TRAVELOGUE – PENNSYLVANIA TO LA PLATA, MO AND RETURN

TRAVELOGUE – PENNSYLVANIA TO LA PLATA, MO AND RETURN

Report and Photos By Ben "Dutch" Myers

This is a four part Travelogue of my trip from Lancaster, PA to La Plata, Missouri via Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago and return. Part I is the outbound section, Parts 2 and 3 take place in La Plata and Part 4 is the trip home. Part I is heavy on text for a reason. The other three parts are mostly photos, I promise, so kindly indulge me. In Part I, my goal is to encourage those contemplating rail travels to consider that there is much more excitement to a train ride than getting from point A to point B. With many touring experiences well within car rental driving distance of train stations, why would anyone go abroad for vacations? Being a rail traveler is fantastic; being a rail explorer is a step beyond. Explore, and you may find a place that you like so much, you keep returning there. I found such a place – the Depot Inn and the La Plata, Missouri area. That’s why this is my fourth rail trip to La Plata. There is truly no place like the good old USA!

PART 1 - LANCASTER, PA TO LAPLATA, MO

The familiar voice that brings comfort and joy to nearly all American rail fans sang through the line…..”Hi, I’m Julie, Amtrak’s automated agent”. I had just punched the telephone numbers: 1-800-USA-RAIL. Julie continued with “Train Status” to help the caller discover if a train is running on time. I wanted to make sure that my train #664 was on schedule for its stop at Lancaster, PA.

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Lanc Sta	Lanc Sta
Lanc Sta	Lanc Sta Amtrak pic

These reliable Keystone Service trains run in both directions between Harrisburg, PA and Philadelphia 30th Street Station.
Julie had assured me that the train was on time as I walked inside to gaze around the station built by the PRR in 1929.

Lanc Sta steps

Inside Lanc Sta

Inside Lanc Sta

The station also has bus service to Harrisburg, York, and cities beyond such as New York as well as the Lancaster area. There are modern conveniences of a food stand during hours plus an ATM machine.

Lanc Sta ATM

If the ticket window is closed or the line too long, one can use a “Quick-Trak” automated ticket machine.

Lanc Sta Ticket window

Lanc Sta Quick Ticket

Antique baggage moving equipment was on display

Lanc Sta Antique Luggage Handcart

Lanc Sta old luggage cart

as was a public display of early photos of the station.

Lanc Sta Memories	Lanc Sta NRHS 1985 & 1956 Aerotrain
Lanc Sta PRR 5122 4-4-2	Lanc Sta 1900 PRR Sta & 1977.

Several wall plaques testified to the historic nature of Lancaster station as well as employee pride

Lanc Sta NRHS 1935

0018%20Lanc%20Sta%201929%20Clock%20Plq.jpg

Lanc Sta 1929 Clock Plq

Lanc Sta Safety award

Before long, my train’s arrival was at hand and it was time to head to the proper track.

Lanc Sta seating Xover	Lanc Sta xover
Lanc Sta Xover WB window	Lanc Sta steps

Notice the photo of the bench where generations have carved their initials

Lanc Sta Seat carvings

and the metal shields outside the windows.

Lanc Sta shields

Lanc Sta shields

I presumed that they date back to steam days to deflect locomotive smoke from the windows.

Snow removal equipment was still in evidence on the platforms due to an unusually harsh winter of heavy snow. With the weather overcast and the landscape covered with snow most of the trip, I apologize early for the difficult photographic lighting situations of the photos. Our train was moving pass catenary equipment,

Lanc Sta AMTK Work Equipt

Lanc PA Catenary Maint Veh

serene Lancaster County farms,

Lanc Co farmland

and station stops along the way

Exton, PA

into Philadelphia.

Amtrak A16503 Catenary Veh

Phila PA 30th St

PHL 30th St Amtrak Locos

The 30th Street Station arrival was on time at 11:10 AM Sunday February 21, 2010. I would depart there on train #195 at 12:31 PM to arrive into Washington D.C.’s Union Station at 2:25 PM. This schedule allowed me plenty of leeway to catch the CAP (Capitol Limited, Train #29), for a 4:05 departure to Chicago.

