For my Spring trip this year, I wanted to use my Amtrak Guest Rewards points one way to the best advantage. I checked baseball schedules, hoping to catch at least one game along the way and wanted to return by way of Philadelphia, since SEPTA had routes I had not yet ridden. I could also ride for the first time New Jersey Transit's River Line as well as Port Authority Transit Corporation. The Princeton Line on New Jersey Transit could also be worked in, and then in New York, I would have my choice of new lines to ride.
I called Guest Rewards and learned the passenger is not able to choose the routing, the computer does. That meant one Southwest Chief trip for certain. The computer then had me on the Lake Shore Limited until I asked if there was another departure time from New York, to which the reservation agent replied there was a departure at 9:25 AM. A Viewliner sleeper on the Cardinal and a Superliner roomette on the Southwest Chief would be my westbound choices. That meant a Wednesday departure for New York City, which would allow a New York Mets game Tuesday night.
With the westbound leg set, I went to Santa Ana where my excellent night-time Amtrak agent, Marty, booked me a coach with a great fare which I paid on the spot. She then booked my sleeping car space on the Southwest Chief and Capitol Limited, with a Amtrak Regional Train to Philadelphia. A pair of Keystone trains would get me to New York City on that Tuesday and I would stay at my usual Herald Square Hotel in the Big Apple, but needed to find a new hotel for Philadelphia.
After searching online for about an hour, I found the Holiday Inn Express downtown to be perfect for what I needed. Amtrak's Simplified Dining was announced, meaning my last steak dinner would be on the Southwest Chief on April 13th as it was scheduled to be switched over on April 15th. Over the next months, I paid for the sleeping car rooms before that big day arrived.
Pacific Surfliner 583 4/13/2006To say that I was ready for this adventure was an understatement. My mother drove me to the Santa Ana station and I talked with Marty before walking out onto the balcony overlooking the tracks.
Metrolink 686 arrived on its way to Irvine.
Minutes later, Pacific Surfliner 583 arrived to take me to Los Angeles and I chose a seat in a Superliner coach then found my friend Pablo, who shared a seat with me to LAUPT. We stopped in Anaheim and Fullerton before making our way to Los Angeles where I found a bench and waited for the Southwest Chief.
Southwest Chief 4 4/13/2006At 6:03 PM, the train reversed into the station with P42DC's 63, 99 and 179, baggage 1702, transition 39034, sleeping cars 32012 and 32031, diner 38011, lounge 33030, coaches 34024, 34008 and 34096 with baggage 1250 and Express Trak 74039 on the rear. I boarded the 32031 with my Sleeping Car Attendant, Simon, taking my ticket before I went to Room 2 then returned to the platform and learned that Simplified Dining had started on this train the previous day, instead of April 15th as Amtrak had stated. I was informed the date was effective out of Chicago, so all eastbound trains leaving after the 12th would be Simplified Dining.
What is Simplified Dining? That means one waiter and one steward upstairs serving all the passengers and one lone cook downstairs preparing the meals. Gone are the second waiter, assistant chef and dishwasher. So, my last steak on the Southwest Chief idea was dead even before we departed LAUPT, which we did on time. After the train left, the crew started to call dinner reservations by name.
I went to the dining car to ask for a reservation and explained that I had come from the Pacific Surfliner and never went inside the station, so the steward seated me at a table. I learned dinner reservations were given out by Customer Service in Los Angeles when passengers show their tickets and identification when checking in. I was seated with Donna, going to Kansas City and Rodney, going to Phoenix. I ordered a pork chop, baked potato and no vegetables. The plates were plastic, but looked like regular dining car china. The glasses were plastic too, but we did have silverware. So how was my first Simplified Dining meal on Amtrak?
The pork chop was surprisingly delicious.
The chocolate cake was excellent. Good conversations were had during the meal and overall, it was just like eating in the dining car on any other trip. I returned to my room to listen to some music, in this case Jeff Beck's "Wired". The train stopped at Fullerton during dinner and later at Riverside and San Bernardino, where I took a fresh air break. As the train climbed Cajon Pass, I called it a night, made up my bed and climbed in.
