Who in the world are you?

[oregon pioneer]

Hi Everyone! I'm 46 and I am a computer programmer by trade. I have two lifelong passions: railroading (specifically passenger trains) and computers/electronics. Railroading was definitely the first, starting with a ride on the Silver Palm when I was 8 years old growing up in South Florida. I'm a fervent advocate of Amtrak and passenger trains: rail is the most efficient way to move people and things over land and it needs to be big part of our future in this country, not just for the sake of our environment but also for our quality of life as Americans. I try to use local mass transit and incorporate a train trip whenever I travel anywhere in the world, but I also made a point of doing what the English would call "train bashing" the Amtrak system when I was in my early 20s. I am still looking to collect some final Amtrak miles missing from my collection, and hopefully I will have a chance to do that soon. I was born in Miami but I have lived elsewhere in Florida and also Richmond, VA, Denver, and I just recently settled in the Portland, OR, area, where I am happy to report I landed a house within a few blocks of the main SP (now UP) line, so I've got two Coast Starlights and four Cascades rolling by every day, plus a handful of what I call UP "stealth freights" (we are in a no-horn zone).

Welcome to Oregon, and to AU! There are several Oregonians on here - a couple from eastern OR (I'm near Seneca), at least one on the coast, and some along the I-5 corridor. We're all friendly folks, as is pretty much everyone on AU, no matter where they are from. I have gotten lots of good advice and entertaining reading here, and I am sure you will, too.

 

[MarkInAustin]

New to the Forum, I am a senior citizen with four adult children and five grandchildren, happily married, and a retired recovering lawyer. My wife is a CPA and tax specialist, who will soon retire, I hope.

My wife and I took our first Amtrak trip in 35 years or so, for TG. We traveled in Roomettes Austin to Chicago to Pittsburgh, and back.

Short version: when time is not an issue, Amtrak beats flying or driving. The long version would include several specific criticisms I have read here many times. We look forward to many long distance train adventures in the future, but may stay in the west to avoid the flexible dining.

Happy travels to all who may be on the rails for the holidays.

 

[trainnewbee]

Hello! I am in my mid-to-late twenties, and am based in CA. I have taken the Coast Starlight the entire way twice, California Zephyr SF to Chicago once, and the Empire Builder for part of the route once. Planning on taking the EB the entire way early next year! Excited to find this forum and hope to meet more train enthusiasts!

 

[pennyk]

Hello! I am in my mid-to-late twenties, and am based in CA. I have taken the Coast Starlight the entire way twice, California Zephyr SF to Chicago once, and the Empire Builder for part of the route once. Planning on taking the EB the entire way early next year! Excited to find this forum and hope to meet more train enthusiasts!

Welcome

 

[JackV]

Hello! Been a freight railroader (Conductor) for twenty years. I am considering a move over to Amtrak. Trying to learn what I can about them. Does anyone here know the pay rates there?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hello! Been a freight railroader (Conductor) for twenty years. I am considering a move over to Amtrak. Trying to learn what I can about them. Does anyone here know the pay rates there?

Welcome to AU. We have several members that are active and retired Amtrak Employees and one of our Members, Acela150, has worked for Freight ( out of Philly)and is now an OBS out of Seattle.

You might want to PM( Personal Message) him, he is very knowledgeable and likes to help folks learn about Amtrak.

 

[JackV]

Thanks much!

 

[johanpdx]

Hello from Portland, Oregon.

I've been an Amtrak supporter and loyal critic for its whole history. My train history began in childhood with the Twentieth Century Limited and the Broadway Limited. (I lived in Chicago for most of my childhood years.) While in university in Ottawa, Ontario, I often traveled on the Montrealer and Washingtonian. In more recent years, my wife and I have enjoyed traveling Boston to Portland OR and New York City to Portland OR on the Lake Shore Limited and Empire Builder. Most recently: summer 2021 westbound in coach with masks 100% of the time -- not as unpleasant as I'd feared.

I've also had long distance train experience in Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Mongolia, India, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the UK. While living in Russia for nearly ten years, I rode commuter trains weekly (at least) in the Moscow region.

I'm a retired denominational worker (Quakers) and keep up a weekly blog. Theologically conservative, politically left-wing. I do a bit of freelance translation. Looking forward to traveling cross-country by train again next summer. I come from a sea-faring family, so I also love traveling by ship.

Commuter train (2016 photo; to be fair, graffiti like this is unusual). Station: Fryazevo, Moscow Region.

 

[pennyk]

Hello from Portland, Oregon.

I've been an Amtrak supporter and loyal critic for its whole history. My train history began in childhood with the Twentieth Century Limited and the Broadway Limited. (I lived in Chicago for most of my childhood years.) While in university in Ottawa, Ontario, I often traveled on the Montrealer and Washingtonian. In more recent years, my wife and I have enjoyed traveling Boston to Portland OR and New York City to Portland OR on the Lake Shore Limited and Empire Builder. Most recently: summer 2021 westbound in coach with masks 100% of the time -- not as unpleasant as I'd feared.

