DC Memorial Day trip

[thully]

It's Memorial Day weekend, and that means time for another trip - though instead of the usual trip on the Wolverine to Chicago, I'm going to DC for the long weekend via the Capitol Limited (and a Thruway bus). Though members of this board may snicker at the bus part (after all, I could go all-train by taking 353 to CHI to catch the CL), I think the savings of a half of a workday are worth having to put up with a bus - and I definitely appreciate that it exists.

To begin, I went out to Casey's Tavern with a friend across the street from the ARB station for dinner/drinks. While we were there, I saw #355 (my usual train) departing for CHI. Enjoyed my meal, though realize I had forgotten something - so went back to the apartment and quickly returned to ARB. After arriving back at the station, found that the bus was a tad late due to a recently-added stop at Jackson, but would be here at 8:30. It soon arrived, and all 10 or so of us passengers waiting boarded. Interestingly, they collected our tickets at the station before we boarded, and not at all on the bus!

The bus ride was just that - a bus ride. Basically comparable to my experience with Megabus, though it got a tad more cramped when a lot of passengers boarded at DET. The sun set while we were on the bus, and we got to see some interesting sights on the way - the Ambassador Bridge all lit up at night, the Fisher Building in Detroit, and another bridge (I dont know it's name) near the Toledo station. Arrived just slightly behind schedule, and then the bus slowly unloaded (by the end, there were probably 50 or so passengers on it). Kind of a slow and cramped ride, but it's a connection I definitely appreciate (though I would like to ride the CL or LSL from CHI at some point)

Right now I'm just sitting down waiting for #30 - grabbed the latest Amtrak schedule while I was here. I must say the TOL station definitely seems nicer than the station back in Ann Arbor, despite the fact that it doesn't even serve half as many passengers per year! I feel for the bus passengers who have to wait 5 hrs for #48/448 - I think I'd opt to backtrack to CHI for that one! Signing off for the night - once I board I'm going to sleep for the night...

 

[thully]

Last night was a bit rough - the trains was somewhat hot and stuffy when I got on in Toledo, and for some reason I had trouble finding a comfortable position to sleep in coach. I did have an empty seat next to me, though, so I did use that to my advantage at times (though I was afraid someone may try to sit there at PGH...) As it turns out, PGH is the one overnight stop I actually remember (save for Sandusky, which was just shortly after I got on). Slept until 7:30 or so, and then headed to the dining car for breakfast.

Breakfast was simple - French toast and coffee/orange juice - though it was quite good (better than I remember past Amtrak breakfasts being). Talked to a few people in the diner, including one person who was coming from Michigan and was on the same bus I took last night! He was actually on his first Amtrak trip - I'd say the Capitol Limited is an excellent choice for that (not too long, but you get great scenery+all the LD amenities on a Superliner). The other people I was seated with had boarded at SOB (yes, SOB - IMO that is the funniest Amtrak code) and PGH. Both had been on the CL before, and one had done the Zephyr to DEN.

Scenery of the trip in the morning seemed pretty nice - went by some rivers, hilly terrain, and a few curves. I think this compares favorably to the Cardinal - while the Card may narrowly win on scenery, the CLs Superliners/SSL and full diner more than make up for it. If anyone is looking to take their first overnight trip, I'd recommend the CL for these reasons.

At Cumberland, a group from Trails & Rails just got on the train. First time I've seen that, though they may have been on some of the runs I've done before. Spent some time in the SSL enjoying the views - noticed quite a few people were sleeping there. Maybe I'll try that on my next overnight trip (which would be the return - I'd definitely prefer a sleeper there, but not at the prices they have been)...

Went back to sleep after Cumberland in my seat, and woke up around Harpers Ferry. Looking forward to getting into DC - next will be the Red Line Metro and Hostelling International Washington DC (if I don't get something to eat first, which I may...)

 

[thully]

After getting into Union Station, I decided to get something quick to eat - there wasn't any lunch on the train, and I was hungry. Opted to just get Pizzeria Uno in the station, given that it was right there. (Side note - I find it funny that Washington's Union Station has an UNO, yet Chicago's Union Station does not have one - or any kind of Chicago deep-dish pizzeria for that matter. However, Giordano's is pretty close, so it doesn't matter that much...)

