Cardinal NYP to CHI Question

[drfonta]

Hello,

I am planning a trip for next March and am thinking about trying a roomette in the Cardinal from NYP to CHI. Simply just for fun because I've heard that it is an amazing route and want to experience the nice long ride. I would have a connecting flight that evening out of ORD at 7 p.m. That basically would give me 9 hours if the train arrives on time. Anyone see any issues with the timing, ie, is this train usually very late etc. Also would love to hear any opinions from any that have done the route recently. I do know about the change to flexible dining so there is that...

Thank you!

Danny

 

[Way2Kewl]

You can check train history here:
https://asm.transitdocs.com/train/2019/10/4/51
Scroll to CHI at the bottom and click HISTORY on the right.

Last 2 weeks:
09/04/2019 (We) 09/05/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 9:42AM Ar: 18 min early. -18
09/06/2019 (Fr) 09/07/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:39AM Ar: 21 min early. -21
09/08/2019 (Su) 09/09/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:51AM Ar: 9 min early. -9
09/11/2019 (We) 09/12/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 11:43AM Ar: 1 hr, 43 min late. 103
09/13/2019 (Fr) 09/14/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:45AM Ar: 15 min early. -15
09/15/2019 (Su) 09/16/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:38AM Ar: 22 min early. -22
09/18/2019 (We) 09/19/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 11:39AM Ar: 1 hr, 39 min late. 99
09/20/2019 (Fr) 09/21/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:40AM Ar: 20 min early. -20
09/22/2019 (Su) 09/23/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:40AM Ar: 20 min early. -20
09/25/2019 (We) 09/26/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 9:50AM Ar: 10 min early. -10
09/27/2019 (Fr) 09/28/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:55AM Ar: 5 min early. -5
09/29/2019 (Su) 09/30/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:56AM Ar: 4 min early. -4
10/02/2019 (We) 10/03/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 12:07PM Ar: 2 hr, 7 min late. 127
10/04/2019 (Fr) 10/05/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) CT
Average Ar delay: 14 minutes late
Median Ar delay: 5 minutes early

 

[FreeskierInVT]

Going west, the best scenery may end up being in the dark even with daylight hours starting to get longer in March. Both of my westbound Cardinal trips have been in December or January, and so my first eastbound trip this summer felt like I was taking a whole new route since so much of the scenery I hadn't seen in daylight before.

If your trip occurs after Daylight Savings Time (March 8) sunset will be roughly 7:30pm. The most scenic part of the trip is between White Sulphur Springs, WV and Charleston, WV in the New River Gorge, where the train is scheduled to pass through at 5:05pm and 8:29pm respectively. So if the train is on time, you do stand to see some of the highlights, but if the train is delayed you'd miss out.

 

[Seaboard92]

I would take the train eastbound instead. That way you are guaranteed the scenic stretch in daylight.

Also a plus the flight in the morning to Chicago is likely to be on time. Nothing to worry about.

 

[bratkinson]

If you decide to go eastbound, what looks like some kind of top secret military installation west of the tracks with a couple of square miles of synchronously flashing lights south of Lafayette (I think it was Lafayette), going the other way in daylight reveals it's a giant windmill farm. When I first saw it, I was thinking some kind radio beacon things or giant Tesla test area, etc.

 

[PVD]

Probably Fowler Ridge WF near Lafayette......

 

[drfonta]

You can check train history here:
https://asm.transitdocs.com/train/2019/10/4/51
Scroll to CHI at the bottom and click HISTORY on the right.

Last 2 weeks:
09/04/2019 (We) 09/05/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 9:42AM Ar: 18 min early. -18
09/06/2019 (Fr) 09/07/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:39AM Ar: 21 min early. -21
09/08/2019 (Su) 09/09/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:51AM Ar: 9 min early. -9
09/11/2019 (We) 09/12/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 11:43AM Ar: 1 hr, 43 min late. 103
09/13/2019 (Fr) 09/14/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:45AM Ar: 15 min early. -15
09/15/2019 (Su) 09/16/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:38AM Ar: 22 min early. -22
09/18/2019 (We) 09/19/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 11:39AM Ar: 1 hr, 39 min late. 99
09/20/2019 (Fr) 09/21/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:40AM Ar: 20 min early. -20
09/22/2019 (Su) 09/23/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:40AM Ar: 20 min early. -20
09/25/2019 (We) 09/26/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 9:50AM Ar: 10 min early. -10
09/27/2019 (Fr) 09/28/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) 9:55AM Ar: 5 min early. -5
09/29/2019 (Su) 09/30/2019 10:00 AM (Mo) 9:56AM Ar: 4 min early. -4
10/02/2019 (We) 10/03/2019 10:00 AM (Th) 12:07PM Ar: 2 hr, 7 min late. 127
10/04/2019 (Fr) 10/05/2019 10:00 AM (Sa) CT
Average Ar delay: 14 minutes late
Median Ar delay: 5 minutes early

Very helpful! Thanks!

 

[me_little_me]

If you decide to go eastbound, what looks like some kind of top secret military installation west of the tracks with a couple of square miles of synchronously flashing lights south of Lafayette (I think it was Lafayette), going the other way in daylight reveals it's a giant windmill farm. When I first saw it, I was thinking some kind radio beacon things or giant Tesla test area, etc.

Aliens from Roswell and Area 51. Windmills are just a government coverup.

 

[Sauve850]

Ive only done the route west to east in a bedroom and enjoyed. A roomette will enhance the experience a lot. A quiet room, bed, and meals. Flexible dining for an overnight trip imo is just fine. Health wise its a better menu for the most part.

 

[bratkinson]

Aliens from Roswell and Area 51. Windmills are just a government coverup.

That crossed my mind as well.

Fortunately, after seeing all the flashing lights, I went online and found a topo map of the area that indicated it was a windmill farm. But it took me about 30 minutes to get to the current topo map while ideas of secret satellite radio, high-intensity radio (or laser?) beam testing, and whatever else the military might be fooling with these days danced across my mind.