Farewell to Amtrak’s Capitol Limited:

 

Prologue:

 

            In September of 2024 I learned that Amtrak would be combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains into a new train called the Floridian. The Floridian is a nod to Amtrak’s past as they used to have a train that ran from Chicago to Florida that stopped in Louisville, Nashville, Montgomery Alabama, and continued onto Florida. The original Floridian stopped running before I was born.

 

            The new Floridian would use single level coaches thus looking like the Silver Star and would leave only the Auto Train as the only Amtrak train on the East coast to use Superliners. As a result, I wanted to go for a ride on the Capitol Limited. I eventually decided to go in early November just before the Capitol Limited and Silver Star would become the Floridian.

 

            My plan was to fly to Washington DC and pick up the Capitol Limited and ride to Chicago. I would spend one night in Chicago before flying home. This trip would come after a couple deaths in my family. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

November 7, 2024:

 

            I booked a taxi to take me to the airport similar to what my family did on our New York trip back in 2007. My taxi came a few minutes early. I rode to the airport and went into Terminal 1. I went to check it. I would be flying United Airlines on this leg. I had a few problems checking in and didn’t get my boarding pass right away. I was able to get it resolved and cleared security and customs.

 

            My gate was a long walk from security. I still had plenty of time. I made it to my gate more than 90 minutes before my flight was scheduled to depart. I bought a Pepsi from a store near my gate. I saw a United Embraer E175 approaching the gates. I thought it might be my plane. I photographed it.

 

 

            I logged into the airport’s Wi-Fi and went online. I photographed an Airbus A380 on approach.

 

 

            I worked on this report until it was time to board. Just before I got on, I stopped at Starbucks near my gate. I then boarded my plane. I had a window seat. From my seat I photographed a couple other United Airlines planes.

 

 

 

            The plane was a full flight. We left on time. As we taxied out to the runway I photographed various planes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I filmed the takeoff roll. We took off facing west. We soon turned south.

 

            Snacks and beverages were sold. It was an uneventful flight. We were soon approaching Washington Dulles Airport. I photographed the museum Mark and I visited in 2017 on our way to the Dukes of Hazzard event.

 

 

            I then filmed the landing at Dulles. As we taxied to the terminal, I photographed various planes including another Airbus A380.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The plane had arrived a few minutes early! We were allowed off where I took a few more photos of the plane.

 

 

            I then went to get my suitcase. I found the baggage claim and where to get my bag. It took several minutes but my suitcase did come. I got my suitcase and headed out.

 

            My first flight on United Airlines was good. However the airline has had many controversial incidents involving passenger vs airline employees. Two of the most notable incidents were the Halifax music band “Sons of Maxwell” was flying from Halifax to Omaha by way of Chicago, the lead singer’s guitar was damaged by baggage handlers. It cost the singer $1200 to get it fixed. However United wouldn’t help him out and gave him the runaround. The band did get back at United by writing a trio of songs with the first song “United Breaks Guitars” becoming a huge hit.

 

            More recently on a flight from Chicago to Louisville, the flight was overbooked and they began forcing passengers off. One passenger, a doctor who had to be at Louisville for work was injured and dragged off the flight in a viral video.

 

            Thankfully my suitcase and I got to Washington without incident. After getting my suitcase, I left and headed to the Metro Station. Since my 2017 Virginia Trip the Silver Line has been extended to Dulles Airport. I got to the platform and photographed the train when it arrived.

 

 

            This train had the new 7000 series cars. WMATA has retired the 1000, 2000, 4000, and 5000 series Metro cars. The 3000s are the oldest cars still in service. I boarded the train and the train departed. During the ride I tried to phone home to let my Dad know I was in Washington DC. I eventually got through.

 

            I rode to Metro Center and got off. I filmed the train pulling out. I saw a train of 3000 series Metro cars pull in on the Orange Line going the opposite direction. I photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went upstairs to the Red Line. I just missed a train and had to wait a few minutes for the next train. The next train had some 3000 series Metro cars. I photographed the train when it pulled in.

