Dovecote
OBS Chief
Part Two
Our time in the CHI lounge was uneventful and seats were plentiful. When the trip was initially booked with the AGR agent, I was given the option of booking the next train route either on the CL to WAS or the Cardinal to Charlottesville (CVS). Either of these trains would connect to the Crescent. Although hearing the Card route is very scenic, I opted to take the CL. My main decision not to take the Card was due to the limited services available at the CVS station during the layover. Additionally if the train is late than the possibility of missing dinner could occur. And speaking of dinner (and breakfast too), due to the mixed reviews I hear of the food service on the Card, dining on this route is something I prefer not to try. Besides I travel long distance on the CL at least twice year and feel comfortable traveling on this route. We boarded the CL around 6:10 PM and was greeted at sleeping car 3000 by Arthur and was directed to Bedroom D. This was our first trip with Arthur. He had the opportunity to give us the typical welcome speech at our room before we headed to the dining car for dinner. The consist consisted of a transdorm, sleeper, sleeper, dining car, sightseer lounge car, coach, coach, and coach.
We arrived to the dining car around 6:45 PM for our 6:30 reservation. Manny was our LSA who greeted us at the door and escorted us to our table. Manny was on the CL back in November on our eastbound trip to GA. He is a very pleasant person although his work ethic could be better. More on that later. Our server was Robie who needs to attend a few weeks of charm school. Our meal however was outstanding with another round of steak for me and the misses. Our seating companions were a retired couple from outside Minneapolis who were traveling to visit friends in VA. At the conclusion of the meal, I purposely asked Manny the serving hours for breakfast. I was expecting him to correct me and inform me that they serve brunch instead of breakfast. However, Manny specifically informed me that "breakfast" seating begins at 6:30 AM. Our train during the night was on schedule.
After traveling three nights on the train we slept well for the first time of the trip. We woke up around 8:00 AM and decided to stay in our room and have breakfast served there. Arthur came to our room promptly after we rang the service bell. He was a little put out that we ordered breakfast in the room but he eventually took the order and brought us our meal about twenty minutes later. We enjoyed our meal while viewing the unknown scenic river the train travels after departing Connellsville for several miles. Again, we were lucky that our sofa seat traveled in the direction of the train. The train lost a little bit of time between Connellsville and Cumberland (CUM). After departing CUM, Manny walked past our room and announced over the car intercom that an abbreviated lunch would be served. I caught Manny on the way back to the dining room and asked him when the last call will be for dining. He quickly responded there is no last call and you must come immediately for lunch if you want to eat. As it turned they did serve until noon time. There were very few dining patrons for lunch and the few parties coming from coach were denied seating. They were told the dining car was opened for sleeping car passengers only and to use the lounge/cafe car to purchase food. Our server was Mr. Cole who was a lot more pleasant than Robie was. We shared our meal with a couple from Vancouver, BC. They were heading to Palatka, FL.
The train arrived into WAS around 1:00 PM. Arthur had brought our carryon luggage outside the car. He was an overall good attendant and we would welcome his services in the future. Upon our exit we proceeded to the Club Acela lounge for our final leg of the trip. We had an approximate 5 hour layover in WAS. My wife did her usual shopping in the station and I took a stroll out of the lounge during rush hour to see some of my former MARC commuting buddies heading home on the Brunswick line. We boarded on the Crescent around 6:30 PM. Rob was our room attendant in car 1910 bedroom A. We were happy to see Rob as we have had him in the past and he provides good service. The consist consisted first of four coaches, lounge car, dining car, sleeper, sleeper, and the baggage car at the back of the train. Shortly after departing WAS, Rob came by for the usual hello and orientation. One word on the bedroom, scoring a bedroom is very difficult on this train since there are only four on the train (not including the H rooms). When I first made the AGR reservation there were no bedrooms available so instead a roomette was provided. The AGR agent recommend to periodically call to see if a bedroom becomes available and if one comes open, I could switch accomodations. Instead of calling, I checked daily on the Amsnag website for bedroom availablity and sure enough after checking for what seemed an eternity, one become available. I quickly called AGR and got the room changed to a bedroom. Thanks Paul at Amsnag!
Tyree, our LSA, came by our room shortly after Rob's departure. Our seating campanions were our neighbors in bedroom B. They were a couple of our age from Virginia Beach and were heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. This was their first train trip and they were highly impressed with the accomodations and amenities. Our meal choices included steak, crabcakes, and bbq ribs. None of us were disappointed. Tyree and his staff of Tim and Bob provided friendly and attentive service. They were the best on our entire trip.
We had another good night of sleep and stayed in bed to Gainesville. There was not enough time for breakfast however but we were ready to depart the train as was rolled into ATL on time. We waited the typical 40 minutes or so for our luggage. My cousin from metro Atlanta picked us up at the station and we departed for a nice breakfast. We drove to his house and headed home in our car to South Georgia, 250 miles away.
