EASTBOUND - 1/11/24
Train 28 was just an hour late at Wishram, which wasn’t bad considering the short turn due to a late 27 arrival in PDX. We had time to go up the hill to the Pastime tavern for a snack and a glass of something cold. We got root beer, but it looked like the tavern keeper had some good beers. Then my friends took me back to the station where I boarded at 7:57pm. MY SCA is Simon, very jovial and helpful.
The weather was dry and calm, and we didn’t lose any more time till Sandpoint, where we left the station and then just sat in place for about an hour and a half. Now over two hours late. I understand we’re lucky to be on a train this week. It’s a winter wonderland outside, but temps are dropping, and Simon said trains are cancelled for several days starting today (there was one more EB running a day behind this one, but I believe they held it in PDX till the weather cleared, which took TEN days). The “feels like” temp at Shelby was 33 degrees below zero. Rumor on Facebook has it that the Chargers up front have been switched out for P-42s. I am going to get out and check at Havre.
For lunch, I opted for the pan-roasted chicken off the children’s menu. It was just-right amount for a small person, and it was simple, clean food. The mashed potatoes were real! They no longer let you have the good desserts at lunch, so I brought my packaged brownie back to my roomette and fixed some herb tea to go with it. I got out and checked the engines at Havre: two P-42s (#15 and 817), and a Charger up front (#313). It was about ten below and snowing lightly but the wind wasn’t blowing, so it didn't feel too bad!
I had no cell service all morning except at larger town stops, but since Browning the signal has mostly been good. I’ve checked my train status, email, and facebook while watching my data usage (I have a prepaid plan with limited data). I went for the earliest dinner at 5:30pm, and ordered the coconut shrimp, salmon, and chocolate mousse cake. For my adult beverage, I had the Cabernet. Everything was delicious, but the dessert was so rich I could barely finish it, even though I had been quite hungry. I was glad the meal had time to "settle" before bedtime.
I slept well, because it was the second night and I was tired. Woke to find we had gained a little time, but we are losing it again now due to technical issues (just announced) with an apparently computerized safety system. We’re currently sitting on a siding about an hour out of St. Paul. Snow blew into the entry foyer through the south side door all the way across the prairies. There was quite a drift there, until Simon got ahold of a bag of salt and put the entire thing on the floor! Now there is a salt mess covered with towels, and salt stains tracked up the stairs I’ve been walking past there to use the restrooms and shower, but VERY carefully.
Train moved along well through MSP, and I had lunch with two of the passengers who had just boarded. With the next three days’ trains cancelled, they and many others had rebooked, filling this one to capacity. We continued to be about three hours late, but are now sitting at the Columbus WI station. They announced over the intercom that an issue with the PTC was preventing the engine from moving, and car power/HEPA just went out. At least the outdoor temp has risen to 30, but it is snowing and blowing outside. After thirty minutes or so, and several power cycles, the train started moving again, at a good clip, and they announced “Milwaukee in an hour.” The LSA came on and announced the dining car was closed, and would stay closed for the rest of the trip. It’s Almost 6pm and I get out a snack of nut mix and an apple. Our train runs well for a few miles and then coasts to a stop again. This time the delay is not quite so long, but the train is jerky and slow, and doesn’t go very far. Then we manage to pick up enough speed to limp into Milwaukee. There is an occasional jerk and the small of burning brakes. Chatter on the EB Facebook group says they will ditch the Charger at Milwaukee. We’ll need a new crew, too. Our SCA bring around some snack packs.
While they were dealing with train matters, the crew also faced a passenger issue. One of the attendants up front called for a conductor and when the response wasn’t prompt enough,she called for Simon saying it was an emergency. He hustled up the snow covered platform, and we heard next that we’d also be waiting for the “local authorities to take away a passenger." I got the story from Simon when he returned. They’d announced the “last smoke break” several stops earlier, but an inebriated passenger thought that since we had stopped for a few minutes he could bully the young female attendant into letting him out for a smoke. When denied, he spewed racial epithets at the attendant as well as another passenger attempting to detrain. He took a swing at the other passenger, the attendant attempted to restrain him, and someone with weight and authority was required to keep him under control until the authorities arrived.
By the time we got to Chicago it was after 1am and I’d had another nap, glad I brought my own fuzzy blanket, as the bed had already been remade for the turn. Amtrak had the agents waiting, and they gave us our papers for food, motel, and rebooking as fast as they could call names and we could walk up to receive the packets. We headed up to the bus, and I was amazed to be taken just across the River a couple blocks to the Hilton Canopy. My room was comfy, and I fell into bed. In the morning, the shower felt wonderful and instead of waiting for the return bus I walked across Wacker and the River bridge back to the station. Checking into the lounge, I looked up the status of the Lake Shore Limited. All systems seemed to be “go” for a reprise of the train I had missed the previous evening, till I got a notification around noon that the train had been cancelled. Seems there was a travel ban in western New York State for the night due to severe weather. There were no seats of any kind available, by any route, to Boston until Monday.
I told the ticket agent not to rebook me until I considered my options. This is the first time Amtrak has completely let me down. I caved, and got a flight for the same evening on Jet Blue. I called AGR from the airport and they agreed to refund my points. It took a couple days, but 19,145 points labeled “good will refund” have appeared back in my account. I also received a voucher for $150 as an "apology" for the late EB.