 

 

            I rode to Union Station and filmed the train pulling out. I then left the Metro station and went into Union Station and bought lunch. I then headed over to the DC Streetcar. When Mark and I rode it in 2017, I saw that there were two series of cars: The 100 series and 200 series. We rode a 100 series. I wanted to see if I could ride a 200 series. On the way I photographed a bus.

 

 

            I walked over to the DC Streetcar and photographed car #103 when it arrived.

 

 

            Since it was a 100 series, I let it go. I photographed a few buses.

 

 

            Next car #102 came. I photographed it but stayed off.

 

 

            I photographed another bus.

 

 

            The third streetcar came. It was #202. I photographed it and got on.

 

 

            I rode three stops before I got off. I photographed the car and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

 

            I then crossed the street and waited for a streetcar back to Union Station. Car #103 came. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode back to Union Station. I got off and photographed the streetcar.

 

 

            I then walked back to the station. I looked in a couple stores before I went to the Metropolitan Lounge. I went online and worked on this report for over an hour until train #29 was announced.

 

            We were allowed to board about 25 minutes before departure. I photographed a sign before heading up to the train.

 

 

            I saw the train was led by a P42. Amtrak has been assigning P42s and the new Siemen Charger locomotives to the Capitol Limited. I was in roomette #4 in Superliner 1 sleeping car #32027. After putting my stuff in my room, I quickly stepped off and took some photos.

 

 

 

            I then got back on the train. I filmed a Regional train as it departed Washington DC. I photographed another Amtrak train. The Capitol Limited departed one minute early. Shortly after we departed, I photographed electric locomotive #665 which was running light back to the Amtrak yard. I also photographed a couple MARC commuter trains.

 

 

 

            The train stopped in Rockville. I worked on this report some more. We stopped at Harpers Ferry a little while later. Harpers Ferry was a double stop. We were underway again.

 

            The sun went down. We stopped in Martinsburg.

 

            My friend Dan prefers taking the Capitol Limited east instead of west because the eastbound train passes through some scenic areas while the westbound passes though in darkness; even during the summer.

 

            Around 6:00 pm I went to the dining car for dinner. I was able to preorder it and I ate the dinner in the diner-lounge. There was no Sightseer Lounge car on today’s train. The train stopped at Cumberland. Cumberland was actually a double stop. The first stop was to change engine crews. The second stop was a smoke stop; however only the coaches were open at Cumberland. That didn’t bother me and I walked back to the coaches and stepped off and took some photos.

 

 

 

            I then got back on the train. It left minutes later. I worked on this report some more. Although it was dark, we were on the Sandpatch route which I have in Microsoft Train Simulator. We stopped at Connellsville awhile later.

 

            My bed was made up. I decided to lie down until 11:15 pm when I got up. Moments later, we were pulling into Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was a smoke stop which I used to get off and photograph the Capitol Limited and Pennsylvanian on the next track.

 

 

 

 

 

            One of Amtrak’s ideals is to have through cars on the Pennsylvanian that can be coupled up to the rear of the Capitol Limited to carry on to Chicago much like the Three Rivers. However for various reasons this is impractical. One reason is the Capitol Limited uses Superliners while the Pennsylvanian uses single level coaches. Superliners cannot run into New York or Philadelphia. Perhaps with the Floridian, Amtrak may be able to assign an Amfleet 2 coach as well as a Viewliner sleeping car that can be coupled to the rear of the Floridian in Pittsburgh and carry onto Chicago.

 

            Meanwhile I then got back on the train and called it a night. The train departed Pittsburgh.

 

November 8, 2024:

 

            I slept off and on. The engineer was constantly blowing the whistle. At one point at a station I heard the station announcer calling our train.