4/14/2006 I slept really well the first night and woke up east of Flagstaff the next morning then returned the room to daytime configuration and enjoyed the train as it travelled through the transition zone from forest to desert. After Canyon Diablo, breakfast was announced over the public address system, another change from just walking into the dining car. That announcement probably woke up the entire train. I was seated with Jim and Maylene from Phoenix, heading to Michigan, and Beth going to Lansing, Michigan.
I had French toast and turkey sausage links, which were not as good as when they are cooked on a grill. There were more interesting conversations, including a discussion of Jackie Chan. I returned to my room and listened to John Wetton's "Chasing the Dragon". As we arrived in Gallup, New Mexico, a BNSF crew using remote controlled locomotive derailed three cars across the yard tracks.
The train arrived at Gallup and I walked back and talked with Pablo, who had a good night's sleep in coach. We crossed the Continental Divide while I was in my room listening to Deep Purple's "Come Hell or High Water" and enjoying the scenery as I read my May Railfan and Railroad magazine. The Southwest Chief went around four eastbound BNSF freights before Grants, where two westbounds were awaiting our passage.
I took a nap and later waited for a freight train delay before leaving the BNSF mainline at Dailies. After crossing the Rio Grande River, we arrived at Albuquerque at 12:24 PM.
New Mexico Rail Runner is a future commuter service between Belen, Albuquerque and Bernalillo that was scheduled to start this summer.
I walked into town for some Coca-Cola.
Back at trackside, the Indian vendors were selling their wares.
The Southwest Chief at Albuquerque. I returned to my room to read ESPN Magazine and listen to Ozzy Osbourne's "Tribute". We had to wait for BNSF 5281 West to arrive before we could leave but did so at 1:30 PM, bound for Lamy. After that, it was time for Ian Anderson's "Secret Language of Birds". A red signal at the west end of Canyoncito stopped us briefly before we went into the siding to meet the westbound nine-car Southwest Chief then we climbed the rest of Glorieta Pass and descended into the Pecos River Canyon. My next musical selection was Prince's "The Hits 1".
The Southwest Chief rounding the "S" curves at Chappelle. I received a 5:15 PM dinner reservation, but instead of giving one a slip, the crew now calls your name over the PA system. I think the old way with slips would make for a more peaceful train.
At 5:15 PM, reservations were called and I was seated with Beth again, Amy, going to Raton, and Aubrey, going to New York City.
There was no braised beef selection tonight so I had the pork chop again with chocolate cake, which was another fulfilling meal as we neared Raton. "Tales of the Crystal Flute" was my next musical number for this early evening.
The Raton sign high above the town. We climbed Raton Pass, passed through the Raton Tunnel and the state line marker into Colorado then dropped down the grade to Trinidad, where six people were removed from the train.
East of Trinidad, the western sky became interesting then we made our way to La Junta, a fresh air stop, before I made up my bed for the night.
4/15/2006 I awoke just before Holiday, Kansas and was in the dining car when we stopped at the Argentine Yard fuel pads. I was seated with Bob from Portland, Carol from Naperville and Jay going to Washington, DC.
I had the French Toast and sausage patties this morning, before we arrived in Kansas City where I detrained.
Amtrak's Anne Rutledge, Train 314, waiting to take passengers to St. Louis.
Southern Pacific 2-8-2 745 "Spirit of Louisiana", ex. Louisiana State Railroad Museum 1984, exx. Audobon Park Commission 1956, nee Texas and New Orleans 745 built by the railroad in 1921. It and its train were on display during an excursion layover.
Interior of Kansas City Union Station.
