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  1. hessjm

    Chicago Hotel Solution for Missed Connections

    We all have heard the war stories of the hours spent getting vouchers and hotel arrangements when you miss a connection in CHI. Some of us have been stuffed into vans for a several hour ride to our destinations. So how would you feel about instead of the mess, you were instead hypotheticaly...
  2. hessjm

    A Pullman Adventure

    In order to fit into our schedule we needed to do a yo-yo type run to New Orleans. I left Grand Rapids on Friday to connect with the CONO to NOL. JoeG boarded in Carbondale somewhere around 1:30am. The food service on the train to NOL was dismal at best. A McDonalds hamburger beats the Amtrak...
  3. hessjm

    Metro Deli Closing (Chicago Union Station)

    Amtrak did not renew their lease, so they will be closing June 19th. To do the repairs on the stairs on that side of the station will require utilizing some of that space. So that will be one less place with decent food in the station.
  4. hessjm

    Legacy Club at CUS

    I had a chance to poke around the Legacy Club today. Access will cost you $10 a day and will get you priority boarding to your train. I was told that there wasn't any access for any of the Select statuses. Right now they just have a few snacks but they will improve that selection soon. In the...
  5. hessjm

    Points Purchase Limit is Raised (but price per point increased)

    I received an email for another 30% bonus period through July 12, additionally it announced that the annual limit is now 15,000 points per year. I don't believe this is targeted since I'm SE and the normal limit does not apply. The email indicates for those who have already purchased 10,000...
  6. hessjm

    Grand Rapids Amtrak Station

    The new station will open on Monday October 27. For a trial, passengers will be dropped off at the current station Friday, then the train will be parked at the new station for testing purposes.
  7. hessjm

    Pere Marquette Anniversary Train

    There are going to be special activities surrounding the 30th anniversary of the Pere Marquette on Tuesday September 16th during the trip from Grand Rapids to Chicago. they will be running special equipment that includes a "theater car" which I suspect is a Sightseer Lounge as they included one...
  8. hessjm

    2 Joe's Pullman Experiance

    This was a long awaited train trip. Our Experience began in New Orleans as the last two cars to be pulled to Chicago behind the regularly scheduled Amtrak # 58, The City of New Orleans. This is the same route Shortline reported on earlier this year. If you haven't read Shortline's splendid...
  9. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #5

    Hooves and Bricks This adventure takes us to Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY to watch the thoroughbred equines run and then on to Indianapolis to watch the 500 mile car race. I start the adventure by departing Grand Rapids on the Pere Marquette and transfer to the Illini #393 at Chicago...
  10. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #4

    This adventure took us to three different thoroughbred racetracks: Arlington Park in a northern suburb of Chicago, Monmouth in Oceanport, NJ, and Belmont Park in Elmont on Long Island. We rode a wide gamut of steel wheels including Amtrak equipment; heritage, superliner and Acela, Chicago Metra...
  11. hessjm

    30(8) delayed by T&E crew rest!

    So here we sit in the station an hour late with no movement we are told that because train 29 arrived 1.5 hours late today the crew did not have enough rest yet, so we are waiting on them. It's hard to believe that there isn't any one on the extra board qualified to take us to Toledo! Oh, and...
  12. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #3

    Keeneland Racetrack - Lexington, KY by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr This adventure takes us to Lexington, KY, the home of Keeneland Racetrack and the Bluegrass Stakes. Please don't start leafing thru your Amtrak System Timetable to figure out what trains stop in Lexington, or Louisville, or...
  13. hessjm

    2 Joes Sidetracked

    Sidetracked We are taking a break from our racetrack adventures to enjoy some time in Grand Rapids. The Pere Marquette (train # 370) arrives daily from Chicago. This is my home station and I encourage you to ride the train to GRR for a visit. This small city is fortunate to have two very...
  14. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #2

    Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream image by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr So...my little weather station that sits in my yard just north of Grand Rapids, MI tells me it is -5 (for those of you who do not have thermometers that read below 30 that’s pronounced Five Degrees BELOW Zero!!). As JoeG...
  15. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #1 Part 2

    Continuing from Part #1 Racing at Oaklawn and good food along the way Oaklawn Racetrack by 2 Joe's JoeH, on Flickr Our initial plan was to ride the Texas Eagle to Little Rock. The Eagle gets into Little Rock at 3am. Car rental offices open at 9am. JoeG can drive to Little...
  16. hessjm

    2 Joe's Go To The Races #1 Part 1

    Pre-race Train Rides, Eating and Other Fun The gastronomic adventures for 2014 have begun! We are kicking it up a notch this year. We will continue to take Amtrak to our destinations, as much as possible, and we will explore many eating and drinking establishments along the way...
  17. hessjm

    2 Joe's Gastronomic Adventure - Gathering VII

    AU celebrated Gathering VII in the great city of Chicago, a city noted for its rough and tumble history filled with corrupt politicians, gangsters, and floundering baseball teams. More importantly, from our point of view, it is the hub of the railroad industry and wonderful ethnic restaurants...
  18. hessjm

    2 Joe's Gastronomic Adventure: An Encore

    Two Fat Guys Eat Their Way Thru Montreal and then go to the Saratoga races So... early one morning I'm surfing through the Amtrak roomettes currently available when I stumble across four vacancies on the eastbound Cardinal route. This is a longer and more expensive way to get to the...
  19. hessjm

    2 Joe's Gastronomic Adventure #9.2

    Dinner with a Rat & an OTOL Rail Fest The second half of this southeastern U.S. adventure begins at the Orlando, Fl Amtrak Station. Our plan is to catch the Silver Star #92 on Sunday July 14th and travel to Cary, NC. From there we will ride a variety of steel wheels and one Amtrak bus, spend...
  20. hessjm

    2 Joe's Gastronomic Adventure #9.1

    Dinner with a Rat & an OTOL Rail Fest This is the last of our gastronomic adventures! Please hold it down; I can hear the cheers and applause right through the internet. I’ll have more about that in the last paragraph of 9.2. So this trip starts as most of our trips do, I board the Pere...
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