TylerP42
Conductor
Hello all. I'm gonna give you a travelogue of my trip yesterday, but I doubt I will be as good as Auntie C.
Anyways, on to it.
I went TOL-CHI Round trip in one day.
4:15 AM Picked up my grandma on the way to the station.
5:22 Train supposed to arrive, about an hour late.
Around 6 AM the Capitol Limited pulls up. Lead by a normal P42DC and the Phase III P42DC Behind it. We board and as soon as the conductor gives us our destination slips, I lead my grandma to the observation car so we can get breakfast because of reports of the CCC and the fact that I want breakfast. I sit in there and start up Train Simulator (always wanted to do that). However, what I noticed first was the fact that the downstairs lounge stairs had a trashbin on it so that no one could go down there. (Isn't that some kind of fire/safety hazard in event of emergency?) and that the CCC was on the train.
Around 625 the dining car attendant comes in and says that breakfast is starting. We rush in and we get seats. We are sat across a very nice man, who I got into a huge railroad talk with (My grandma was not very thrilled). There was about 8 tables for dining, the lounge part of the CCC was used by staff and extremely dirty. I ordered an omlette (11 dollars) and some bacon, with apple juice. They ended up giving me both apple and orange juice on accident, but I didnt complain. The dining car attendant was kind of rude and rushing people because of the limited capacity of the diner car. The food was good, but again we were being rushed. I said my goodbye to the nice man (he was in a sleeper and went back) and headed back into the Observation car.
We sat in there for the rest of the trip and when we pulled into Elkhart, I saw the NY Central Museum and took some pictures from the train, and told myself I'd visit soon. Also, there was an amish girl who kept giving me the "I like you" look and smile, kind of weird, especially because I was using my laptop, ipad, and phone all at once and I thought they'd look down on that. Oh well, I guess I pass judgement. After awhile I asked the conductor if he could show me the family bedroom and the bedroom since I have never seen them, and he tried having me wait for a SCA but one didn't come for about 10 minutes so he took me back himself.
We got into Chicago about 45 minutes late. There, I saw the Burlington Zephyr, went to some fire stations, ate some Cheescake at the Cheescake Factory, got some LEGOs, walked A LOT, and rode the metra, getting lost in between. We also ate at Houlihan's. I also went to the Railroader's Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum, but it was not very exciting. Also, I note that people who drive in Chicago are crazy and I saw at least 10 pedestrians almost get hit by stupid and impatient drivers.
We got back to the station around 7PM, in preparation for our trip back on the Lake Shore Limited. I was going to eat at the Metro Diner upstairs but they closed right when I got there and stopped serving food. Their last day is Friday. I ended up eating some Ribs from the food court. I went upstairs and peaked my head outside a few times for fresh air and to look at the Sear's Tower. (I refuse to call it Willis Tower). About an hour before departure the conductor (who seemed EXTREMELY Stressed) barked orders, telling seniors to go to priority seating and telling families to go right next to them, I went with the seniors because of my grandmother. The train had a lot of extra people due to the Zephyr and the Empire Builder missing connections. We went on the train and luckily we were put right behind the Cafe car.
I overheard that the once the conductor was done collecting tickets that the cafe car would open. As soon as I saw him walking into the cafe car, I got up and walked that way as he made the announcement. Glad I did, I got a seat and food and when I sat down there was a line that stretched (I checked, since I grabbed something from my seat) from the counter to about halfway through the next coach. I also got some souvenir playing cards. I also asked the conductor if I could see the diner car (I have never seen a long distance Amfleet/heritage diner car)
I went to sleep around 11:30PM, even though it was supposed to be quiet people were talking quite loudly and I almost said something but was so tired I didn't. At about 1 AM I awoke because of my sinuses and the fact there was no fresh air. I was about to go to the lounge car and step outside at waterloo, but I just fell asleep again (No idea how, just did). I was awoken by movement when we arrived at Toledo, and a little upset that I didn't spend more time in the lounge car, but oh well, some other day!
Anyways, I apologize if I didn't do it like Auntie C. This is my first travelogue and I would love some feedback!
