I have previously commented on the NYG-BFX leg, and the LSL run from BUF to CHI. Nothing particularly interesting to discuss other than the new breakfast service on the LSL which I have detailed previously. An aging but clean VL bedroom (pricing anomaly, I would usually be in a roomette) Left a bit late, nothing terrible, bed ready, polite but brief talk with SCA about wake-up time, it was after midnight, a long conversation would be inappropriate.
Chicago highlights: Architectural River Boat Tour and the Museum of Science and Industry (intact WW2 U-boat on display) CTA buses served me well.
On time departure Tues 6/5 on the CZ all 3 sleepers were SL1 clean, decent curtains, clearly showing signs of age. Very good OBS crew both in the sleeper and in the diner. Dinner and breakfast both standard menu, done right. Not a bad thing since my return Saturday night saw the same set and the crew, although I was in the next car.
Departure from Denver Saturday evening was late, heat restrictions out West slowed things down. Not hard to convince me, I got to Denver from Colorado Springs pretty early, returned my car, they had nobody available to bring me to the station so they had a Lyft car take me. Stored my bags and figured I'd hit the 16th St mall. It was too hot to walk around and enjoy. Made my obligatory stop at the Tattered Covers Bookstore and plopped myself down on a couch in Union Station. Now mostly a commuter station and extended lobby of the Crawford It is a very attractive and lively place that serves lower downtown well. I know traditionalists argue that it should have been remade more as a train station than a destination, but honestly it is a much nicer place to wait for a train now, and nobody was going spend a nickel on a one train in each direction dump. Events that occurred some years ago reduced the available track options, and debating whether or not they were mistakes serves little purpose, since it is highly doubtful they are changing.
Train was late enough that we were not getting dinner, ticket agent gave us $10 to buy something in the station.
Very late into Chicago, pulled straight in instead of backing move to save time so I made 30 by about 5 mins.
I will continue later.
Chicago highlights: Architectural River Boat Tour and the Museum of Science and Industry (intact WW2 U-boat on display) CTA buses served me well.
On time departure Tues 6/5 on the CZ all 3 sleepers were SL1 clean, decent curtains, clearly showing signs of age. Very good OBS crew both in the sleeper and in the diner. Dinner and breakfast both standard menu, done right. Not a bad thing since my return Saturday night saw the same set and the crew, although I was in the next car.
Departure from Denver Saturday evening was late, heat restrictions out West slowed things down. Not hard to convince me, I got to Denver from Colorado Springs pretty early, returned my car, they had nobody available to bring me to the station so they had a Lyft car take me. Stored my bags and figured I'd hit the 16th St mall. It was too hot to walk around and enjoy. Made my obligatory stop at the Tattered Covers Bookstore and plopped myself down on a couch in Union Station. Now mostly a commuter station and extended lobby of the Crawford It is a very attractive and lively place that serves lower downtown well. I know traditionalists argue that it should have been remade more as a train station than a destination, but honestly it is a much nicer place to wait for a train now, and nobody was going spend a nickel on a one train in each direction dump. Events that occurred some years ago reduced the available track options, and debating whether or not they were mistakes serves little purpose, since it is highly doubtful they are changing.
Train was late enough that we were not getting dinner, ticket agent gave us $10 to buy something in the station.
Very late into Chicago, pulled straight in instead of backing move to save time so I made 30 by about 5 mins.
I will continue later.