 

            I ended up getting up outside of Elkhart. I went to the diner-lounge and filmed the New York Central Museum across the line from the train. I attempted to get New York Central steam locomotive #3001 which is another example of the few remaining New York Central steam locomotives. A group has recently announced intentions to restore #3001 to operation in the future.

 

 

You can see NYC #3001 here.

 

            After leaving Elkhart, I had breakfast. We passed a rail yard where I saw power from Norfolk Southern, BNSF, and CPKC. The train stopped in South Bend. My room had been returned to its daytime configuration. I worked on this report some more. At one point we passed some Norfolk Southern ballast gondolas. I decided to call Julie and found the Capitol Limited was running ahead of schedule! I texted my friend Karl in the chance we could meet. However it didn’t seem likely.

 

            The train passed a Norfolk Southern yard. The train slowed. We passed by a Michigan Service train but I was unable to film it. It had one of Amtrak’s new Siemens Chargers with Venture coaches and an Amfleet café car. Some of Amtrak’s new Venture café cars have started entering service.

 

            We passed a rail yard where I saw CN and New Brunswick Southern locomotives. Some CN diesels were still in liveries of the railroad CN had taken over like the Illinois Central and B&LE. We passed a Norfolk Southern yard. We were running along Lake Michigan and at one point I was able to see the Chicago skyline in the distance. The train passed non stop through Hammond-Whiting, Indiana.

 

            We were soon nearing Chicago. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. I filmed the Amtrak yard as we passed.

 

            The Capitol Limited arrived 23 minutes early into Chicago! I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

            This reminded me of when I rode the Three Rivers for the first and last time that train was also early into Chicago. However unlike the Three Rivers a new train will run on the entirety of the Capitol Limited’s route.

 

            I went inside the station and learned train #49 the Lakeshore Limited was also on time. I bought a Powerball ticket. I also decided to see if I could use the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago and found I could. I went in and went online. I then stored my suitcase and headed out. As I left Union Station, I photographed a sign for the Capitol Limited.

 

 

            I then walked to the Clinton station on the Green and Pink lines. I boarded a Pink line train and rode two stop. I got off to wait for either a Green or an Orange line train. A Green line train came after the Pink line train left. I rode it to Roosevelt. I walked towards the Amtrak yard. I walked over Metra’s Rock Island district and photographed a Metra train in the distance that had four locomotives including what appeared to be Metra’s Rock Island Heritage unit.

 

 

            I then got to the Amtrak yard and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then stood over the main line hoping I would see the Lakeshore Limited pull in. I saw Metra’s CB&Q heritage unit but was unable to photograph it. I saw the Capitol Limited backing out of Union Station. I photographed it and filmed it as it passed.

 

 

            I decided to plot where my train will be in the next few days as November 10 is the last day of the Capitol Limited. My train would go back to Washington DC that evening. Once back in Washington DC it would spend the night in DC and go back into the store. Working ahead I realized that the train I rode will be the last westbound Capitol Limited.

 

            I photographed an inbound Amtrak Midwest train.

 

 

            I photographed another inbound train.

 

 

            The Capitol Limited was wyed and backed into the yard. I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed Wolverine Service train #351 as it passed.

 

 

            I then took a few more photos.

 

 

            I phoned Julie and found train #49 arrived into Chicago at 9:44 am; 28 minutes early. I crossed the street to wait to see if #49 will back out. Sure enough it did. It turned out there was a Viewliner 2 dining car deadheading on the rear of the Lakeshore Limited; most likely to be used on the Floridian come Monday. I photographed it and filmed it passing.

 

 

 

 

            I took a few more photos in the yard.

 

 

 

 

            I walked over the Metra Rock Island district line and photographed an outbound train.

 

 

            I went into a nearby Target for a few minutes then left. I then headed to the CTA station. I stopped in a Walgreen’s before I headed onto the station. I boarded an Orange line train heading towards the Loop. While on the train, I phoned home and let my dad know I was in Chicago and that my train was early.

