TVRM610
Conductor
Quick trip report..
I was in Charlotte NC and needing to get to Orlando and was very pleased to see a super easy route pop up in arrow.
Charlotte - Cary NC on the Piedmont
Cary NC - Orlando on the Silver Star
Roomette was available for $147... which isn't too bad so I bought it.
Charlotte NC
Took a taxi from my downtown hotel to the Charlotte Station. Arrived about 40 minutes prior to departure at 5:15 PM. The Charlotte NC station is really the bleakest in North Carolina (a new one is planned), but it does the job. Printed off my ticket at the Quick Track and then waited for boarding. As the minutes went by people started lining up at the gate... and then people just started walking through (I assume a man opened the door and said something but no formal announcement was made). Charlotte has an underground tunnel with a ramp up to the platform at the end of the tunnel...I walked up the ramp and couldn't help smiling at the lovely NC train set. The Piedmont trains are owned by NC DOT and rather than lease Amtrak cars, or buy new cars, they refurbished old UP and KCS coaches. It's pretty cool to start my journey on a 3 coach - 1 combine train using 1950-60's era classic coaches. The young man (assistant Conductor) wasn't overly friendly.. but looked professional enough. Decent line up of people, only 1 door open. "Raleigh to the Left, all others to the right" was repeated by the AC as we boarded. I was happy to score a window seat. I've ridden the Piedmont before and always love it. These coach seats are much more comfortable than the typical amtrak seats, and the older cars have large windows too which is great.
Train departed right on time.. A lady Conductor came through to scan tickets. She was a bit more cheery than her AC. Also very professional.
The trip was pretty uneventful... at one point I walked up to the lounge (the combine car baggage / lounge... a combine car in 2013!!! yes i know I'm a gerf
) to pick up my complimentary bottled water. (the Piedmont trains have vending machines with snacks and soft drinks, and they offer complimentary coffee and bottled water).
Right on time we arrived in Cary NC. Many many people were getting off here, most of us were transferring to the Silver Star. As a railfan... Cary NC is a really cool connection as the RR station sits in between the NS (former Southern) and CSX (former Seaboard) rail lines. I was totally unaware of this when I booked this train. Had about an hour and half and was hoping to find a coffee shop... walked across the street and found 2 sports bars, a greek restaurant, and a gas station. I got some coffee from the gas station (and some snacks) and then walked back to the station and sat outside so I could watch trains (none passed) and enjoy the breeze.
Here is the one snag of the trip (and it's not really that big of a deal).... the station agent "Gary" is a little over the top here in Cary NC. He started making announcements that as soon as the Silver Star left Raleigh he would be calling everyone into the station so he could line them up according to how they will board and then "escort us to the platform." Sure enough right on time... he called us in and lined us up.. apparently I was still outside when he called for sleepers and he told me "Well I called for sleepers" as if I had done something wrong (he did not call them on the PA). He told me exactly where to stand and then asked for parties of 2 or more to come forward, and then solo passengers. Just reminded me of a cattle call.. when we got to the platform (which is a standard long platform) Gary told me exactly where to stand. It's just over the top in my opinion. He didn't really do anything wrong.. but it sorta stressed me out just how he ordered people about. In his defense... alot of people were boarding here for such a small station and I'm sure the Conductors want a short dwell time so I do think he just wanted to help them out.. but there has to be a more welcoming tone he could use.
Once on board I met Preston and Candice my sleeper attendants. Candice was in training and once Preston knew I was a "regular" he had alot of fun quizzing Candace on where I was traveling to, and random questions. Was alot of fun and we were all 3 laughing about it like old friends. Had Candace make my bed soon after departing... I tried to stay up a bit and see what I could in the dark of new territory for me. Track was pretty smooth for CSX... seemed smoother than the Meteor route but maybe I was just more tired cause I slept very well.
Woke up in Jacksonville.... we were stopped a little bit longer than normal, and at one time we lost power and I heard the brakes shoot. Maybe they dropped an engine here? Or swapped something? Maybe just a reset.. I never asked. We were back on power in maybe 10 minutes.. so no big problem.
Just a few minutes after 9 I headed to the diner... was seated with one lady who had just been served her Continental. The LSA and waiter were both fairly young (LSA was a lady, waiter was a man), I didn't get their names but they were just average. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. The LSA asked me my room and car number, and then had me sign (I much prefer when they fill out the car and room # for you... it's way less confusing for new passengers). I ordered Eggs with potatoes and raisin bread, apple juice, and coffee. Drinks came right after I ordered them... food was close by. The raisin bread was warm so the chef must have placed it on the griddle for a bit... it wasn't "toasted" but it wasn't just put on the plate either. Which is nice. Food was great, and my table mate and I chatted quite a bit about travel. She was from Montreal, and headed to Orlando to visit her son. We talked about VIA Rail, and her adventures on the PATH train in NYC. She also mentioned that her sleeper attendant spoke French after she told him she was from Montreal. Pretty classy! ha.
At some point during breakfast Candace stopped by and asked if I wanted my bed up... I said yes.
After Breakfast I got some more coffee in my sleeper, and enjoyed the last few miles into Orlando. Was very fun to see all of the construction for the Sun Rail stations. Arrived into Orlando close to on time? (I honestly don't remember... but it wasn't far off).
Really great trip. Looking forward to my next.
For anyone who wants to know I left $2 for breakfast and $10 to my sleeper attendants.