Until next trip,
Dovecote
Our time in the CHI lounge was uneventful and seats were plentiful. When the trip was initially booked with the AGR agent, I was given the option of booking the next train route either on the CL to WAS or the Cardinal to Charlottesville (CVS). Either of these trains would connect to the Crescent. Although hearing the Card route is very scenic, I opted to take the CL. My main decision not to take the Card was due to the limited services available at the CVS station during the layover. Additionally if the train is late than the possibility of missing dinner could occur. And speaking of dinner (and breakfast too), due to the mixed reviews I hear of the food service on the Card, dining on this route is something I prefer not to try. Besides I travel long distance on the CL at least twice year and feel comfortable traveling on this route. We boarded the CL around 6:10 PM and was greeted at sleeping car 3000 by Arthur and was directed to Bedroom D. This was our first trip with Arthur. He had the opportunity to give us the typical welcome speech at our room before we headed to the dining car for dinner. The consist consisted of a transdorm, sleeper, sleeper, dining car, sightseer lounge car, coach, coach, and coach.
We arrived to the dining car around 6:45 PM for our 6:30 reservation. Manny was our LSA who greeted us at the door and escorted us to our table. Manny was on the CL back in November on our eastbound trip to GA. He is a very pleasant person although his work ethic could be better. More on that later. Our server was Robie who needs to attend a few weeks of charm school. Our meal however was outstanding with another round of steak for me and the misses. Our seating companions were a retired couple from outside Minneapolis who were traveling to visit friends in VA. At the conclusion of the meal, I purposely asked Manny the serving hours for breakfast. I was expecting him to correct me and inform me that they serve brunch instead of breakfast. However, Manny specifically informed me that "breakfast" seating begins at 6:30 AM. Our train during the night was on schedule.
After traveling three nights on the train we slept well for the first time of the trip. We woke up around 8:00 AM and decided to stay in our room and have breakfast served there. Arthur came to our room promptly after we rang the service bell. He was a little put out that we ordered breakfast in the room but he eventually took the order and brought us our meal about twenty minutes later. We enjoyed our meal while viewing the unknown scenic river the train travels after departing Connellsville for several miles. Again, we were lucky that our sofa seat traveled in the direction of the train. The train lost a little bit of time between Connellsville and Cumberland (CUM). After departing CUM, Manny walked past our room and announced over the car intercom that an abbreviated lunch would be served. I caught Manny on the way back to the dining room and asked him when the last call will be for dining. He quickly responded there is no last call and you must come immediately for lunch if you want to eat. As it turned they did serve until noon time. There were very few dining patrons for lunch and the few parties coming from coach were denied seating. They were told the dining car was opened for sleeping car passengers only and to use the lounge/cafe car to purchase food. Our server was Mr. Cole who was a lot more pleasant than Robie was. We shared our meal with a couple from Vancouver, BC. They were heading to Palatka, FL.
The train arrived into WAS around 1:00 PM. Arthur had brought our carryon luggage outside the car. He was an overall good attendant and we would welcome his services in the future. Upon our exit we proceeded to the Club Acela lounge for our final leg of the trip. We had an approximate 5 hour layover in WAS. My wife did her usual shopping in the station and I took a stroll out of the lounge during rush hour to see some of my former MARC commuting buddies heading home on the Brunswick line. We boarded on the Crescent around 6:30 PM. Rob was our room attendant in car 1910 bedroom A. We were happy to see Rob as we have had him in the past and he provides good service. The consist consisted first of four coaches, lounge car, dining car, sleeper, sleeper, and the baggage car at the back of the train. Shortly after departing WAS, Rob came by for the usual hello and orientation. One word on the bedroom, scoring a bedroom is very difficult on this train since there are only four on the train (not including the H rooms). When I first made the AGR reservation there were no bedrooms available so instead a roomette was provided. The AGR agent recommend to periodically call to see if a bedroom becomes available and if one comes open, I could switch accomodations. Instead of calling, I checked daily on the Amsnag website for bedroom availablity and sure enough after checking for what seemed an eternity, one become available. I quickly called AGR and got the room changed to a bedroom. Thanks Paul at Amsnag!
Tyree, our LSA, came by our room shortly after Rob's departure. Our seating campanions were our neighbors in bedroom B. They were a couple of our age from Virginia Beach and were heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. This was their first train trip and they were highly impressed with the accomodations and amenities. Our meal choices included steak, crabcakes, and bbq ribs. None of us were disappointed. Tyree and his staff of Tim and Bob provided friendly and attentive service. They were the best on our entire trip.
We had another good night of sleep and stayed in bed to Gainesville. There was not enough time for breakfast however but we were ready to depart the train as was rolled into ATL on time. We waited the typical 40 minutes or so for our luggage. My cousin from metro Atlanta picked us up at the station and we departed for a nice breakfast. We drove to his house and headed home in our car to South Georgia, 250 miles away.
Until next trip,
Dovecote
Ive ridden the Cap lots of times, always had a good trip but you're correct about the Breakfast/Brunch dilema in the Diner, seems to happen most days! Hope Southern Georgia is having a Nice Spring and the Real Esatate market is better sdo yall can sell your House in Harpers Ferry! (which I still havent gotten to visit! 