The Southwest Chief, Train 4, at Kansas City. We departed on time and I slept all the way through to La Plata, Missouri, where I showered before sitting in the lounge car while my room was being made up. The train crossed the rolling hills of Missouri into Iowa and after a fresh air stop at Fort Madison, we crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. ABBA's "Live" entertained me to Galesburg, where I called Let's Talk Trains, the Internet radio show, and told them about the "Simplified Dining" experience that I have had so far.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4-6-4 3006 built by Baldwin in 1930. After departing Galesburg, we made our way to Princeton and Mendota. Before Aurora, a minor mechanical problem in the form of an air leak, was quickly taken care of. We stopped in Naperville then proceeded slowly into Chicago, due to red signals, and arrived at Chicago Union Station at 3:48 PM. A special thank you to Simon, the wonderful Sleeping Car Attendant, Jennie, the Dining Car Steward and Gwen, our fantastic server, as well as our great Chef Daryl, who prepared all those meals by himself.
Chicago 4/15/2006I checked myself and my bags into the Metropolitan Lounge before going to the Food Court.
At Gold Coast, I ordered a char dog that really hit the spot. Next I stopped by Metra to pick up a set of current timetables for all lines.
I wandered over to the Grand Hall and on the way back to the lounge, stopped at the Amtrak ticket counter to obtain a National Timetable so I would know my options in Washington, DC tomorrow. Back in the lounge, I relaxed until it was time to claim my luggage and my train was called.
Capitol Limited 30 4/15/2006
At 4:54 PM, a Red Cap asked me if I wanted help with my bags to the train and as no one else took him up on his offer, I did. We rode out to Track 20 and I obtained most of the consist. At the door of Car 32110, I met John Fox, my Sleeping Car Attendant for the trip to Washington, DC. We had P42DC's 155 and 82, baggage 1164, transition 39030, sleepers 32090 "Michigan" and 32110 "Tennessee", diner 38016, lounge 33003, coaches 34048, 34041 and 34020 with Express Trak 74089 on the rear. After I settled in room 3, I introduced myself to our conductor for the first part of the trip.
We departed Chicago Union Station on time while I listened to Mick Jagger's "Goddess in the Doorway". I received a 7:00 PM dinner reservation as we entered Indiana, passing the steel mills of Gary and the forlorn Gary station, which is now just a shell of its former glory. I switched the music to Alice Cooper's "Dirty Diamonds". Near Pine Junction, we ran into the first freight train congestion of the trip. At 7:00 PM, I was joined by Bob and Mary Ellen going to Pittsburgh, but they live in Wheeling, West Virginia.
I had the braised beef.
Mary Ellen ordered the chicken.
Bob had the pork chop.
For dessert, I had chocolate cake. While we ate, I learned a lot from Bob and Mary Ellen about Wheeling and during our meal, we stopped at South Bend and I was back in my darkened room by Elkhart, where I called it a night.
4/16/2006 I awoke at Pittsburgh and decided to step off for a picture before we departed at 6:28 AM.
Early morning in Pittsburgh. Soon after departure, I went to the dining car for breakfast as the train travelled east into a colourful sunrise and was joined by Jay, going to Washington, DC and Mary, going to Silver Springs, Florida.
I enjoyed French Toast and sausage patties before returning to my room for additional sleep until near Connersville.
Connersville.
CSX freight trains here.
The Youghiogenhy River. It was a very beautiful and peaceful trip through the canyon and the former Western Maryland bridge and grade came into view before we proceeded to Confluence.
Confluence, Pennsylvania, named for the confluence of the Casselman River and Laurel Hill Creek with the Youghiogheny River.
The Capitol Limited paralleling the Casselman River.
A windmill on a hill.
The Capitol Limited rounded a curve.
The 1,908-foot Salisbury Viaduct soars 101 feet above the Casselman River just west of Meyersdale. The longest trestle on the Great Allegheny Passage, this steel structure was an engineering achievement for the Western Maryland Railway but it was not built without human cost. During construction in 1911, disaster struck when a travelling electric crane crashed to the ground while lifting a 14.5 ton girder. Six men were killed and one was seriously injured in the accident. A month later, another worker died when he fell off the deck of the viaduct. Like all the bridges on this part of the Western Maryland, it was built to accommodate a second track, which was never added. Hundreds of spectators cheered when the first train crossed in 1912. Abandoned as a through-route in 1975, it was decked for bicycle and pedestrian use in 1998.
