking a walk too far from the station.

I generally overnight between the LD trains. Two nights in New Orleans. One in Chicago (but will stay in Aurora, and the end of the Metra BNSF line) (there's a good hotel within a block or two, and a good Irish pub for dinner a few blocks further on). I'll overnight in Charlottesville, VA...

Goes back to 1983, but we were on the forecastle for the entire movement through the Suez Canal, and the Kiel Canal. Always had an anchor watch in any kind of restricted waters. If the Navy has changed that, shame on them. Those two Navy ships that hit freighters in Asia seem to both have had...

Amtrak gave me a voucher for the full amount. It's good for a year. I hope that I will be able to do a rail trip this summer or fall.

The heavy smoke might have been from an attempt at backing the engine, if they still had power at that time. When I had the conn on my last ship I once had to do an ALL STOP then BACK TWO THIRDS and we were very smoky. Thankfully my ammunition ship was able to avoid hitting the aircraft carrier...

When I go west, I book from Austin in the sleeper (train 421). I have the option of a flex meal right after getting on, but I have usually repaid my transport-to-station friend with a meal enroute from Bastrop County to the Austin station. So, I forego the flex, fiddle around until bedtime, and...

Sadly, instead of being on the Cardinal right now, I've had to cancel the trip due to a sudden medical emergency. I've got a case number open to get a waiver of the sleeper cancellation fee, by getting a doctor's note to them. I hope to do the trip later on when my giant cells are more settled down.

I remember on the Pascack Valley Line on the Erie (now Metro-North) the conductor going through and flipping the seats preparatory to getting to the end of the line. Also, the old cars on the Staten Island Rapid Transit back in the 60s, flipping the seats at Tottenville and St George.

Just ask the attendant when you want it down, and that'll be that. Lots of people do that. Just, if you want the door closed, there's really tight floor space, so you might want to just have the curtain closed.

My two biggest and regretful misses were pre-Amtrak: When I finished my Navy School at Mare Island, California in 1970, there was still a train to Chicago - coach, no diner, but I was young. The WP agent I spoke to on the phone lied and said the train had already been canceled. I didn't check...