 

            I got off and Washington/Wells and ate lunch at an Arby’s. I then got back on the El and rode to the Chicago station on the Brown line. I was waiting for another electric bus. While waiting I photographed various Brown line trains in service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            At one point, I filmed the oldest cars in service: #2601/02.

 

 

 

            Eventually, electric bus #617 came. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode in the opposite direction than sister bus #607. I rode to where route #66 connects to the Red Line. I got off and filmed the bus pulling away. I took one more photo of the bus.

 

 

            I then went to get on the Red line. I then boarded a northbound train. I rode to Addison station which is next to Wrigley Field. My sister had asked me to get a specific Mug related to the Chicago Bears. I took a photo of Wrigley Field.

 

 

            I was able to find a store that sold baseball memorabilia and did find the mug my sister was looking for. I bought it and headed back to Addison station. I photographed a couple vintage photos in the station.

 

 

            I waited for the next northbound train. When it arrived I boarded the train and rode to Howard. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            I was going to ride the Skokie Swift. When the train arrived, I photographed it.

 

 

            As the train departed I photographed a set of historic 2400 series El cars in the yard. I also saw CTA’s Pride train next to the 2400s.

 

 

            I had learned that CTA had decided to dispose of two of the historic 2400 El cars.

 

            When we passed the Skokie shops I attempted to photograph the equipment in the yard. I saw some more of the historic 2400s next to what looked like retired 2600 series El cars.

 

 

            I also noticed the two sets of historic 6000 series El cars had been switched since July as cars 6101-6102 were now closer to the main line.

 

 

            We soon got to Dempster-Skokie and I photographed the North Shore station.

 

 

            Due to the ramp being closed, I was unable to photograph the train in the station. I waited for it to clear the crossing before I photographed the train on the tail track.

 

 

            I went to catch the train back to Howard. When it pulled in, I photographed it.

 

 

            I boarded the train and we departed. I filmed the Skokie shops as we passed. When the train arrived at Howard, I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

            I waited for a Purple line train. When the Purple line train came I got on and rode to Clark and Lake. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

            I filmed the train pulling out and transferred to the Blue line. I was thinking of trying to visit my late friend Greg’s grave. However it soon became apparent that I wouldn’t make it to the cemetery until after dark. I ended up getting off at Austin. I photographed the train before I filmed it pulling out.

 

 

            I waited for a train back downtown and I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to Clinton station. I got off and walked to Union Station. I got my suitcase and headed out. I decided to try to have dinner at the Five Guys where I had last eaten with Greg the last time I met up with him when he was alive. After I had been treated last time the manager of the restaurant had apologized to me.

 

            I went in and the employees did have an idea of a grilled cheese sandwich. While they did redeem the restaurant I figured I’d avoid Five Guys unless I wanted a hamburger.

 

            I caught a bus to the El but accidentally got off early at the Washington and Wells stop on the Orange, Pink, Purple, and Brown line trains. I got on an Orange line train and rode one stop to Clark and Lake. I transferred to the Blue line and rode to Rosemont. I had found a way to the hotel I was staying but by the time I got to Rosemont, there wasn’t a bus for 30+ minutes. I decided to go to O’Hare and try to take a shuttle there. I photographed the train when it arrived.

 

 

            I rode to O’Hare and photographed the train when I got there.

 

 

 

            I went to the hotel shuttles to wait for the shuttle. There were multiple shuttles but none belonging to my hotel. At one point I decided to take a cab but was convinced to wait for a few more minutes. Luckily during the last few minutes a shuttle van FINALLY came for my hotel. This would save me some money.

 

            We headed out and the shuttle took me to the Best Western in Elk Grove. I checked into my hotel and asked for a shuttle for 10:00 am the next day.

 

            I went to my room and went online. I headed out to a nearby gas station and got some milk. I then returned to my hotel and worked on this report some more. I asked for a wake up call at 8:30 and called it a night.

 

Click for my flight home:      Flight from O'Hare