A few more questions from a first time train rider

[jb64]

Well that was a lot of fun.... I thought I'd stop in say thanks again to everyone for advice and comments. We had a great time on our trip to Chicago.

The down side was getting up so fricking early to get downtown in time to catch a 6am train. But other than that, it was awesome. Our seats were very nice and much larger than coach on a plane. That was great to see since I'm 6'3 and 300 lbs. The dining car opened for breakfast right after we left the station. It was only one car and there wasn't much room so everyone had to sit together with strangers at the tables. No big deal since we met a couple who are veteran riders and got to listen to some of their stories. The breakfast was OK, but not great. The funniest part was the guy who was the waiter. He was clearly not a morning person and was not happy to be there. He was a little snippy with the passengers and particularly the other guy working with him who was clearly new. It was more funny than anything else. After breakfast, we had a nice relaxing ride to Chicago. We very much enjoyed the train and absolutely will do this again.

Coming home on Sunday wasn't nearly as much fun. Because the train back from Chicago didn't get to Indy until almost midnight, we decided to take the bus option. It was supposed to leave Union Station at 3:30pm. We got there several hours early and found out it's just a pick up outside and it takes us back to the Greyhound station four blocks away, to wait another hour before it leaves to head south. We didn't want to wait on the street for four hours, so walked to the Greyhound station. While there, we found out there was another bus leaving for Indy at 1:15pm. We took that one instead and made it back to Indianapolis around 6:30 ET It was still several hours of the day wasted waiting to get home, but not nearly as bad as it would have been if we hadn't caught the earlier bus. Unless Amtrak schedules an earlier train back to Indy on Sunday, we'll probably just book the return trip directly with Greyhound so we can pick the one we want and leave as early as we want.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. Thanks again to everyone who replied to this thread. Your advice was much appreciated.

Yay! So glad you had a great time.

Taking the train is fun and pretty addictive, at least it is for me.

We should have told you that meals in the Diner/Dining Car are always community seating and, for a lot of us, it's one of the fun things about taking the train.

It's pretty rare to get a table to yourself - it would most likely be on a fairly empty train and there aren't many of those these days.

Oh, it was no problem. It turned out fine since we met a couple that are veteran train travelers. The funny part was the waiter. He was like a young Nathan Lane, but with an attitude. My wife and I made the mistake of seating ourselves at a table that was empty. Nathan very loudly corrected us and told us to sit at THIS table and pointed to the table with the couple. Now, if all the tables were going to be full, he could have just seated two other people with us and not made such a big deal out of it... Also, he nuked the living crap out of our breakfast too. And he left the salsa on the plate when he heated it up, instead of taking the time to remove it and keep it cold. Boiling salsa at 6:30am will definitely put hair on your chest.... LOL Oh well, we got a laugh out of it.

Pretty sure that was the dining car attendant we had on 50. He was definitely not one of Amtraks shining stars and could not do more than one thing at a time which is epic fail on the Cardinal since they are responsible for everything in that dining car. He tried to talk passengers out of ordering certain items if it meant work for him, too.

 

[fisk]

Well that was a lot of fun.... I thought I'd stop in say thanks again to everyone for advice and comments. We had a great time on our trip to Chicago.

The down side was getting up so fricking early to get downtown in time to catch a 6am train. But other than that, it was awesome. Our seats were very nice and much larger than coach on a plane. That was great to see since I'm 6'3 and 300 lbs. The dining car opened for breakfast right after we left the station. It was only one car and there wasn't much room so everyone had to sit together with strangers at the tables. No big deal since we met a couple who are veteran riders and got to listen to some of their stories. The breakfast was OK, but not great. The funniest part was the guy who was the waiter. He was clearly not a morning person and was not happy to be there. He was a little snippy with the passengers and particularly the other guy working with him who was clearly new. It was more funny than anything else. After breakfast, we had a nice relaxing ride to Chicago. We very much enjoyed the train and absolutely will do this again.

Coming home on Sunday wasn't nearly as much fun. Because the train back from Chicago didn't get to Indy until almost midnight, we decided to take the bus option. It was supposed to leave Union Station at 3:30pm. We got there several hours early and found out it's just a pick up outside and it takes us back to the Greyhound station four blocks away, to wait another hour before it leaves to head south. We didn't want to wait on the street for four hours, so walked to the Greyhound station. While there, we found out there was another bus leaving for Indy at 1:15pm. We took that one instead and made it back to Indianapolis around 6:30 ET It was still several hours of the day wasted waiting to get home, but not nearly as bad as it would have been if we hadn't caught the earlier bus. Unless Amtrak schedules an earlier train back to Indy on Sunday, we'll probably just book the return trip directly with Greyhound so we can pick the one we want and leave as early as we want.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. Thanks again to everyone who replied to this thread. Your advice was much appreciated.

Yay! So glad you had a great time.

Taking the train is fun and pretty addictive, at least it is for me.

We should have told you that meals in the Diner/Dining Car are always community seating and, for a lot of us, it's one of the fun things about taking the train.

It's pretty rare to get a table to yourself - it would most likely be on a fairly empty train and there aren't many of those these days.

Oh, it was no problem. It turned out fine since we met a couple that are veteran train travelers. The funny part was the waiter. He was like a young Nathan Lane, but with an attitude. My wife and I made the mistake of seating ourselves at a table that was empty. Nathan very loudly corrected us and told us to sit at THIS table and pointed to the table with the couple. Now, if all the tables were going to be full, he could have just seated two other people with us and not made such a big deal out of it... Also, he nuked the living crap out of our breakfast too. And he left the salsa on the plate when he heated it up, instead of taking the time to remove it and keep it cold. Boiling salsa at 6:30am will definitely put hair on your chest.... LOL Oh well, we got a laugh out of it.