Anyways, on to it.
I went TOL-CHI Round trip in one day.
4:15 AM Picked up my grandma on the way to the station.
5:22 Train supposed to arrive, about an hour late.
Around 6 AM the Capitol Limited pulls up. Lead by a normal P42DC and the Phase III P42DC Behind it. We board and as soon as the conductor gives us our destination slips, I lead my grandma to the observation car so we can get breakfast because of reports of the CCC and the fact that I want breakfast. I sit in there and start up Train Simulator (always wanted to do that). However, what I noticed first was the fact that the downstairs lounge stairs had a trashbin on it so that no one could go down there. (Isn't that some kind of fire/safety hazard in event of emergency?) and that the CCC was on the train.
Around 625 the dining car attendant comes in and says that breakfast is starting. We rush in and we get seats. We are sat across a very nice man, who I got into a huge railroad talk with (My grandma was not very thrilled). There was about 8 tables for dining, the lounge part of the CCC was used by staff and extremely dirty. I ordered an omlette (11 dollars) and some bacon, with apple juice. They ended up giving me both apple and orange juice on accident, but I didnt complain. The dining car attendant was kind of rude and rushing people because of the limited capacity of the diner car. The food was good, but again we were being rushed. I said my goodbye to the nice man (he was in a sleeper and went back) and headed back into the Observation car.
We sat in there for the rest of the trip and when we pulled into Elkhart, I saw the NY Central Museum and took some pictures from the train, and told myself I'd visit soon. Also, there was an amish girl who kept giving me the "I like you" look and smile, kind of weird, especially because I was using my laptop, ipad, and phone all at once and I thought they'd look down on that. Oh well, I guess I pass judgement. After awhile I asked the conductor if he could show me the family bedroom and the bedroom since I have never seen them, and he tried having me wait for a SCA but one didn't come for about 10 minutes so he took me back himself.
We got into Chicago about 45 minutes late. There, I saw the Burlington Zephyr, went to some fire stations, ate some Cheescake at the Cheescake Factory, got some LEGOs, walked A LOT, and rode the metra, getting lost in between. We also ate at Houlihan's. I also went to the Railroader's Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum, but it was not very exciting. Also, I note that people who drive in Chicago are crazy and I saw at least 10 pedestrians almost get hit by stupid and impatient drivers.
We got back to the station around 7PM, in preparation for our trip back on the Lake Shore Limited. I was going to eat at the Metro Diner upstairs but they closed right when I got there and stopped serving food. Their last day is Friday. I ended up eating some Ribs from the food court. I went upstairs and peaked my head outside a few times for fresh air and to look at the Sear's Tower. (I refuse to call it Willis Tower). About an hour before departure the conductor (who seemed EXTREMELY Stressed) barked orders, telling seniors to go to priority seating and telling families to go right next to them, I went with the seniors because of my grandmother. The train had a lot of extra people due to the Zephyr and the Empire Builder missing connections. We went on the train and luckily we were put right behind the Cafe car.
I overheard that the once the conductor was done collecting tickets that the cafe car would open. As soon as I saw him walking into the cafe car, I got up and walked that way as he made the announcement. Glad I did, I got a seat and food and when I sat down there was a line that stretched (I checked, since I grabbed something from my seat) from the counter to about halfway through the next coach. I also got some souvenir playing cards. I also asked the conductor if I could see the diner car (I have never seen a long distance Amfleet/heritage diner car)
I went to sleep around 11:30PM, even though it was supposed to be quiet people were talking quite loudly and I almost said something but was so tired I didn't. At about 1 AM I awoke because of my sinuses and the fact there was no fresh air. I was about to go to the lounge car and step outside at waterloo, but I just fell asleep again (No idea how, just did). I was awoken by movement when we arrived at Toledo, and a little upset that I didn't spend more time in the lounge car, but oh well, some other day!
Anyways, I apologize if I didn't do it like Auntie C. This is my first travelogue and I would love some feedback!
They don't have to follow a certain format. Everyone does them differently.