I've also had long distance train experience in Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Mongolia, India, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the UK. While living in Russia for nearly ten years, I rode commuter trains weekly (at least) in the Moscow region.

I'm a retired denominational worker (Quakers) and keep up a weekly blog. Theologically conservative, politically left-wing. I do a bit of freelance translation. Looking forward to traveling cross-country by train again next summer. I come from a sea-faring family, so I also love traveling by ship.

Commuter train (2016 photo; to be fair, graffiti like this is unusual). Station: Fryazevo, Moscow Region.
View attachment 26591

Welcome!

 

[oregon pioneer]

Hello from Portland, Oregon.

And welcome from the other side of Oregon!

 

[chickpea]

Hello,
I am a long time on/off lurker who didn't join previously because it seemed like so many people here use a rail language I don't understand! But I am about to take another big trip and thought I better join since there is a lot of useful info etc.

My "rail" background: ancestral attachments (a former head of the Rock Island Railway), my earliest memory is of stepping off a train with my mom in CA, back when we had a lot more trains! (60s/70s) I used to commute on Amtrak in MA, I also used the Acela a bunch. More recently I lived in the UK where I commuted & traveled by train and I have appeared in some popular YouTube videos (All The Stations & Least Used Stations). I came back to the US in 2019 and in 2020 decided to beat the pandemic by taking a roomette across the country. It had long been on my bucket list and - despite all the warnings here about food not as good etc - I absolutely loved it. I did the Lakeshore Ltd both ways from NY and the Zephyr from CHI>EMY and back. Fabulous. Now I am about to embark on a similar journey: CA Zephyr, Cardinal, Crescent.

 

[pennyk]

Hello,
I am a long time on/off lurker who didn't join previously because it seemed like so many people here use a rail language I don't understand! But I am about to take another big trip and thought I better join since there is a lot of useful info etc.

My "rail" background: ancestral attachments (a former head of the Rock Island Railway), my earliest memory is of stepping off a train with my mom in CA, back when we had a lot more trains! (60s/70s) I used to commute on Amtrak in MA, I also used the Acela a bunch. More recently I lived in the UK where I commuted & traveled by train and I have appeared in some popular YouTube videos (All The Stations & Least Used Stations). I came back to the US in 2019 and in 2020 decided to beat the pandemic by taking a roomette across the country. It had long been on my bucket list and - despite all the warnings here about food not as good etc - I absolutely loved it. I did the Lakeshore Ltd both ways from NY and the Zephyr from CHI>EMY and back. Fabulous. Now I am about to embark on a similar journey: CA Zephyr, Cardinal, Crescent.

Welcome

 

[Todd]

I'm obviously Todd....

I tend to switch my passions (outside of work)...first it was golf, for like 30 years, since I was 13...then it was hiking and tent camping starting at age 43...I spent a dozen years travelling out to hike in the Rockies, mainly Glacier National Park in Montana...then I started to get into disc golf in the last few years (I call it hiking for a score)...I'm now 57...

But I also worked for GE in Erie when they did the prototype for the first GE Amtrak locomotive in the early 90's...I was the materials manager for the first build at our plant...and now 30 years later, I want to ride on one of those...to travel by train around the country...my first cross-country trip is in early April....

 

[haroldo]

G'Day.

I've both ridden and constructed the rails. I came to this place as a result of searching for information on the Lake Shore Limited as this fall my wife and I are taking it to WI from MA and back again. While not as glamorous as it once was, rail travel beats the pants off of flying - never again - and is quicker than driving (at least where these old folks are concerned). Preaching to the choir, I know.... At any rate, it's nice to be here.

 

[pennyk]

G'Day.

I've both ridden and constructed the rails. I came to this place as a result of searching for information on the Lake Shore Limited as this fall my wife and I are taking it to WI from MA and back again. While not as glamorous as it once was, rail travel beats the pants off of flying - never again - and is quicker than driving (at least where these old folks are concerned). Preaching to the choir, I know.... At any rate, it's nice to be here.

Welcome

 

[Willbridge]

Welcome to Oregon, and to AU! There are several Oregonians on here - a couple from eastern OR (I'm near Seneca), at least one on the coast, and some along the I-5 corridor. We're all friendly folks, as is pretty much everyone on AU, no matter where they are from. I have gotten lots of good advice and entertaining reading here, and I am sure you will, too.

I haven't lived in Oregon since 1976 (Portland and Salem) and have almost dried out. I'm glad to see a new member from the Beaver State where I have family and friends.

 

[Joe from PA]

Greetings. I'm a train nut that lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. I love playing with Lionel and American Flyer "toy" trains as well as riding on real ones. At 80, I'm old enough to remember watching steam engines pulling passenger express trains at 70+ mph on the Long Island RR. I also remember many business trips to NYC behind a GG1. My wife and I do 2 or 3 trips to Boston each year, and a one-way trip to Florida each March. We have also taken the Crescent to New Orleans, and from there, the Sunset Limited to Arizona. We've also ridden the rails in Poland, Italy, and Germany.

