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As mentioned, Sears/Willis tour and Giordano's Pizza are both within easy walking distance of Chicago Union Station (just make sure you exit the correct side of the station to begin your trek, or it will become decidedly longer (don't ask how I know)! Another option is Navy Pier, which is a...

I'm probably the only person on this forum who wishes Amtrak would run the SWC through Amarillo. But, watching the constant string of BNSF freights rounding the curve thru Canyon, I can only imagine the amount of time Amtrak wold be sitting on the siding, waiting for yet another freight to go...

Your photo labelled 'T&P Station' is actually the intermodal facility. The T&P station is located to the southwest of the intermodal/Santa Fe station. Used to be across I-30 from downtown, but I beleive they have since actually moved the interstate to the southside of the tracks so the old...

Interesting, very fun report to read. Glad to hear from people who have had enjoyable experiences aboard the rails. Unfortunately, your trip on the Cardinal from Chicago to Indy pretty much matches what I've experienced more times than not. I don't think #50 or #50 rank very high on Amtrak's...

I'm probably stating what's already been said, but I've taken my family to and from Chicago on day trips simply to ride the train and had to burn 3-5 hours. Our normal pattern is to go to the Sears Tower (walking distance), then to Giordanno's for a late lunch/early dinner (again walking...

I certainly don't have ALL the answers, but Indianapolis is saddled with the arrival/departure times which it has basically due to the need to have the Cardinal/Hoosier State arrive mid-morning in Chicago, as well as leave early evening from Chicago. That's how Amtrak tries to schedule...

While not pertaining directly to the Empire Builder, I has ridden the Cardinal on three separate occasions over the past four years in the winter time. Each time the outside temps were below 10 degrees. Each time, portions of the train were frozen up...vestibules caked (not crusted, but caked)...

I've been out of the loop for a few months. I take it the consist of the Texas Eagle no longer becomes the City of New Orleans? I so, what consist does it share with, or does it just make the turn and head back as the Texas Eagle?

The train had a dinette or club car in the consist (I believe Amtrak has another name they call it) which provides meal service which is included in the 'first class' sleeping fare.

If you start your trip going from Indianapolis to Chicago, there are two things to consider when booking either the Cardinal or Hoosier State.....the Hoosier State is a pitiful excuse for a train, other than the fact it gets you to or from Chicago (meaning no amenities), so the Cardinal is the...

You haven't said what train you would be taking. If you are on the City of New Orleans, I beleive it is Superliner equipped, thus no restrooms in your actual room (at least not in the roommettes. If you are on the Crescent, it is Viewliner equipped (I think!) and those cars have small...

They shuttle them back and forth between Indy (Beech Grove) and Chicago. That's one reason for the 'buffer time' built into the stop in Indianapolis going each direction.

I make the Indy-Chicago R/T several times a year and make a point of scheduling for days when the Cardinal is running, simply for the convenience of the cafe car. From what I've seen, the Cardinal also gets its share of dead-head cars going to/from Beech Grove.

Since you will be traveling in December, 'winter' shouldn't be too bad of a problem. Most of the United States doesn't get hit by severe winter weather until January and February (at least the midwest portion). For example, last February was brutally cold and trains (#51 and #52 for example)...

In this case, the person had to have been inebriated prior to boarding the train, as we went to the dinette car within one hour of departure from CUS. An alert attendant probably could have noticed his state of being when he boarded. I know the dining car staff was very upset when we pointed...

I've traveled by Amtrak many times and enjoyed every trip. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, this time I had my family with me. I know there isn't 'anything that can be done', and I'm not looking for recompensation. Just feel that someone needs to know what happened on their train. The dining...

I took my family on a quick up and back trip to Chicago yesterday and, unfortunately, had a very unpleasant experience. We were in the dinette waiting for dinner when a 'patron' sitting across from us (who had already consumed too many beers) urinated on himself and the floor. Needless to say...

Having lived in NO awhile back, I can attest that the city was never 'very safe' when off the beaten path. Keep to the tourist areas and you'll be fine, but still you common sense. And don't wander down secluded streets and alleys. Thats asking for trouble anytime. Also, do NOT venture...

In the summer months I've always been comfortable, whether travelling in coach or sleeper. In wintertime, especially in the midwest, I can usually count on being on the chilly side. And on occasion downright cold as the cars do tend to freeze over when the weather is bad.

They could possibly be either. Do a search of this forum; sometime around the end of 2005 to mid-2006 there was a string mentioning Amish traveling on Amtrak from Pennsylvania to Far West Texas enroute to Mexico.