For some reason (maybe I brained my damage), I booked a 12-day circle trip on Amtrak, from Milwaukee to Milwaukee, via everywhere.
Starting out on January 7 on the Hiawatha, then connecting to the Lake Shore (coach) to New York. Two nights in New York, then wandering my way down to DC (either Acela Express all the way, or NJT/SEPTA to Philly, and Acela the rest of the way) on the 10th. Two nights in DC, then departing on the Crescent, for my first ride in a Viewliner (take two*).
After spending the night in the City of Nillins (to quote the PA announcer from Chicago Union Station a couple years ago), I'll take the Sunset to LA (departing NOL on January 14), for what will either be a nice, relaxing, comfortable ride, or a stressful trip from hell (or some combination thereof). To make the trip less stressful, I'm booked in a sleeper. I figure, when things go wrong and we're delayed (I said when, not if), it'll be on Amtrak to feed me, and at least I'll be comfortable.
If we get into LA less than 10 hours late, I'll take a side trip down to San Diego and back on a Surfliner. Otherwise, I'll keep myself busy until 1:25 AM on 17 November (I'm taking a gamble that the Sunset will be less than 18 hours late), then board a bus to Bakersfield to connect with the 4-something AM San Joaquin. Ride that up to Stockton, then take another bus to Sacramento, then ride the California Zephyr back to Chicago in a sleeper, then back to Milwaukee on the 19th (hopefully).
New rail mileage for me: CVS-NOL, NOL-SAS, BFD-SKN, SAC-SLC
New equipment for me: Viewliner, Acela Express, California coach.
New state for me (never been to/through): NV
New city for me (been through, but never to): NYC
This trip fits nicely in the small window I have between the end of the H431 blackout period (January 6) and the start of classes on January 24. I'll take bets on whether the Sunset or Zephyr will miss the connections.
*My first "first ride in a Viewliner" was supposed to be on train 449(15JAN03) from Boston to Chicago. However, for a few days that week, the Boston section had been sleeperless, and I was downgraded to coach. Hopefully my Crescent trip won't be equally jinxed. If severe winter weather sidelines Amtrak's fleet, I hope it starts on 20 January (or 21, just to be on the safe side), and not sooner.
If anyone out there is responsible for equipment assignments, perhaps they could put sleeper 32016 on the 0632 line for train 6(17).
Starting out on January 7 on the Hiawatha, then connecting to the Lake Shore (coach) to New York. Two nights in New York, then wandering my way down to DC (either Acela Express all the way, or NJT/SEPTA to Philly, and Acela the rest of the way) on the 10th. Two nights in DC, then departing on the Crescent, for my first ride in a Viewliner (take two*).
After spending the night in the City of Nillins (to quote the PA announcer from Chicago Union Station a couple years ago), I'll take the Sunset to LA (departing NOL on January 14), for what will either be a nice, relaxing, comfortable ride, or a stressful trip from hell (or some combination thereof). To make the trip less stressful, I'm booked in a sleeper. I figure, when things go wrong and we're delayed (I said when, not if), it'll be on Amtrak to feed me, and at least I'll be comfortable.
If we get into LA less than 10 hours late, I'll take a side trip down to San Diego and back on a Surfliner. Otherwise, I'll keep myself busy until 1:25 AM on 17 November (I'm taking a gamble that the Sunset will be less than 18 hours late), then board a bus to Bakersfield to connect with the 4-something AM San Joaquin. Ride that up to Stockton, then take another bus to Sacramento, then ride the California Zephyr back to Chicago in a sleeper, then back to Milwaukee on the 19th (hopefully).
New rail mileage for me: CVS-NOL, NOL-SAS, BFD-SKN, SAC-SLC
New equipment for me: Viewliner, Acela Express, California coach.
New state for me (never been to/through): NV
New city for me (been through, but never to): NYC
This trip fits nicely in the small window I have between the end of the H431 blackout period (January 6) and the start of classes on January 24. I'll take bets on whether the Sunset or Zephyr will miss the connections.
*My first "first ride in a Viewliner" was supposed to be on train 449(15JAN03) from Boston to Chicago. However, for a few days that week, the Boston section had been sleeperless, and I was downgraded to coach. Hopefully my Crescent trip won't be equally jinxed. If severe winter weather sidelines Amtrak's fleet, I hope it starts on 20 January (or 21, just to be on the safe side), and not sooner.
If anyone out there is responsible for equipment assignments, perhaps they could put sleeper 32016 on the 0632 line for train 6(17).