As we neared Sand Patch.
The Summit of the Alleghenies Mountain sign.
The Sand Patch Summit tunnels before we passed through.
The Capitol Limited descending the east flank of Sand Patch. At Fairhope the fishermen were out in force.
Hyndman, Pennsylvania. Coming into Cumberland, I saw the Western Maryland Scenic tracks that I would be riding on July 14th.
CSX freight in Cumberland.
Also here was CSX slug 2330, ex. CSXT 4423 exx. Chesapeake and Ohio 4423, exxx. Chesapeake and Ohio 3583 1965, nee Chesapeake and Ohio GP35 3045 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1965. The toilets went out in our car after leaving Cumberland so I would have to go to the next sleeper. Someone had stuffed paper towels down the toilets and one being out affects the whole plumbing system of the car.
A Baltimore and Ohio tunnel.
When on a train, have you ever been in a tunnel that is in another state than you are? I just was! The tunnel portals are both in West Virginia, but inside in the dark, you are in Maryland.
Maryland Area Rail Commuter trains lay over during Easter weekend.
The former Baltimore and Ohio roundhouse at Martinsburg. We continued on towards Harpers Ferry and since the dining car was not serving lunch, I went to the lounge car for a hot dog. When we arrived in Harpers Ferry, I looked for the Hilltop House where I had stayed on my first cross-country train trip.
Looking across the Potomac River at Maryland.
The etching on the rocks.
Looking back west at West Virginia, the Potomac River and the Hilltop House.
Baltimore and Ohio canal.
Point of Rocks station. We made our way to Rockville, then the final miles into Washington Union Station, arriving there at 2:06 PM {11:30 AM}.
Washington Union Station-Club Acela 4/16/2006I was the first passenger off the Capitol Limited because I was trying to make the connection to Regional 156, but the conductor told me I had to exchange my ticket so I went to the ticket counter but learned train 156 was sold out. I had forgotten it was Easter Sunday so I walked over to Club Acela.
The front counter.
The interior of Club Acela, open to sleeping car and all First Class passengers.
Once I checked in, I tried both of their computers, but neither of them worked, then used the self-serve beverage area before relaxing until it was time to board my train to Philadelphia. I talked to the Club Attendant and showed him my website, which he enjoyed,then mentally prepared myself for the train ride to Philadelphia.
Regional Train 168 4/16/2006I walked out of the west door of Club Acela at 3:06 PM and made my way to Track 10, boarding Amfleet coach 21704. The train consisted of AEM7 921, Business coach 44706, café 43352, coaches 21150, 21704, 82524, 82523, 82541 with 44279 bringing up the markers. I was looking forward to being aboard Amfleet again en route to Philadelphia. We departed on time and sped to New Carrolton, followed shortly thereafter by Baltimore Washington International Airport, where the detraining passengers had to be in the front five cars. On the way to Baltimore, a motor scooter had been placed between the rails in our path, but when we arrived, a young man and woman were standing off the tracks with it.
We entered the First and Second Baltimore Tunnels, where work was taking place on the east track before we stopped at Baltimore. Since this was Easter Sunday and heavy passenger boardings, our conductor decided to throw the timetable "out of the window" and we would get there when we get there. It was a beautiful spring afternoon as we crossed the arms of Chesapeake Bay and ran non-stop to Wilmington, Delaware then made the sprint to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, where I detrained, very happy to be here.
Philadelphia-Club Acela 4/16/2006I went up to the 30th Street Station, found the entrance to Club Acela on the second floor and used my Guest Reward Select Plus card to gain entry.
There are several computers that passengers can use and also some very nice comfortable chairs. This Club Acela has plenty of room and is well stocked for passengers' use.
The room overlooks the station, similar to Club Acela in Boston. I used the computer to check my e-mail then later went to the SEPTA ticket window and told the agent what I wanted to do while I was here. She suggested day passes, of which I bought two. I took a SEPTA train over to Market East and walked to the Holiday Inn Express where I checked in, before going out to ride SEPTA.
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