Booked my ticket on Amtrak

[striker55]

Train out of Chicago left on time, full up. Another sleepless night, maybe 3 hours. Looking forward to a cup of coffee at 7am when the cafe opens. Should be on time for my brothers to pick me up at 12:37 pm.

 

[striker55]

Made it to Gloversville NY yesterday, it was a long drawn out adventure. My brother's met at the train station. Ed had a sign with my name on it, made me laugh. Won't be doing that again. Flying home after my visit. I have talked to people on my journey who love traveling on trains. Absolutely they say a bedroom on the train is the way to go. A little pricey for me. If you never traveled on a train a day trip might be fun. Of course people who do the travel across country see spectacular scenery. I traveled mainly at night, not much to see. Anyway I did and done.

 

[MountainGirl]

Made it to Gloversville NY yesterday, it was a long drawn out adventure. My brother's met at the train station. Ed had a sign with my name on it, made me laugh. Won't be doing that again. Flying home after my visit. I have talked to people on my journey who love traveling on trains. Absolutely they say a bedroom on the train is the way to go. A little pricey for me. If you never traveled on a train a day trip might be fun. Of course people who do the travel across country see spectacular scenery. I traveled mainly at night, not much to see. Anyway I did and done.

How'd it go with your mom? Was she happy/surprised? Or maybe that's today...

 

[striker55]

How'd it go with your mom? Was she happy/surprised? Or maybe that's today...

Didn't see her yet, brothers and I agree to wait till next week because once she knows I'm in town she will expect me there everyday. Thanks for asking.

 

[MountainGirl]

...

 

[SA_Steve]

I rode the train in a little train bedroom from Houston to Chicago 52 years ago. Went south / west out of Houston then north to Ft Worth / OK city, you could get off a the short stops for a little stretch back in the real world. Best thing about trains is you safely see parts of the US you would never venture into.

 

[benenglish]

Amtrak is supposed to take priority over freight...

I always thought just the opposite.

I'm not motivated enough to look it up.

 

[striker55]

I always thought just the opposite.

I'm not motivated enough to look it up.

Amtrak had to pull over while freight trains had the right of way traveling from Texas to Chicago. I noticed how the trains moving east from Chicago traveled faster, more tracks.

 

[Orbie]

I always thought just the opposite.

I'm not motivated enough to look it up.

They constantly put us in the siding and let Amtrak around us. For 10+ years Amtrak has always taken priority except for an intermodal train on occasion.

 

[Orbie]

Amtrak had to pull over while freight trains had the right of way traveling from Texas to Chicago. I noticed how the trains moving east from Chicago traveled faster, more tracks.

That’s backwards in my experience but I never go further North than Hearne, TX so I can’t speak for other areas. San Antonio to Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Laredo, Houston and Hearne are the only territories I’ve worked.

 

[Cool 'Horn Luke]

I always thought just the opposite.

I'm not motivated enough to look it up.

It all depends on the trackage right agreements with the railroad that owns the track. IIRC, all railroads have some sort of financial penalty for delays to Amtrak. Some choose to abide by it (Norfolk Southern and BNSF), others give 'em the middle finger and pay the paltry penalty (Union Pacific).

 

[Orbie]

It all depends on the trackage right agreements with the railroad that owns the track. IIRC, all railroads have some sort of financial penalty for delays to Amtrak. Some choose to abide by it (Norfolk Southern and BNSF), others give 'em the middle finger and pay the paltry penalty (Union Pacific).

UP tries to abide by it but many times we’re so long, we don’t fit in the siding for a meet.

 

[DoubleDuty]

Ex-wife and I did that run also, only we took the train from Los Angeles to Williams, stayed at the hotel there and then took the GC Railway. We went the time of year when they could use the old steam engine. Unfortunately, Amtrak no longer stops in Williams. Forgot the price; it would have definitely been cheaper to drive but wanted to do something different.

My wife, son and I did the train ride from williams. Stayed at the Hotel

 

[striker55]

Visiting Mom today (I hope). Brother's car broke down yesterday. Friday, brother had to go to emergency room, could be a liver problem. Then the car breakdown, beginning to think I'm bad luck. Mom is 94 and doesn't know I'm in town, hope I don't shock her too much.

 

[striker55]

Finally made it to surprise Mom, she was napping, I think she thought she was dreaming. She looked up saw Dave, then me and brother Ed. We had to wear a mask so it took her a minute, after taking the mask off. She thought she'd never see me again. Going back tomorrow, mostly reminiscing.

 

[striker55]

The local community college has a 9/11 memorial, stopped there yesterday. An antenna that sat on top of the tower was set up and two white stakes representing the towers were set in the ground. The placque said on September 11 the shadow from the antenna touches the two stakes at the times of the collapse 9:59 and 10:28.

 

[mroper]

The local community college has a 9/11 memorial, stopped there yesterday. An antenna that sat on top of the tower was set up and two white stakes representing the towers were set in the ground. The placque said on September 11 the shadow from the antenna touches the two stakes at the times of the collapse 9:59 and 10:28.
View attachment 391925

The HP campus on 249 in Houston/cypress has/had a memorial like that it was granite and positioned so the sun would shine through it the same times

 

[striker55]

Vacation over, flying home today. Mom was happy to see me, spent a lot of time with my little brother. Middle brother too, nieces daughter had a recital last night, dance school. She is only 4. Back to the heat and humidity.

 

[Grumps21]

No train home?

 

[striker55]

No train home?

One and done. Maybe if the train wasn't full it would have been more enjoyable getting here.