I pause here to say I know that some of you train savvy travelers are asking “so – why the roundabout route to the Capitol Limited instead of taking the Pennsylvanian straight west to Pittsburgh, PA to pick it up there?” Good question. True, the Pennsylvanian provides an interesting trip right across the center of the state which I have taken previously (See my previous travelogues by Dutch). This time I wanted to experience the Capitol Limited from its origin in the nation’s capital to capture some photos of towns and sites along the earlier CAP route during the waning hours of daylight. Additionally, when the CAP pulled into Pittsburgh near midnight, I’d already be comfortably in my roomette bed. On previous trips aboard the Pennsylvanian, I spent the four hour layover waiting in Pittsburgh station. Although, visiting a Primanti Brothers for one of their famous sandwiches was an enjoyable part of it.

The train to Washington was crowded, and with an isle seat, picture taking not an option. Therefore, the camera stayed in its bag along the Northeast Corridor.

At Union Station, my first order of business was to store my luggage. Checking at Information,

Wash DC Info Desk

the lady pointed her thumb toward the lounge door behind them.

WAS Union Sta lounge

WAS Union Sta lounge

The lounge is an oasis for first class roomette passengers to check baggage, get a complimentary soft or hot drink, light snacks, and generally relax while waiting for the next train. Since my earlier trains had been on schedule, I had time for a self guided tour about the station

WAS Union Sta	WAS Union Sta
WAS Union Sta	WAS Union Sta

WAS Union Sta	WAS Union Sta
WAS Union Sta.	WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.	WAS Union Sta.
WAS US WWI RRs	WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.

and even ventured outside the front entrance.

WAS Union Sta.	Amtrak Police
WAS Columbus mem	WAS Postal Museum

WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.

WAS Union Sta.

The station was built by the PRR and B&O railroads in 1908. If you’ve seen the movie Silver Streak, you will remember the scene of the runaway train crashing into a large station. That was based on an actual occurrence at this station in 1953, when a passenger train’s brakes failed and it tore into the building, with the 447,000 pound locomotive collapsing into the floor, ending up in the basement instead of the great hall. No one was killed though and the tough GGI design locomotive was quickly repaired and back in service.

I headed back to the lounge to retrieve my bags for boarding the Capitol Limited.

WAS CAP Ltd

WAS CAP Ltd

WAS CAP Sleeping Car 2901

Boarding sleeping car number 2901, my sleeping car attendant was pleasant but declined to be identified in the travelogue. I understand people’s reluctance to be in a travelogue and always respect their wishes. As it turned out though, I would like to have given him accolades. He came to my rescue in making my escape from the torture chamber of lower level Roomette number 14. It wasn’t the roomette; the problem came from the family bedroom directly behind it. No sooner had I stowed my suitcase, when a blood curdling scream brought the hairs up on the back of my neck. It was the voice of a little girl, and with the craziness on the news these days, I thought someone was attacking her in the bedroom. Turning the door handle on the bedroom, I quickly yanked open the door. There sat a weary looking mother, lost in misery, while a kid of about five or six stood on the seat screaming at the top of her lungs. I could see the mother had problems enough. Therefore, pulling the door close, I excused myself saying I had believed someone was being murdered. In a short time someone, whom I guessed to be the grandmother or aunt, arrived and went into the bedroom. Within minutes the munchkin was at it again with the two adults yelling back at her, at the same decibel level, to be quiet and behave. I tried to ignore the din and took photos of Marc cars through my window.

WAS MARC car

When I could take no more, I went to the car attendant and told him I had saved too long and had waited two years for this trip. I wasn’t going to have it ruined by a family screeching all night in the next compartment. He grimaced knowingly, saying I could move upstairs into roomette number 9, which I quickly did. The rest of the CAP trip went smoothly.

In my new roomette, the joys of train travel began as the wheels of the Capitol Limited inched forward and gained speed toward Chicago. Enjoyment took hold while I snapped photos through the window while leaving Washington behind

WAS railyard wires	WAS Rail Yard
WAS Metro cars	WAS Metro train

and traveling through Brookland, DC and Rockville, Md.

Brookland DC Sta

Rockville MD Sta

Exploring the train was the next order of business as I headed to the observation car.

WB CAP	WB CAP
WB CAP bedroom hall	WB CAP Diner Car

WB CAP Diner Car

Arriving in the dome car I noticed business people on their computers and cell phones, working while relaxing with the passing scenes,

WB CAP sightseer lounge car

thereby alleviating the stress of rat race driving and airports. Some of the best reasons for being on a train were taking place. There’s no better way to experience America than on a train. Most of the view from an airplane consists of squares of land or a carpet of clouds. And as Charles Kuralt said about car travel in his On the Road book: “Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything.” How right he was. Enjoying the countryside from a train has no equal.