 

[chickpea]

Greetings. I'm a train nut that lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. I love playing with Lionel and American Flyer "toy" trains as well as riding on real ones. At 80, I'm old enough to remember watching steam engines pulling passenger express trains at 70+ mph on the Long Island RR. I also remember many business trips to NYC behind a GG1. My wife and I do 2 or 3 trips to Boston each year, and a one-way trip to Florida each March. We have also taken the Crescent to New Orleans, and from there, the Sunset Limited to Arizona. We've also ridden the rails in Poland, Italy, and Germany.

Welcome! I lived in Philly briefly and still visit my favorite past roommate in Narberth (Ardmore). The suburbs around Philly are lovely.

 

[pennyk]

Greetings. I'm a train nut that lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. I love playing with Lionel and American Flyer "toy" trains as well as riding on real ones. At 80, I'm old enough to remember watching steam engines pulling passenger express trains at 70+ mph on the Long Island RR. I also remember many business trips to NYC behind a GG1. My wife and I do 2 or 3 trips to Boston each year, and a one-way trip to Florida each March. We have also taken the Crescent to New Orleans, and from there, the Sunset Limited to Arizona. We've also ridden the rails in Poland, Italy, and Germany.

Welcome

 

[river]

I'm a retired nurse in my 60s who lives near the Grand River in Michigan, so River it is! My first train ride was from Chicago to Mt. Vernon IL to visit relatives more than 50 years ago. Not sure when the Mt. Vernon station closed, but have good memories of that.
Since we moved to Michigan, we've traveled cross country to California on the Pere Marquette, the Zephyr, the Coast Starlight, and the Southwest Chief. We also did the Capitol Limited to DC in a roomette, which was one of my favorite vacations ever. Did one cross country trip in coach way back before we knew better, and decided then and there it was only sleepers going forward. Currently still planning another Southwest Chief trip in the spring to LA. to visit relatives. With cancellations and disruptions I needed to change the dates, but it's working out. Absolutely loved all our trips. Each one was a problem free experience with comfortable beds, great scenery (especially the Zephyr and Coast Starlight), and great dining car food, so hope our luck holds out! Hoping to do the Empire Builder to Seattle in the year or two.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

Greetings. I'm a train nut that lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. I love playing with Lionel and American Flyer "toy" trains as well as riding on real ones. At 80, I'm old enough to remember watching steam engines pulling passenger express trains at 70+ mph on the Long Island RR. I also remember many business trips to NYC behind a GG1. My wife and I do 2 or 3 trips to Boston each year, and a one-way trip to Florida each March. We have also taken the Crescent to New Orleans, and from there, the Sunset Limited to Arizona. We've also ridden the rails in Poland, Italy, and Germany.

Yay Philly suburbs, grew up in Gulph Mills. We kids could walk to the P&W and rode that just for fun. The Philadelphia area must be the most train-nut-heavy area in the world! Perhaps for a new thread.

 

[Joe from PA]

The Philadelphia area must be the most train-nut-heavy area in the world! Perhaps for a new thread.

Yes, South-East PA certainly is. For the train lover, Strasburg (one hour drive) has the steam powered tourist railroad, the huge indoor layout of the Choo Choo barn, the PRR Railroad Museum, and the TCA toy train museum. York (2 hour drive) is home to the largest toy train meet in the world, with 12,000 people showing up for this event twice a year. It fills 7 of the large fairgrounds buildings with "O" and "S" gauge goodies. A 12 minute drive from me is one of the largest toy train dealer in the country, Nicolas Smith Trains. Aside from "local" trains, our town of Media still has a trolley line going into West Philadelphia, about 10 miles away. Other transportation is a 15 minute drive to the Philadelphia airport.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I'm a 15 year old high school student. My passion is aviation (commercial in particular) along with other forms of mass transit: train, bus, ships, etc. I live in Los Angeles, California.

When I was in high school I sat in class and daydreamed about flying on a Braniff 747 special performance... to far away places like Brazil and Korea. [In first class of course!] Aaaaaah... those were the days!

 

[jis]

When I was in high school I sat in class and daydreamed about flying on a Braniff 747 special performance... to far away places like Brazil and Korea. [In first class of course!] Aaaaaah... those were the days!
View attachment 26910

I actually did fly on a Pan Am 747-SP NRT - JFK, the only commercial plane back then that could make it.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

When I was in high school I sat in class and daydreamed about flying on a Braniff 747 special performance... to far away places like Brazil and Korea. [In first class of course!] Aaaaaah... those were the days!

I remember seeing a toy aircraft with absurd dimensions. I laughed at the idea of such a monstrosity ever taking actual flight. Years later I saw a photo of the SP and realized the toy was apparently based on a real plane after all. Something about the 747-SP's design and Braniff's color schemes seems like a match made in purgatory.