Pretty sure that was the dining car attendant we had on 50. He was definitely not one of Amtraks shining stars and could not do more than one thing at a time which is epic fail on the Cardinal since they are responsible for everything in that dining car. He tried to talk passengers out of ordering certain items if it meant work for him, too.

LOL.. Very possibly the same guy. But, like I said, nothing (short of derailment) was going to ruin our trip so we didnt care.

 

[MiRider]

Well that was a lot of fun.... I thought I'd stop in say thanks again to everyone for advice and comments. We had a great time on our trip to Chicago.

The down side was getting up so fricking early to get downtown in time to catch a 6am train. But other than that, it was awesome. Our seats were very nice and much larger than coach on a plane. That was great to see since I'm 6'3 and 300 lbs. The dining car opened for breakfast right after we left the station. It was only one car and there wasn't much room so everyone had to sit together with strangers at the tables. No big deal since we met a couple who are veteran riders and got to listen to some of their stories. The breakfast was OK, but not great. The funniest part was the guy who was the waiter. He was clearly not a morning person and was not happy to be there. He was a little snippy with the passengers and particularly the other guy working with him who was clearly new. It was more funny than anything else. After breakfast, we had a nice relaxing ride to Chicago. We very much enjoyed the train and absolutely will do this again.

Coming home on Sunday wasn't nearly as much fun. Because the train back from Chicago didn't get to Indy until almost midnight, we decided to take the bus option. It was supposed to leave Union Station at 3:30pm. We got there several hours early and found out it's just a pick up outside and it takes us back to the Greyhound station four blocks away, to wait another hour before it leaves to head south. We didn't want to wait on the street for four hours, so walked to the Greyhound station. While there, we found out there was another bus leaving for Indy at 1:15pm. We took that one instead and made it back to Indianapolis around 6:30 ET It was still several hours of the day wasted waiting to get home, but not nearly as bad as it would have been if we hadn't caught the earlier bus. Unless Amtrak schedules an earlier train back to Indy on Sunday, we'll probably just book the return trip directly with Greyhound so we can pick the one we want and leave as early as we want.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. Thanks again to everyone who replied to this thread. Your advice was much appreciated.

Yay! So glad you had a great time.

Taking the train is fun and pretty addictive, at least it is for me.

We should have told you that meals in the Diner/Dining Car are always community seating and, for a lot of us, it's one of the fun things about taking the train.

It's pretty rare to get a table to yourself - it would most likely be on a fairly empty train and there aren't many of those these days.

Oh, it was no problem. It turned out fine since we met a couple that are veteran train travelers. The funny part was the waiter. He was like a young Nathan Lane, but with an attitude. My wife and I made the mistake of seating ourselves at a table that was empty. Nathan very loudly corrected us and told us to sit at THIS table and pointed to the table with the couple. Now, if all the tables were going to be full, he could have just seated two other people with us and not made such a big deal out of it... Also, he nuked the living crap out of our breakfast too. And he left the salsa on the plate when he heated it up, instead of taking the time to remove it and keep it cold. Boiling salsa at 6:30am will definitely put hair on your chest.... LOL Oh well, we got a laugh out of it.

Pretty sure that was the dining car attendant we had on 50. He was definitely not one of Amtraks shining stars and could not do more than one thing at a time which is epic fail on the Cardinal since they are responsible for everything in that dining car. He tried to talk passengers out of ordering certain items if it meant work for him, too.

LOL.. Very possibly the same guy. But, like I said, nothing (short of derailment) was going to ruin our trip so we didnt care.

That's the kind of attitude you have to have when traveling by train or any other mode, imo.

I love to diffuse attitude with my winning smile and cheery demeanor

It's hard to be mean to someone that probably seems like they're not all there, clueless, and oblivious to nastiness.

 

[kentuckian1977]

"Nathan Lane" was indeed the LSA (I think, after all there's only a two-person crew on the Cardinal's diner lounge) when I rode in sleeper from Ashland, KY to Chicago back in December. I was seated at breakfast with a nice couple from Madison, Indiana who had gotten on in Cincinnati. Anyway, he was in a much better mood on that trip, but I cracked up when I read your description because he did indeed remind me a lot of Nathan. He didn't nuke the salsa when I had the omelet, though, lol.

This topic reminds me, in a round about way, of something I'm wondering about. My next trip will be in coach on the Card from AKY - Charlottesville in late July. What do you guys think are the odds of a coach passenger getting seated in the "diner" part of the dinette/lounge for breakfast and lunch? The sleeper is full on that day. Ditto for dinner on the way home a few days later.

Edit: Forgot to ask my question, lol. :giggle:

 

[Goldigger]

Im a newbie and have never rode a train thinking about going to new york by train from Mobile Al which is the nicest and prettiest train to ride I could go to Jacksonville 6 hours or New Orleans Or Birmingham AL, I just want it to be nice and scenic. Thanks David

 

[Pat Harper]

David, if price is no object, and you have the time, definitely go for the NY trip. Also, make sure you book a sleeper. If you are traveling by yourself, a roomette is big enough, and since you'd be on a Viewliner you'll have a toilet in your compartment. Your meals in the dining car will also be included int he price.

When you get your tickets, make note of the car you're assigned to, as that's the car you will be boarding for your trip.

 

[George Harris]

Im a newbie and have never rode a train thinking about going to new york by train from Mobile Al which is the nicest and prettiest train to ride I could go to Jacksonville 6 hours or New Orleans Or Birmingham AL, I just want it to be nice and scenic. Thanks David

I would suggest that you go for Hattiesburg or Meridian as a starting point. I would think that to be the much prettier ride and the least distance to go for a starting point. In fact, depending up where would be the easiest place to get to, I would say any stop Slidell to Meridian would make for a good starting point.