A little deli store was sliding past the window and caught my attention.

Pt Rocks Kerrigan Deli

Pt Rocks Kerrigan Deli

Pt Rocks Kerrigan Deli

Places like that drive the imagination. One of the fun things about train travel is gazing through the window and wondering what the people are doing in a certain house, if a winding path leads to a fishing hole or what it’s like to saunter into some trackside eatery. This one was called Kerrigan’s Corner Deli in Point of Rocks, Md. Although there was snow on the ground, I could easily picture customers in nicer weather sitting at the outside picnic table grabbing a hurried lunch of sandwiches, soups or salads as the sign advertises. A little Internet searching revealed a gold mine of further information. Kerrigan’s had been there as a liquor store since 1954, adding the deli, convenience store and gasoline sales later. Then recently, it was purchased by two men who wanted a place of their own, tired of working for others at restaurants in Washington. One man’s wife had been traveling nearby, noticed that Kerrigan’s was for sale, and the rest as they say is history, with another American dream coming true. Their menu also includes crab cakes, fried shrimp and fish, subs plus deli meats and cheeses. Owners John and Gerald like to brag about their fried chicken too. Just like the old cartoons, wondrous food smells reach across the street to the C&O Canal path to drag in hikers by the nose. Also interesting to note, is that train crews sometimes rush in while their train is delayed. One crewman said he had only 21 minutes and they had him back on his train in eighteen. I’ve taken the space to make these comments in order to point out the discovery and joy of imagination that comes with train travel. There are countless other places of wonder during your journey, this is but one. If ever in the Point of Rocks area, it is said to be popular with railroad photographers, you may want to stop at Kerrigan’s Corner Deli for a bite.

As the CAP continued wending its way parallel to the Potomac River, I could hear passengers trying to determine the meaning of the paths and ditches along the left side of the train.

C&O Canal

Residents of the area know that they are the remnants of towpaths and waterways of the old C&O Canal. Stretching 184.5 miles, it is now a National Historical Park. It serves for walking and biking paths with fishing and boating in some portions, as well as an access to Potomac River whitewater for kayakers. Begun in 1828 in Georgetown, DC, it was obsolete by 1850 when it reached Cumberland, MD, due to the railroad having already reached that point. One can still take a ride on a period canal boat in the Georgetown section. Click here for more information on this fascinating area: http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm.

Near Brunswick, MD, we passed a railroad yard containing NRHX 142 passenger car and CSX and MARC locomotives and cars.

Near Brunswick NRHX 142	Near Brunswick MD
Near Burnswick MD	MARK locos Near Brunswick

0093%20MARC%20CSX%20near%20Brunswick.jpg

MARC CSX near Brunswick

MARC is the Maryland Area Rail Commuter system administered by the Maryland Transit Administration with operations contracted with the CSX and Amtrak. We moved beneath two bridges - the Rts 79 & 17 into Virginia

Rts 17 & 79 Bridge over Potomac

and the bridge that takes Rt 340 across the Potomac from Maryland, just touches Virginia then passes by Harpers Ferry, WV.

Rt 340 Br Near Harpers Ferry

The Potomac River was our constant companion

Potomac River Near Harpers Ferry

Fishing Potomac near Harpers Ferry

as we neared and entered Harpers Ferry.

While the train stops here,

Exit tunnel Harpers Ferry	Potomac River Harpers Ferry
Signals Bridge Harpers Ferry	Harpers Ferry walkers bridge

Harpers Ferry walkers bridge

Harpers Ferry

one can think about the history that took place. Readers will no doubt recognize Harper’s Ferry for its fame of John Brown’s raid before the Civil War, and the military action that took place during the Civil War. I believe this photo,

Amory firehouse

is the top of the engine house adjacent to the armory where Abolitionist John Brown and his raiders were forced to take refuge. Citizens and local militia, angered by the attack on their town and people, had driven them there. The first man shot by the raiders that night was a free black man working for the B&O Railroad. US Marines were dispatched to Harpers Ferry, officered by none other than Army Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. J.E.B. Stuart. When negotiations failed, the fire house was stormed and captured. Last October, 200 re-enactors and 40 descendants of raiders, townspeople, Marines, militia and John Brown’s great-g-g-granddaughter made a commemorative walk into Harpers Ferry. During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times between Union and Confederate forces. Hollywood cannot make up anything more profound than history itself provides. This is just one more example of what can be seen from a train window. Amtrak stops here once per day in each direction.

