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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...

My son and I have reservations for an 'up and back' trip to Chicago today, taking #51 westbound, then #50 on the return trip tonight. Presently #51 is running 6:30 late and I'm trying to decide if we are going to make the connection for the return leg this evening. Can someone tell me what...

I'll start by saying that I normally use the unmanned Crawfordsville station as my beginning and ending spot for my Amtrak trips. However, in order to take advantage of a 'hot deal' fare this weekend, I'm having to make use of Indianapolis Union Station so that I can pick up my ticket prior to...

I was trying to check on the status of train 851-Hoosier State and the Amtrak website had this reply: Information Unavailable: Sorry, due to a service disruption, we are unable to provide estimated departure and arrival times. Can anyone tell me if the 'service disruption' refers to the train...

As a relative 'newbie' to the hot deals, I was curious if you they have to actually be purchased over the internet and delivered to me? Or can I pick them up at the station when my train departs? I'm looking into a short trip this weekend and the delivery option is a $12 express charge...which...

I have a one-day trip from Indianapolis to Boston tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 12) and am scheduled to fly back home from Boston to Pittsburgh to Indy. Obviously, the winter weather alert that has been posted has me thinking that my 9 p.m. flight out of pittsburgh may get cancelled (the last one of...

I'm looking to book a trip sometime this year on the Empire Builder and was curious what is considered to be 'on-season' for this route? Summer? Winter? Fall? They all seem to have their attractions, but I'm curious as to what the low-bucket fare period and days might be?

I am using Bachmann EZ style track on my HO gauge layout. Over the past week, I've replaced the standard 18" radius switches and curving with 22" radius curves and #5 switches (22" radius turnout). The previous switches had non-powered (insulated) frogs, however the new switches have powered...

I purchased a new Athearn AMD-103 (Amtrak Phase V scheme) for my young son for Christmas. Needless to say, it made his entire day! The engine ran flawlessly for one day, until he turned it on this morning (Dec. 26) and hollered 'Dad, my Amtrak sounds like it has an elephant inside it!'. When I...

I am trying to get back into the railfan game after having been out of the loop for the past 20 years or so. I rode the 'Cardinal' back in the early 80's when it still made a stop in Muncie, IN, and my memory seems to recall the early Amfleet coaches having 'frameless' trucks (the wheels...

I know it early, but if anyone is only or has a scanner and can tell me the status of train #51 this morning I would appreciate it. I am to catch it at Crawfordsville, IN, which is a flag stop, supposedly at 7:28 a.m. The Amtrak website shows everything running on-time, yet 'Julie' say's the...

Could someone tell me if I must be a member of Amtrak's Guest Rewards program to use codes H569 or H571 to book tickets online? Thanks in advance!

Last year I took my young son on Amtrak from Indianapolis to Fort Worth via the Cardinal/Texas Eagle and it was a memorable trip for both of us. Now, I'm planning our Thanksgiving week trip back to the inlaws (southern Pennsylvania) and am looking into flying one way and bringing Amtrak back...

Having returned home from my trip to Texas, I thought I'd do a report on my Amtrak Experience going from Crawfordsville-Chicago-Fort Worth on Dec 1-2. My son and I made advance reservations in coach on #51-The Cardinal from Crawfordsville to Chicago, then had a standard bedroom (roomette) on...

The day has arrived...my first Amtrak experience since 1986. Will be taking the Cardinal from Crawfordsville, IN to Chicago, then catching the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth, TX (with roommette accomodations). Snowy, 27 degree weather...perfect for train riding! Only downside is that the Cardinal...

The big day is almost here....as stated in an earlier posting, my 5-year old son and I are traveling from Central Indiana to Fort Worth via Amtrak. My question involves baggage. We are catching the Cardinal at Crawfordsville, IN (a flag-stop) to Chicago, then have a roomette from Chicago to...

My son and I are have reservations to take the Cardinal on Dec. 1 from Crawfordsville, IN to Chicago (then connecting to the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth). The most recent Amtrak timetable denotes CRF as being a 'flagstop - with sufficient notice being given to the agent or conductor. The Amshack...