I just returned from our Ashland Model RR & Railfanning Amtrak Group Tour to Chicago, Fort Madison Iowa, La Plata Missouri and Ottumwa, Iowa trip. 14 of our members and spouses rode Amtrak Lake Shore Limited, Southwest Chief and California Zephyr on an excursion to see some prime train watching sites in the Midwest.
After an uneventful Business Class trip on the LSL 449, we enjoyed some time in Chicago Union Station before boarding SWC 3 to Fort Madison Iowa on the Mississippi River. Our conductor in Chicago made arrangements for our large group to sit together in coach. A stop in Galesburg allowed for some photos of the station and steam engine and then we were off across sw Illinois.
After crossing the giant two level swing bridge we arrived at the newly refurbed Santa Fe Depot and were met by the manager of the Kingsley Inn Hotel who provided transportation of our group to the hotel just two blocks from the station. Nearly 80 trains per day pass by the town and thus our group was thrilled to experience both train and riverboat traffic during our stay.
We occupied nine rooms in the fabulous historic inn with many rooms overlooking the rail lines and bridge. The building was constructed in the 1860s and after many transitions became a hotel with antique furnishings throughout, several classic meeting rooms and grand hospitality by manager Chi and her friendly and efficient staff.
Our trip took a negative turn when I was notified that our Southwest Chief trains for that evening and all subsequent trips were cancelled due to a bridge fire in Colorado. After numerous calls to Amtrak we were left to find our own transportation to our next stop La Plata, Missouri. One of the agents refused to allow me to discuss our cancelled trips with a supervisor. "That is not a supervisor issue" Really. She was providing incorrect information and said it was not her problem that we were stuck in Ft Madison. As most of you know I am generally pretty mellow, but her incompetence in providing information was a trying conversation. The next agent was very helpful and made new reservations on 6 in Ottumwa to get us back to Chicago. More to the story later.
Our hotel manager came to the rescue and secured a 16 passenger van to take us on a two hour ride to La Plata. We arrived at the Depot Inn & Suites hotel to find the manager awaiting our group. We had many rooms with railroad motifs, photos and tons of memorabilia in the many hallways. There was also a large indoor swimming pool, golf cart and bicycles for local transport, a great Mexican restaurant next door and of course, railfan viewing platforms along the tracks and a nice little Amtrak station with a museum inside.
We spent two days at Depot Inn and enjoyed fellowship, food and some Euchre playing in the large lobby. A nice breakfast each morning and some pizza one evening. A great place to stay with a staff that met our every need.
Our next dilemma was how we would get back to Chicago with our SWC 4 being cancelled. Our hotel manager made contact with a man who transported the local Amish community around the country and he agreed to take us 80 miles to Ottumwa, Iowa where I made new reservations to ride Amtrak California Zephyr 6 back to our connections in Chicago. After a harrowing trip involving hitting a deer on the highway we eventually made it to the station in Ottumwa. We arrived to find a station attendant who watched our bags while we went next door to a neat old building with a restaurant called Coal Palace Cafe. Great sandwiches and friendly staff who hire developmental disabled adults to work as cooks and servers. What a great opportunity to help some fine people.
We awaited our train to arrive 5 hours late after a snow storm in the Rockies slowed its progress. The new conductor made arrangements for us to sit near each other in the rear coach and we had a nice ride to Chicago. Only two hours to wait until our Lake Shore Business Class car took us back to Cleveland.
Everyone enjoyed our adventures and although it was a bit stressful for me getting our new transportation arrangements, everything worked out and WOW! Fun Times on Amtrak
I will post some photos of our trip as they are organized.
And now Claudia & I are heading to Seattle in a few weeks for our Alaska Cruise. Just turned 70 but have to keep moving....smiles
After an uneventful Business Class trip on the LSL 449, we enjoyed some time in Chicago Union Station before boarding SWC 3 to Fort Madison Iowa on the Mississippi River. Our conductor in Chicago made arrangements for our large group to sit together in coach. A stop in Galesburg allowed for some photos of the station and steam engine and then we were off across sw Illinois.
After crossing the giant two level swing bridge we arrived at the newly refurbed Santa Fe Depot and were met by the manager of the Kingsley Inn Hotel who provided transportation of our group to the hotel just two blocks from the station. Nearly 80 trains per day pass by the town and thus our group was thrilled to experience both train and riverboat traffic during our stay.
We occupied nine rooms in the fabulous historic inn with many rooms overlooking the rail lines and bridge. The building was constructed in the 1860s and after many transitions became a hotel with antique furnishings throughout, several classic meeting rooms and grand hospitality by manager Chi and her friendly and efficient staff.
Our trip took a negative turn when I was notified that our Southwest Chief trains for that evening and all subsequent trips were cancelled due to a bridge fire in Colorado. After numerous calls to Amtrak we were left to find our own transportation to our next stop La Plata, Missouri. One of the agents refused to allow me to discuss our cancelled trips with a supervisor. "That is not a supervisor issue" Really. She was providing incorrect information and said it was not her problem that we were stuck in Ft Madison. As most of you know I am generally pretty mellow, but her incompetence in providing information was a trying conversation. The next agent was very helpful and made new reservations on 6 in Ottumwa to get us back to Chicago. More to the story later.
Our hotel manager came to the rescue and secured a 16 passenger van to take us on a two hour ride to La Plata. We arrived at the Depot Inn & Suites hotel to find the manager awaiting our group. We had many rooms with railroad motifs, photos and tons of memorabilia in the many hallways. There was also a large indoor swimming pool, golf cart and bicycles for local transport, a great Mexican restaurant next door and of course, railfan viewing platforms along the tracks and a nice little Amtrak station with a museum inside.
We spent two days at Depot Inn and enjoyed fellowship, food and some Euchre playing in the large lobby. A nice breakfast each morning and some pizza one evening. A great place to stay with a staff that met our every need.
Our next dilemma was how we would get back to Chicago with our SWC 4 being cancelled. Our hotel manager made contact with a man who transported the local Amish community around the country and he agreed to take us 80 miles to Ottumwa, Iowa where I made new reservations to ride Amtrak California Zephyr 6 back to our connections in Chicago. After a harrowing trip involving hitting a deer on the highway we eventually made it to the station in Ottumwa. We arrived to find a station attendant who watched our bags while we went next door to a neat old building with a restaurant called Coal Palace Cafe. Great sandwiches and friendly staff who hire developmental disabled adults to work as cooks and servers. What a great opportunity to help some fine people.
We awaited our train to arrive 5 hours late after a snow storm in the Rockies slowed its progress. The new conductor made arrangements for us to sit near each other in the rear coach and we had a nice ride to Chicago. Only two hours to wait until our Lake Shore Business Class car took us back to Cleveland.
Everyone enjoyed our adventures and although it was a bit stressful for me getting our new transportation arrangements, everything worked out and WOW! Fun Times on Amtrak
I will post some photos of our trip as they are organized.
And now Claudia & I are heading to Seattle in a few weeks for our Alaska Cruise. Just turned 70 but have to keep moving....smiles
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