Also serving Harpers Ferry as part of its Washington to Martinsburg, WV service is MARC‘s Brunswick Line, which dates back to the B&O Railroad. It is worth noting that the B&O’s Columbian passenger train traveled through here between Chicago and Baltimore. Originally running between Jersey City and Washington, the Columbian was - in 1931 - the first air-conditioned passenger train in North America. In 1949, the streamlined all coach Columbian complimented its sister, none other than the all Pullman - Capitol Limited - the only trains in the eastern US equipped with dome cars. The B&O handed over passenger service to Amtrak in 1971. Pulling forward, it looked like the station has been allowed to deteriorate since my last trip two years ago. However, the town buildings seem to be in good repair.

Harpers Ferry	Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry	Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry

Leaving the Potomac, we headed westward as I took a walk and discovered our conductor and trainman Cameron and Al, doing paperwork at a table.

WBCAP Cameron & Al

After a few pleasantries, I could see that they were busy so left them to their duties.

As dusk was settling in, a view of fresh West Virginia snow against the sky produced an impressionistic painting that reminded me of Claude Monet.

WV Impressionist scene

At Martinsburg, the historic Caperton Station Hotel with its newer station addition came into view on the train’s left side.

Martinsburg WV Caperton

Martinsburg WV Caperton

Matinsburg WV

Then, an old roundhouse that appears to be under reconstruction, brought rail fans to the opposite side of the train.

Martinsburg Roundhouse	Martinsburg Roundhouse
Martinsburg Roundhouse	Martinsburg Roundhouse

Martinsburg Roundhouse

Let’s reflect upon the history here as well. The B&O Railroad built engine and machine shops, then the roundhouse about 1848. It is now a completely enclosed 1866 cast iron frame roundhouse and a National Historic Landmark. When the Civil War began, Stonewall Jackson destroyed or confiscated about 42 locomotives, 380 railroad cars and set fire set to the buildings, which were rebuilt after the war. Following the battle of Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee’s retreat route brought his army through this area. Martinsburg is also the birthplace of Belle Boyd, the famous Confederate spy who ran to greet Stonewall Jackson’s soldiers in Front Royal, surviving a hail of Union bullets which left holes in her skirt. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began at Martinsburg and spread to Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia with much bloodshed.

Half an hour later it was about time for “diner in the diner” as we passed an old railroad building with two CSX repair trucks.

CSX bldg W of Martinsburg

I headed to the dinning car for the first seating as chosen earlier. People were being seated on the other side of the car where I was greeted by crew member Sammy.

Sammy on CAP dining car

This man has to be one of the most “happy in his work” Amtrak employees I have ever met. He did a wonderful job making sure passengers enjoyed their meals. I expect he will be running for State Governor or Senator some day and he has my vote. The steak dinner was cooked to perfection and I had no complaints whatsoever, although my table partners declined to be in the travelogue. It was dark when we pulled into Cumberland, MD where I grabbed night photos,

Cumberland, MD

then went to bed after listening to a CD by Charlie Zahm, a gifted baritone singer and musician of Celtic and maritime music.

Next morning in the dining car I was seated with two ladies, one wearing a US Marine T-shirt and the other wearing a US Army T-shirt. Joking that facing Army personnel and a Marine I would not give them any guff, they explained that the shirts were to support relatives in the military (a thank you here for those who serve – big thank you!). Both were good company and while the Marine lady declined to be in the travelogue, the Army supporter identified herself as Peggy.

Peggy WBCAP

They had slept sitting in coach seats all night, so indeed they were from tough stock. The older I get, the more I need a roomette bed. We all enjoyed scrambled eggs, sausage patties, potatoes and biscuit along with coffee and orange juice. I believe our Marine lady had grits with hers, a dish for which I never could acquire a taste. After breakfast, I jumped up from the table and walked toward the middle of the car to get a window photo of the snow storm hitting South Bend, IN.

South Bend IN snowstorm

South Bend IN snowstorm

While there I talked with a couple from Canada, Phillip and Debbie

Philip & Debby Canada wb CAP

who were headed home to British Columbia I believe. I asked if they watched the Canadian TV show Corner Gas. Indeed they had and we all agreed that it was a wonderful fun filled comedy show.