I was in Charlotte NC and needing to get to Orlando and was very pleased to see a super easy route pop up in arrow.
Charlotte - Cary NC on the Piedmont
Cary NC - Orlando on the Silver Star
Roomette was available for $147... which isn't too bad so I bought it.
Charlotte NC
Took a taxi from my downtown hotel to the Charlotte Station. Arrived about 40 minutes prior to departure at 5:15 PM. The Charlotte NC station is really the bleakest in North Carolina (a new one is planned), but it does the job. Printed off my ticket at the Quick Track and then waited for boarding. As the minutes went by people started lining up at the gate... and then people just started walking through (I assume a man opened the door and said something but no formal announcement was made). Charlotte has an underground tunnel with a ramp up to the platform at the end of the tunnel...I walked up the ramp and couldn't help smiling at the lovely NC train set. The Piedmont trains are owned by NC DOT and rather than lease Amtrak cars, or buy new cars, they refurbished old UP and KCS coaches. It's pretty cool to start my journey on a 3 coach - 1 combine train using 1950-60's era classic coaches. The young man (assistant Conductor) wasn't overly friendly.. but looked professional enough. Decent line up of people, only 1 door open. "Raleigh to the Left, all others to the right" was repeated by the AC as we boarded. I was happy to score a window seat. I've ridden the Piedmont before and always love it. These coach seats are much more comfortable than the typical amtrak seats, and the older cars have large windows too which is great.
Train departed right on time.. A lady Conductor came through to scan tickets. She was a bit more cheery than her AC. Also very professional.
The trip was pretty uneventful... at one point I walked up to the lounge (the combine car baggage / lounge... a combine car in 2013!!! yes i know I'm a gerf
) to pick up my complimentary bottled water. (the Piedmont trains have vending machines with snacks and soft drinks, and they offer complimentary coffee and bottled water).Right on time we arrived in Cary NC. Many many people were getting off here, most of us were transferring to the Silver Star. As a railfan... Cary NC is a really cool connection as the RR station sits in between the NS (former Southern) and CSX (former Seaboard) rail lines. I was totally unaware of this when I booked this train. Had about an hour and half and was hoping to find a coffee shop... walked across the street and found 2 sports bars, a greek restaurant, and a gas station. I got some coffee from the gas station (and some snacks) and then walked back to the station and sat outside so I could watch trains (none passed) and enjoy the breeze.
Here is the one snag of the trip (and it's not really that big of a deal).... the station agent "Gary" is a little over the top here in Cary NC. He started making announcements that as soon as the Silver Star left Raleigh he would be calling everyone into the station so he could line them up according to how they will board and then "escort us to the platform." Sure enough right on time... he called us in and lined us up.. apparently I was still outside when he called for sleepers and he told me "Well I called for sleepers" as if I had done something wrong (he did not call them on the PA). He told me exactly where to stand and then asked for parties of 2 or more to come forward, and then solo passengers. Just reminded me of a cattle call.. when we got to the platform (which is a standard long platform) Gary told me exactly where to stand. It's just over the top in my opinion. He didn't really do anything wrong.. but it sorta stressed me out just how he ordered people about. In his defense... alot of people were boarding here for such a small station and I'm sure the Conductors want a short dwell time so I do think he just wanted to help them out.. but there has to be a more welcoming tone he could use.
Once on board I met Preston and Candice my sleeper attendants. Candice was in training and once Preston knew I was a "regular" he had alot of fun quizzing Candace on where I was traveling to, and random questions. Was alot of fun and we were all 3 laughing about it like old friends. Had Candace make my bed soon after departing... I tried to stay up a bit and see what I could in the dark of new territory for me. Track was pretty smooth for CSX... seemed smoother than the Meteor route but maybe I was just more tired cause I slept very well.
Woke up in Jacksonville.... we were stopped a little bit longer than normal, and at one time we lost power and I heard the brakes shoot. Maybe they dropped an engine here? Or swapped something? Maybe just a reset.. I never asked. We were back on power in maybe 10 minutes.. so no big problem.
Just a few minutes after 9 I headed to the diner... was seated with one lady who had just been served her Continental. The LSA and waiter were both fairly young (LSA was a lady, waiter was a man), I didn't get their names but they were just average. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. The LSA asked me my room and car number, and then had me sign (I much prefer when they fill out the car and room # for you... it's way less confusing for new passengers). I ordered Eggs with potatoes and raisin bread, apple juice, and coffee. Drinks came right after I ordered them... food was close by. The raisin bread was warm so the chef must have placed it on the griddle for a bit... it wasn't "toasted" but it wasn't just put on the plate either. Which is nice. Food was great, and my table mate and I chatted quite a bit about travel. She was from Montreal, and headed to Orlando to visit her son. We talked about VIA Rail, and her adventures on the PATH train in NYC. She also mentioned that her sleeper attendant spoke French after she told him she was from Montreal. Pretty classy! ha.
At some point during breakfast Candace stopped by and asked if I wanted my bed up... I said yes.
After Breakfast I got some more coffee in my sleeper, and enjoyed the last few miles into Orlando. Was very fun to see all of the construction for the Sun Rail stations. Arrived into Orlando close to on time? (I honestly don't remember... but it wasn't far off).
Really great trip. Looking forward to my next.
For anyone who wants to know I left $2 for breakfast and $10 to my sleeper attendants.
