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We’ve never ridden on the Texas Eagle. In order to better follow this trip report, we just rewatched Jeb Brooks’ YouTube video of his trip on the T.E. so that we can better appreciate what all you’ll be seeing and the stations you’ll be stopping at. Eric & Pat

On our trip last month, my three carry-on bags (a rolling laptop case, a camera bag which also had my scanner and GPS device, plus a canvas carry-on bag with clothing, toilet kit, gaffer's tape, etc. came to a total weight of 50 lbs. for all three items.

Just this afternoon, we received another update to our reservation for a passage from Toledo to Chicago next May. Our reservation was originally for Capitol Limited No. 29. Then yesterday, we received an update saying that we would now be on Floridian No. 40 with same departure and arrival times...

When we travel, we always have several paper copies of our e-tickets scattered among our carry-on bags. We also have paper copies of the timetables of the trains we will be on. Paper copies can be referred to at any time and aren’t subject to being lost in cyber space should some event occur...

Pinky was our SCA in 1999 on the very first trip we ever took on the SWC. Back then, we were still new at the game and, for the return trip on No. 3, had arranged to fly from Cleveland to Chicago, where we planned to catch No. 3. Our flight ended up being cancelled due to problems with the...

On second thought, we will keep our Floridian No. 40 ticket for the time being to see how this train performs. Lake Shore Limited No. 49 has always been our train of last resort if something happened to Capitol Limited No. 29 that prevented it from connecting with SWC No. 3 in Chicago. If we...

A point well taken. We will be revising our tickets shortly.

I think most everyone will agree that the potential for events occurring that can delay a long-distance train (freight interference, trespasser incidents, equipment failures, signal issues, track work, derailments, sever weather incidents, etc.) increases in direct proportion to the distance...

This morning (9-22-2024), we received new e-tickets with modifications to our trip scheduled for next May. We originally had tickets for a passage from Chicago to Toledo on Capitol Limited No. 30. Now, we will be on Floridian No. 41 which departs from Chicago and arrives in Toledo at the same...

They did stay on Channel 46 through to Chicago Union Station. With the future of the OTOL site (including its Amtrak Frequencies page) uncertain, it might become harder to keep informed as to what the current road channels are. (OTOL relied on updates from rail passengers with scanners to keep...

That's the whole idea of our writing these trip reports.

Stage 3: Los Angeles to San Diego (September 18th) Since our southbound Pacific Surfliner No. 770 train wasn’t due to depart until 10:10 a.m., we headed up to the Metropolitan Lounge rather than waiting on the platform for over two hours. We found two good seats together close to the Lounge’s...

(Day 3: September 18th) We were up a little after 4:00 a.m. to start packing up and to be dressed and ready when Pinky delivered our breakfast orders. It was still dark outside when we arrived at San Bernardino at 5:46 a.m.,15 minutes early. We even departed a few minutes early. When we...

(Day 2: September 17th) I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to find SWC No. 3 standing still. Waiting until we were moving again, I got up and, being careful not to wake Pat who is not an early morning person, got dressed and set up the GPS device and the scanner. It was still dark outside, and the GPS...

Stage 2: Chicago to Los Angeles (Day 1: September 16th) Since we were in no great hurry to reach the platform, we remained seated until most of the other passengers had detrained. Red Caps and their carts being noticeable by their absence, we began walking to the Metropolitan Lounge, confident...

Part 2: Toledo, Ohio to San Diego, California Stage 1: Toledo to Chicago (September 16th) We were up by 3:00 a.m. to log onto the Amtrak website where we learned that CL No. 29 was running 16 minutes late. After showering and dressing, we had a quick breakfast in our room and finished repacking...

Michigan Mom, As always, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. (Coming from someone whose trip reports we always look forward to reading and re-reading, they are doubly appreciated!) Yes, the various passageways though Chicago Union Station’s construction zones are now less...

Again, the first priority should be to restore traditional dining to all long distance trains rather than first restoring dishware.

Some waiters were probably kept busy carrying food trays to private bedrooms and drawing rooms.

OK. I ran the numbers. A typical meal at McDonald’s consisting of a Big Mac, Fries, a Chocolate Shake and an Apple Pie comes to $13.76 or $27.52 for two people. So you are correct. (A year or so ago, those meals were a lot less.) We like to dine at a family-run Chinese Restaurant. For $26.54...