Making my way back to the roomette, I listened to a CD of Celtic Woman then headed to the sightseer lounge car. Within the hour we were drawing close to Whiting, IN where a few industry photos were possible along Lake Michigan.

WBCAP near Whiting Cov Hoppers	WBCAP near Whiting tank cars
WBCAP near Whiting empty hoppers	WBCAP NS & CR hoppers

WBCAP near Whiting NS & CR hoppers	WBCAP near Whiting NS & CR hoppers
WBCAP near Whiting empty hopper	WBCAP near Whiting

WBCAP near Whiting

Whiting Park IN

A few minutes later I was rewarded with the appearance of a locomotive, coil car and caboose from the South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railroad.

Chicago Short Line #31 SW1500 SCIH4027 (CoilSteel) SCIH 4

Chicago Short Line #31 SCIH 4027(CoilSteel) SCIH4

The loco and caboose still have their earlier Chicago Short Line markings. Loco #31/SW1500, is a switcher with 1500 horse power and built in the very early 1970s by GM Electromotive Div. The car, SCIH 4027, is an interesting coil steel car with fixed sides and fixed or drop ends. Today it had a roof attached as well. While I was taking these photos, I met fellow traveler Aaron Harsh.

Music Man Aaron Harshbeats Productions WV

I called him the music man because he runs a music production company with his wife called Harshbeats Productions in Osage, West Virginia. They are apparently having great success with it. This is another fun part of train travel, enjoyable conversations with many people.

Closer to Chicago, I decided to return to my roomette to double check the suitcase for arrival. At this point, it was a matter of staying in the roomette as we closed in on Union Station. I donned my headphones again for CDs by The Lovin’ Spoonful and Edie Brickell. Did you know she is married to Paul Simon? Is he a lucky bugger or what?! Pictures begging to be taken outside the window were a rail yard, an ice filled river, the Chicago Embassy Church, and Intermodal cars before we reached the Chicago White Sox baseball stadium.

Railyard CHI	Bridge CHI
Chi tracks & roads	CHI tracks over tracks

Chic Embassy Church	CHI Container well cars
Intermodal TTX	Chi White Sox

Railroad equipment came frequently

UP 3825 SD70M	UP 5425 GE ES44AC
UP 8633 SD70 UP 458 SD7	Chi MOW equip

as we approached the Amtrak 21st St location

Chi 21st St elevated

Chi 21st Street

Chi 21st St elevated

Chi 21st Street

and then we were crossing the lift bridge over the Chicago River.

Chi Lift Bridge Ping Tom park

So Chi River br & Tom park

Seen off to the right side is the Ping Tom Memorial Park. This Chinatown park on the south bank of the Chicago River was formerly a Santa Fe Railroad yard, and was purchased by the Chinese American Development Corp led by civic leader Ping Tom. Mr. Tom worked years putting the plan together to make his dream come true. Unfortunately, he passed away and the park is named in his honor with three sections, a pagoda pavilion,

Ping Tom Park Pagoda

bamboo gardens and a playground. The lift bridge we were crossing was built by the PRR in 1915. In 2007 it was named a Chicago Landmark. In addition to Amtrak, I believe it is also used by Metra Heritage commuter trains and NS and UP freights. On the other side of the bridge, an Amtrak truck was plowing new snow

Chi Amtrak plowing

and then we were pulling onto tracks for Amtrak’s Union Station

Chi Amtk shops	Chi Amtk loco shop
AMTK locos 81 & 4	Loco shop AMTK 81

Chi Car Washer	Maint Fac Car Washer
Refuel by truck	AMTK superliner 33075

AMTK coach cars	Coach & bilevel
Chi AMTK yard	Chi AMTK yard

AMTK 34134 sightseer

AMTK 518 & 33006

I tipped the sleeping car attendant, stepped off the Capitol Limited and followed the crowd snaking up the platform into the underground section of the station. After walking to the Metropolitan Lounge (resting and waiting area for first class fare passengers), I checked my bags and took the escalators to the street. I had started with sinus problems the day before as the trip began, and lasted until on the train returning home – naturally. Therefore, instead of taking the bus to have fun at the Navy Pier, I was headed for the CVS pharmacy across the street from Union Station.

