I have been thinking about taking a short r/t on the Cardinal CVS-STA since 'double days' last spring. In order for that trip to happen, #50 has to be running at least 2 hours late and # 50 running on time, otherwise the eastbound train arrives in Staunton first and when I arrived on the westbound train I would have no way back home for 2 days. Over the spring and summer #50 has had remarkably good OTP and there were only a handful of opportunities for this trip.
This past Sunday I knew that our British friend, Caravanman, was on #51 so I arranged with him to meet briefly during the CVS station stop. Over the course of the morning, thanks to Trakatrain, I realized that #50 was running late about 5 hours and that it was still progressing over its route. I decided to take the plunge and bought my tickets separately for obvious reasons.
The meetup was very pleasant indeed. As the train was full, CM and I sat in the lounge and watched VA roll by as we got a little better acquainted. All too soon the call for Staunton was made, we said our goodbyes and I detrained.
I had about a 3 hour layover until 50 arrived. Sunday afternoon is a sleepy time in Staunton VA. After I explored the large old depot, completely deserted now, I walked around the area which has many preserved 19th century buildings and warehouses from the more active days of the depot. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera. Then I checked out the main streets of town, the Blackfriars Theater and the campus of Mary Baldwin College which is situated on a prominent hill offering very nice vistas - and breezes on this hot day. I returned to the station half an hour before I expected the train and gradually a dozen others showed. The train arrived just before dark and I had a pleasant clickity-clackity ride home. The only downside was the suffering of the folks on the 6-hours late train that made my Sunday afternoon excursion possible.
This past Sunday I knew that our British friend, Caravanman, was on #51 so I arranged with him to meet briefly during the CVS station stop. Over the course of the morning, thanks to Trakatrain, I realized that #50 was running late about 5 hours and that it was still progressing over its route. I decided to take the plunge and bought my tickets separately for obvious reasons.
The meetup was very pleasant indeed. As the train was full, CM and I sat in the lounge and watched VA roll by as we got a little better acquainted. All too soon the call for Staunton was made, we said our goodbyes and I detrained.
I had about a 3 hour layover until 50 arrived. Sunday afternoon is a sleepy time in Staunton VA. After I explored the large old depot, completely deserted now, I walked around the area which has many preserved 19th century buildings and warehouses from the more active days of the depot. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera. Then I checked out the main streets of town, the Blackfriars Theater and the campus of Mary Baldwin College which is situated on a prominent hill offering very nice vistas - and breezes on this hot day. I returned to the station half an hour before I expected the train and gradually a dozen others showed. The train arrived just before dark and I had a pleasant clickity-clackity ride home. The only downside was the suffering of the folks on the 6-hours late train that made my Sunday afternoon excursion possible.
