NW cannonball
Conductor
Departed MSP on Greyhound from SPUD 2023-11-17 01:10. Arrived 2023-12-09 SPUD 08:something.
Now there is no possible way to make connection from the Empire Builder MSP - CHI to any western train, even if the EB is on time. So I took the 01:10 Greyhound from SPUD to MKE. Worked great except for the uncomfortable seat (Maybe my ancient bones) and a couple grumpy unruly passengers fighting over the armrest.
MKE intermodal terminal was totally cool , no hassles, good new train equipment, , glad I transferred there not in the "LOOP" .
CUS had the Holiday stuff, but the food was bad as always. Had better at MDW back in the1980's.
The "Teegle" in coach was barely OK. The staff was good, but that tiny pretend diner thingy had the workers overworked, and the passengers wondering ***.
The good part of that 32 hour trip was the long station breaks, like STL and FTW. Hours
, 5K walks on the platform.
I was prepared for the total "No cell service" in the Ozarks. After Texarkana there was cell service, sometimes.
Arriving San Antonio, I get it that the train has to go around and approach from the south to the station, oh so slow. But the neighborhood of the station was zero scary to me. I'd heard stories, but zero worries. I could of walked to my cheap hotel, "Crockett" but I paid ten bucks for a Lyft. BFD
One day wandering the "Riverwalk" and ate some overpriced but decent fish tacos., then wandered to the train station and sat there until #1 departed about 02:50 for Tucson.
Arrived Tucson, T-Day with friends, very good small rail museum right by the Amtrak station. Some really serious steam-power people manning that museum. Was great talking with some serious boiler people there.
Bus to PHX and friend to Sedona where I walked friends dogs for a week. (very good little pups)
Roomemette Flag-LAX. Alaska air for less than $20 LAX - SEA-TAC (with fog delays etc) and a few days with rellies and back to MSP on EB.
First time I've gone anywhere in last 3 years.
Hoping visit Halifax NS (and intermediate friends) before Easter.
Now there is no possible way to make connection from the Empire Builder MSP - CHI to any western train, even if the EB is on time. So I took the 01:10 Greyhound from SPUD to MKE. Worked great except for the uncomfortable seat (Maybe my ancient bones) and a couple grumpy unruly passengers fighting over the armrest.
MKE intermodal terminal was totally cool , no hassles, good new train equipment, , glad I transferred there not in the "LOOP" .
CUS had the Holiday stuff, but the food was bad as always. Had better at MDW back in the1980's.
The "Teegle" in coach was barely OK. The staff was good, but that tiny pretend diner thingy had the workers overworked, and the passengers wondering ***.
The good part of that 32 hour trip was the long station breaks, like STL and FTW. Hours
, 5K walks on the platform. I was prepared for the total "No cell service" in the Ozarks. After Texarkana there was cell service, sometimes.
Arriving San Antonio, I get it that the train has to go around and approach from the south to the station, oh so slow. But the neighborhood of the station was zero scary to me. I'd heard stories, but zero worries. I could of walked to my cheap hotel, "Crockett" but I paid ten bucks for a Lyft. BFD
One day wandering the "Riverwalk" and ate some overpriced but decent fish tacos., then wandered to the train station and sat there until #1 departed about 02:50 for Tucson.
Arrived Tucson, T-Day with friends, very good small rail museum right by the Amtrak station. Some really serious steam-power people manning that museum. Was great talking with some serious boiler people there.
Bus to PHX and friend to Sedona where I walked friends dogs for a week. (very good little pups)
Roomemette Flag-LAX. Alaska air for less than $20 LAX - SEA-TAC (with fog delays etc) and a few days with rellies and back to MSP on EB.
First time I've gone anywhere in last 3 years.
Hoping visit Halifax NS (and intermediate friends) before Easter.