Train 28 was just an hour late at Wishram, which wasn’t bad considering the short turn due to a late 27 arrival in PDX. We had time to go up the hill to the Pastime tavern for a snack and a glass of something cold. We got root beer, but it looked like the tavern keeper had some good beers. Then my friends took me back to the station where I boarded at 7:57pm. MY SCA is Simon, very jovial and helpful.
The weather was dry and calm, and we didn’t lose any more time till Sandpoint, where we left the station and then just sat in place for about an hour and a half. Now over two hours late. I understand we’re lucky to be on a train this week. It’s a winter wonderland outside, but temps are dropping, and Simon said trains are cancelled for several days starting today (there was one more EB running a day behind this one, but I believe they held it in PDX till the weather cleared, which took TEN days). The “feels like” temp at Shelby was 33 degrees below zero. Rumor on Facebook has it that the Chargers up front have been switched out for P-42s. I am going to get out and check at Havre.
For lunch, I opted for the pan-roasted chicken off the children’s menu. It was just-right amount for a small person, and it was simple, clean food. The mashed potatoes were real! They no longer let you have the good desserts at lunch, so I brought my packaged brownie back to my roomette and fixed some herb tea to go with it. I got out and checked the engines at Havre: two P-42s (#15 and 817), and a Charger up front (#313). It was about ten below and snowing lightly but the wind wasn’t blowing, so it didn't feel too bad!
I had no cell service all morning except at larger town stops, but since Browning the signal has mostly been good. I’ve checked my train status, email, and facebook while watching my data usage (I have a prepaid plan with limited data). I went for the earliest dinner at 5:30pm, and ordered the coconut shrimp, salmon, and chocolate mousse cake. For my adult beverage, I had the Cabernet. Everything was delicious, but the dessert was so rich I could barely finish it, even though I had been quite hungry. I was glad the meal had time to "settle" before bedtime.
I slept well, because it was the second night and I was tired. Woke to find we had gained a little time, but we are losing it again now due to technical issues (just announced) with an apparently computerized safety system. We’re currently sitting on a siding about an hour out of St. Paul. Snow blew into the entry foyer through the south side door all the way across the prairies. There was quite a drift there, until Simon got ahold of a bag of salt and put the entire thing on the floor! Now there is a salt mess covered with towels, and salt stains tracked up the stairs I’ve been walking past there to use the restrooms and shower, but VERY carefully.
Train moved along well through MSP, and I had lunch with two of the passengers who had just boarded. With the next three days’ trains cancelled, they and many others had rebooked, filling this one to capacity. We continued to be about three hours late, but are now sitting at the Columbus WI station. They announced over the intercom that an issue with the PTC was preventing the engine from moving, and car power/HEPA just went out. At least the outdoor temp has risen to 30, but it is snowing and blowing outside. After thirty minutes or so, and several power cycles, the train started moving again, at a good clip, and they announced “Milwaukee in an hour.” The LSA came on and announced the dining car was closed, and would stay closed for the rest of the trip. It’s Almost 6pm and I get out a snack of nut mix and an apple. Our train runs well for a few miles and then coasts to a stop again. This time the delay is not quite so long, but the train is jerky and slow, and doesn’t go very far. Then we manage to pick up enough speed to limp into Milwaukee. There is an occasional jerk and the small of burning brakes. Chatter on the EB Facebook group says they will ditch the Charger at Milwaukee. We’ll need a new crew, too. Our SCA bring around some snack packs.
While they were dealing with train matters, the crew also faced a passenger issue. One of the attendants up front called for a conductor and when the response wasn’t prompt enough,she called for Simon saying it was an emergency. He hustled up the snow covered platform, and we heard next that we’d also be waiting for the “local authorities to take away a passenger." I got the story from Simon when he returned. They’d announced the “last smoke break” several stops earlier, but an inebriated passenger thought that since we had stopped for a few minutes he could bully the young female attendant into letting him out for a smoke. When denied, he spewed racial epithets at the attendant as well as another passenger attempting to detrain. He took a swing at the other passenger, the attendant attempted to restrain him, and someone with weight and authority was required to keep him under control until the authorities arrived.
By the time we got to Chicago it was after 1am and I’d had another nap, glad I brought my own fuzzy blanket, as the bed had already been remade for the turn. Amtrak had the agents waiting, and they gave us our papers for food, motel, and rebooking as fast as they could call names and we could walk up to receive the packets. We headed up to the bus, and I was amazed to be taken just across the River a couple blocks to the Hilton Canopy. My room was comfy, and I fell into bed. In the morning, the shower felt wonderful and instead of waiting for the return bus I walked across Wacker and the River bridge back to the station. Checking into the lounge, I looked up the status of the Lake Shore Limited. All systems seemed to be “go” for a reprise of the train I had missed the previous evening, till I got a notification around noon that the train had been cancelled. Seems there was a travel ban in western New York State for the night due to severe weather. There were no seats of any kind available, by any route, to Boston until Monday.
I told the ticket agent not to rebook me until I considered my options. This is the first time Amtrak has completely let me down. I caved, and got a flight for the same evening on Jet Blue. I called AGR from the airport and they agreed to refund my points. It took a couple days, but 19,145 points labeled “good will refund” have appeared back in my account. I also received a voucher for $150 as an "apology" for the late EB.
