dabrilloman
Service Attendant
Hi everybody!
Just returned April 3rd from my first train trip. St. Paul-Chicago-New Orleans and back.
First I just want to say it was a great time, I can honestly say I am a now a train convert and will ride when ever I can!
Starting in St. Paul (Wed Mar 29)...was able to board 45 minutes before on time departure, even had breakfast in front of me before the Empire Builder even started to move. It was a good breakfast, a bit better than what I thought it might be. It was a nice day, clear weather, made for nice scenery. We made good time and were in Chicago about 20 minutes early.
So that gave myself and my friend about 3 and a half hours to wander Chicago, had lunch, walked to Michigan Ave, and back. The station in Chicago could use some more room in the waiting areas or a little better organization. Maybe it was just extra busy that day, but it did seem to be a bit chaotic.
Boarded the City of New Orleans, departed Chicago on time, settled in to our seats for the trip. It was a fairly smooth ride the whole way. Went to the lounge, had a few adult beverages with our snacks we brought along and watched the scenery for a couple of hours before getting back to our seats for some sleep. I found it not too hard to sleep in the coach seats, got some good rest. Woke up in Memphis, had a decent breakfast sandwich and muffin in the louge car and was awake for the rest of the ride to the Big Easy. The sites coming into NO were fantastic very interesting riding over the swamps! Even arrived an hour early!
The trip back...
April 2, departing NO. The CONO departed on time, had a roomette for the trip back which was nice. Settled in, had a couple AB's (adult bevies) from our own stash in the room and watched the swamps again, even got to see a couple of gators swimming around, so cool! Had the steak for dinner, was a bit disappointed with it, a bit too well done. But all in all a decent dinner. Then back to the roomette to turn in. Found out that I do not fit too well in the upper bunk of a roomette, I am 6' 1". Anybody taller than that, take my advice, sleep in the lower bunk! So it was a bit of a fitfull sleep. I got up at about 5:15 and went to the lounge to strech. I had breakfast promptly at 6, again a good breakfast. Got into Chicago a bit late, but it was no problem as we had almost a 5 and a half hour layover. So we went to the Willis Tower (formerly Sears). Went to the Skydeck, was fun although I just could not get up the nerve to step out into those clear boxes that they have hanging out over the edge of the buiding! Went back to Union Station and it was the same before...chaotic! Small waiting areas and not very much info given out about when boarding will be.
Well...we board the EB. On time depature and settle in. By this time I am pretty much ready to get home, so it was nap time as much as I could. We got stuck behind an unnamed frieght as they called it, so we were about almost an hour late into St. Paul.
All in all, a very enjoyable first trip on Amtrak. I want to give a shout out to Manny, our SCA. He did a very nice job for us! Thanks Manny!
So Ihave already decided to ride Amtrak to Reno next March for our USBC Bowling Tourney. Looking forward to it already!
Just returned April 3rd from my first train trip. St. Paul-Chicago-New Orleans and back.
First I just want to say it was a great time, I can honestly say I am a now a train convert and will ride when ever I can!
Starting in St. Paul (Wed Mar 29)...was able to board 45 minutes before on time departure, even had breakfast in front of me before the Empire Builder even started to move. It was a good breakfast, a bit better than what I thought it might be. It was a nice day, clear weather, made for nice scenery. We made good time and were in Chicago about 20 minutes early.
So that gave myself and my friend about 3 and a half hours to wander Chicago, had lunch, walked to Michigan Ave, and back. The station in Chicago could use some more room in the waiting areas or a little better organization. Maybe it was just extra busy that day, but it did seem to be a bit chaotic.
Boarded the City of New Orleans, departed Chicago on time, settled in to our seats for the trip. It was a fairly smooth ride the whole way. Went to the lounge, had a few adult beverages with our snacks we brought along and watched the scenery for a couple of hours before getting back to our seats for some sleep. I found it not too hard to sleep in the coach seats, got some good rest. Woke up in Memphis, had a decent breakfast sandwich and muffin in the louge car and was awake for the rest of the ride to the Big Easy. The sites coming into NO were fantastic very interesting riding over the swamps! Even arrived an hour early!
The trip back...
April 2, departing NO. The CONO departed on time, had a roomette for the trip back which was nice. Settled in, had a couple AB's (adult bevies) from our own stash in the room and watched the swamps again, even got to see a couple of gators swimming around, so cool! Had the steak for dinner, was a bit disappointed with it, a bit too well done. But all in all a decent dinner. Then back to the roomette to turn in. Found out that I do not fit too well in the upper bunk of a roomette, I am 6' 1". Anybody taller than that, take my advice, sleep in the lower bunk! So it was a bit of a fitfull sleep. I got up at about 5:15 and went to the lounge to strech. I had breakfast promptly at 6, again a good breakfast. Got into Chicago a bit late, but it was no problem as we had almost a 5 and a half hour layover. So we went to the Willis Tower (formerly Sears). Went to the Skydeck, was fun although I just could not get up the nerve to step out into those clear boxes that they have hanging out over the edge of the buiding! Went back to Union Station and it was the same before...chaotic! Small waiting areas and not very much info given out about when boarding will be.
Well...we board the EB. On time depature and settle in. By this time I am pretty much ready to get home, so it was nap time as much as I could. We got stuck behind an unnamed frieght as they called it, so we were about almost an hour late into St. Paul.
All in all, a very enjoyable first trip on Amtrak. I want to give a shout out to Manny, our SCA. He did a very nice job for us! Thanks Manny!
So Ihave already decided to ride Amtrak to Reno next March for our USBC Bowling Tourney. Looking forward to it already!
But seriously, I'm glad to hear you had a great trip :excl:
