A day in the life on the Eaglette

[Maglev]

Thanks for the detailed trip report!

How was your overall coach experience? Did you have someone sitting next to you, and were the restrooms tolerable?

 

[Asher]

Pit Stop BBQ/ 502 S. 1st ( Small Red Building on Right after you Cross the Tracks on the Overpass.)Google the Website for Menu,Hours etc.

A week later after a train load of people flood the place those prices are history, Thanks Bob Dylan.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Thanks for the detailed trip report!

How was your overall coach experience? Did you have someone sitting next to you, and were the restrooms tolerable?

Coaches were Rehabbed ( Furnishings and Lighting/Electrics only) , were only 1/2 Full ( it wasn't a 421/422 Day)Seats were very Comfortable, everything worked as New!

Had no Seatmate, Restrooms were still the Old Type,,and were Filthy after the Trip from Chicago and the turn in the Morming in SAS.( Never saw the Coach Attendant again after Boarding in Austin)

 

[drdumont]

Thanks for the info! I had not run across the bid up thing. I usually book verbally with AmtrakGuestrewards. Once I can get a hold on an AMTRAK itinerary, then I build the rest of my trip.
When I went through Temple enroute LAX last months, I saw a few changes around the station. There used to be a couple of rather humble dwellings just South of the station after the grainary. Always a few cats and dogs hanging out there, I used to toss a care package of cat and dog food for them. All just a vacant lot now.

Looks like I may make my trip next week. Been awhile since I have been on the ground in Temple or Austin.

 

[TXhawk]

Thanks for the Info on the Taylor Yards! Tesla is going great Guns, and when the Samsung Plant is finished Taylor will really Boom!

Louie Muelkers is still going strong in Taylor but the Prices are Inbelievable and most days there is a Line out the Door now.Taylor has been "Discovered!"

Museum is still Open in the Santa Fe Station, Google up the Hours and Days.( I didn't visit this Trip)

Pit Stop BBQ/ 502 S. 1st ( Small Red Building on Right after you Cross the Tracks on the Overpass.)Google the Website for Menu,Hours etc.

The Bid up Process appears when you Book on Line, they offer you a Chance to Place a Bid to Upgrade from Coach to a Roomette or Bedroom with suggested Minimum and Strong Bids shown.

Usually you'll get an email telling you if your Bid is accepted,and your Card will be charged the Upgrade Amount you bid.

In Taylor, may I suggest Davis Grocery & BBQ, definitely local, 400 S. Robinson St., (512) 352-8111. A local resident suggested we go there instead of Mueller's. James Davis has been in that same location for over 25 years. His preacher works the serving line. Both inside and outside dining. (Yes, it is a black establishment)
I've been to Mueller's, this is better and avoid the prices and crowds.

 

[Widfara]

Have you noticed that they don't usually bother with an alert when the eaglet is late? 22 today left San Antonio on time, lost an hour and a half before San Marcos, lost another hour before Cleburne.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Have you noticed that they don't usually bother with an alert when the eaglet is late? 22 today left San Antonio on time, lost an hour and a half before San Marcos, lost another hour before Cleburne.

This is pretty much an every day occurrence for the Eaglette now thanks to UP Freights, and problems with the Single P-42 that pull this Orphan Train!

 

[Rasputin]

The Texas Eagle - A wonderful train that was loved by all except for Amtrak management.

I hope that someday it will be a wonderful train again.

 

[drdumont]

We're in the middle of a DAL-CHI trip, both ways in the Family Bedroom. returning Sunday the 11th. Trip up was fine. SCA was attentive, nice guy. Crew was OK, and the poor FSA handing out the Flex slop did his best to make the best he could. Juggling First Class pax with Coach, having to close the Snack Bar is really infuriating to Coach pax, and those who would actually want to BUY that garbage.
PA system was intermittent as usual, windows were filthy, but I cleaned ours in Dallas then in Longview, to the amusement of some.
We were at the tail of the consist, then had a coach added on our end in St. Louis. Nice quiet smooth ride, all in all.
Had a seemingly new Engineer on the last leg, she seemed hesitant and tripped over the comms format, saying "amtr..." then "AMTK XXX" and reading the full aspect and mile marker. Usually you just hear hear "AMTRAK 22 Ayyy-Proach!" and an echo from the Conductor.
Got in to CHI about 20 mins late, as we sat for over 30 mins outside the yard in CHI. No probs.
Why they are so intent on destroying this once fine train, I just do not know.

 

[Bob Dylan]

We're in the middle of a DAL-CHI trip, both ways in the Family Bedroom. returning Sunday the 11th. Trip up was fine. SCA was attentive, nice guy. Crew was OK, and the poor FSA handing out the Flex slop did his best to make the best he could. Juggling First Class pax with Coach, having to close the Snack Bar is really infuriating to Coach pax, and those who would actually want to BUY that garbage.
PA system was intermittent as usual, windows were filthy, but I cleaned ours in Dallas then in Longview, to the amusement of some.
We were at the tail of the consist, then had a coach added on our end in St. Louis. Nice quiet smooth ride, all in all.
Had a seemingly new Engineer on the last leg, she seemed hesitant and tripped over the comms format, saying "amtr..." then "AMTK XXX" and reading the full aspect and mile marker. Usually you just hear hear "AMTRAK 22 Ayyy-Proach!" and an echo from the Conductor.
Got in to CHI about 20 mins late, as we sat for over 30 mins outside the yard in CHI. No probs.
Why they are so intent on destroying this once fine train, I just do not know.

At least you had a good Crew! Some of them think they're Prison Guards on this Route!( see the Numerous reports about this Orphan Train)

 

[drdumont]

At least you had a good Crew! Some of them think they're Prison Guards on this Route!( see the Numerous reports about this Orphan Train)

We had the same SCA coming home Sunday/Monday. the 6' 8" tall good guy. The rest of the crew was pretty laid back. Even had the Trails and Rails folk trying to work in the Snack Bar.
The Food Service guy was nice, but totally screwed up the Flex slop this time. Now then, it's pretty hard to screw that stuff up, but the fake ziti/meatballs were just inedible.
We sat for three hours just South of Poplar Bluff Monday morning. We were in a hole, and a freight ahead of us tripped a detector - bad ordered two freight cars. Listening to the radio, the scene sounded like a Three Stooges skit. The freight crew had outlawed while trying to figure out where/what was the fault on an almost 2 mile long train. DS says "about an hour". Then came the comedy of trying to figure out what to do with the two bad order cars. Then it was decided to back the train past us down the Main, and their Conductor would drop off to us their EOT. Their train was limited to 10 mph. Finally they figured out how to clear the switch ahead of us, and off we went. Oh yes, did I mention they spent almost an hour backing into a siding into which their train wouldn't fit? With the Bad Order cars still on the Main?
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and even though we were about 3 hours late, they still let us have the "fresh air" stops. And I got to see Little Rock in the morning gloam.
In spite of AMTRAK's efforts, the ride was still pleasant behind the most battered Genesis I've seen. I forget the number, but I recognize the long scar on the Engineer's side ending at the rear door, and the front end that looks like a ten year old Nissan Sentra.
That engine belongs on the Eagle. Both have been mistreated, beaten like a rented mule, but still trying.