Chicago CVS

The Navy Pier is a favorite side trip for me when traveling through Chicago. You can see photos of it in my previous travelogues (http://www.trainweb.com/travelogues/dutchmyers/). Since the Capitol Ltd arrives about 845 AM and the Southwest Chief leaves for La Plata at 315 PM, there is ample time to visit the Navy Pier and any number of other Chicago sites. With the famous Chicago winds blowing snow and temps in the 20s however, this was not the time to go sightseeing. In any case, my plans for the Navy Pier were changed to sitting in the Metro Lounge, sipping hot tea, taking Tylenol sinus and watching movies.

While waiting in the lounge, I plugged in my laptop and watched DVDs of Nero Wolf, David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Thomas & Sarah (an Upstairs Downstairs spinoff of the British TV show). Surprisingly, although I had brought a small case of DVDs" (including old Roy Rogers movies) these were the only ones I had time to watch the entire trip.

Lunch time brought no desire for food, so I went to the food court level and bought a Jamba Juice Strawberry Swirl (strawberries, bananas, apple-strawberry juice and ice). They also have oatmeal, smoothie type energy drinks and other items. If a traveler wishes to stay inside Union Station, there are many options available including burritos, Chinese restaurant, hot dogs, ribs, pizza, sandwich shops, McDonald’s, and more. Shortly before departure time, the intercom in the Metro Lounge was calling passengers to present tickets for the Southwest Chief. I had retrieved my checked-in luggage early and was ready. There were perhaps twenty-five to thirty first class passengers for the sleeping cars. Coach passengers would be moving from the general boarding lounge passenger room.

Gen boarding lounge

Although I was not taking a sleeping car on the Southwest Chief (La Plata was only five hours away), my roomette ticket from the CAP permitted me to use the lounge. I had booked a lower level seat on the Chief, which is a tad roomier and less crowded than the upper passenger level. Boarding the Southwest Chief,

Boarding SW Chief

a trainman checked my ticket and assigned a seat to me. Once we began to move, I took myself and my camera right up to the observation car. Due to the time of year and weather, lighting for photographs would soon be limited. Various pieces of railroad equipment, including Amtrak and BNSF, were observed as we left the city,

CHI Amtrak Yd	CHI Amtrak Yd
CHI Amtrak Yd	Locos AMTK 194 & 185

Dinette AMTK 53510

AMTK 33028

Church & Chi Yd	TTX & elevated
BNSF 2837 & EMDX 771 ex CR CP38	BNSF 3193 ex ATSF GP50

passed the tower and BNSF yard at Cicero, IL,

Cicero IL

BNSF 2003 GP38-2 ex UP

DTTX 743723 dbl stack	DTTX 733169 dbl stack
BNSF 623 & 5384 Dash 9-44CW	BNSF 7508 ES44DC

the building at Highland Park

Highlands Bldg

and Hinsdale.

Hinsdale

Hinsdale Police

Photos of Naperville, Mendota, Princeton, Galesburg and Ft. Madison, IA will be included in Part IV on the way back home. Midway through this part of the trip, a large man came through the sightseer taking dinner reservations. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder from the way he was talking to would-be diners. As he came to me I asked if the Angus burger was available and he snapped “no, that’s because it is for lunch”, and kept walking past me before I could reply. If his behavior was any indication of the dining car staff on this train, I would skip it and just get a sandwich in the café. It was a good choice as I tried their veggie burger and liked it. The café attendant was a pleasant reversal of Mr. Rude from the dinning car. By the time we reached Fort Madison, it was full dark,

Ft Madison

as was the crossing where I de-trained

La Plata Crossing

due to the crew failing to open the door of my car at La Plata, Missouri. About a half hour before La Plata, an inclination caused me to venture forward to make sure they knew I was there. Mr. Rude in the dinning car turned me back with the assurance that they would not forget me – he was wrong. However, they got me to the Depot Inn where it was nice to receive a warm welcome from Brock at the front desk. I was thinking how great it was to be back in La Plata as I headed down the hallway to my room.

END Part I

TRAVELOGUE – PENNSYLVANIA TO LA PLATA, MO, AND RETURN

Report and Photos By Ben "Dutch" Myers

[ Part I | Extra Photos for Part I ]

Part 2

[ Other Reports by Ben "Dutch" Myers | Other Rail Travelogues at TrainWeb.com | TrainWeb.com | Silver Rails Country ]