After finishing my meal and paying, I headed for the Red Line Metro station and purchased a pass. DC's Metro is definitely more expensive than CTA in Chicago - while $14 gets you a 3 day pass for the L and buses in Chicago, a 1 day pass for only Metrorail costs $9 in DC, and bus fares/passes are extra! From there, I set off for Metro Center and walked from there to the hostel - it is supposedly 3 blocks, but feels a lot longer with the multiple crossing islands at New York Ave. I arrived and checked in - the place was adequate enough, though a bit older compared to the hostel in Chicago. Did notice that the elevator was SLLLLOOOOWWW - so much that they had a sign noting "Suzie the elevator"'s slowness, with funny suggestions for dealing with it like practicing meditation or getting exercise using the stairs!

Once I put everything away, I went back to Metro Center and returned to Union Station to see if I could get tickets for the DC Ducks tour. Touristy, I know, but I'd wanted to check it out. however, they were all sold out for the day, and we're not operating at all on Sunday! Just my luck - though In any case, I think I'm going to try and get there early on Monday to do it. On my way back to the Metro, I saw someone I knew from college (funny, particularly given that this happened in Chicago a few weeks back as well...) Decided to head to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and found it quite interesting! I particularly enjoyed the transportation exhibit - lots of old car, train, boat, and bus-related exhibits, including an old car and station entrance from the Chicago L! I noticed that several of the exhibits noted the decline of passenger rail in the American consciousness, though none mentioned Amtrak stepping in at all...

All that walking made me tired, though, so as it got later I headed back to the hostel, where they were doing a pub crawl in Dupont Circle. Figured I'd join, as I was a bit tired of walking and figured I'd meet some interesting people. It did turn out to be interesting, though I was one of only 2 people from the US in the group of 20-30 (and this seemed to be generally the case at the hostel - the vast majority of people staying were from overseas). That was a bit different from my experience in Chicago - while there were many international travelers, there were also quite a few people from within the US. In any case, it made for interesting conversation - one person who was there was just on a 3 day weekend (like me), while others were on monthlong journeys across America! Interestingly, there was one person whose next stop was Chicago and the same hostel I had frequented.

After introducing ourselves, we set off on our little trip to Dupont Circle - all boarding the same Metrobus headed in that direction (the driver and other passengers much have found that weird...) After a few drinks, I decided to head back since the group had become somewhat dispersed. I returned to the hostel, and went to bed. I did have to make my bed up first, though (having your bed come half-made seems like a hostel tradition, or at least that's the way it seems based on my experiences in DC and Chicago...)

 

[thully]

Day 2

After waking up, I went down to breakfast on the 2nd Floor, waiting for ol' Suzie to take me down. Had some interesting conversations, including one couple I met that was from Switzerland. Once I finished breakfast, I quickly set off for the National Air and Space Museum, taking the Metro to L'Enfant Plaza and walking from there. Spent a lot of time there - the exhibits of old airplanes were interesting, as were the space-related items. It would be cool if they had a National Passenger Train Museum, but unfortunately they don't (at least not in DC, or anywhere that I know of...) It was definitely quite crowded, though, and I quickly got tired. I saw something about an interesting annex of the NASM in Virginia with larger planes and an observation deck to watch planes take off at Dulles (the Udvar-Hazy Center) - unfortunately, the only transit that went there was a very infrequent shuttle from Dulles Airport that stopped running at 5pm (what is this, Michigan?) Given that, I ended up not going there...

Ended up not doing that much more until after dinner - did end up seeing where Michigan Ave was in DC, though I got really hot while I was out and about! I did notice that in some areas, DC seems a lot less urban (for instance, out by the National Shrine/Catholic University of America area near Michigan Ave). That kind of surprised me, though I had also heard the same about some neighborhoods in southeast DC (an area that is somewhat infamous). It would be interesting to check out a more diverse set of areas within DC, but on this trip I don't really have time for that (such is the life of working and not having tons of spare vacation time...) Went back to the hostel, and then on to the Capitol City Brewing Company. It was decent enough, though the service was kind of slow.

After dinner, I decided to set out to see some of the more notable attractions - the Capitol, White House, monuments, and National Mall. I decided to walk this time - I've found DC's system of ascending lettered/numbered streets makes navigating extremely easy, and most of the extractions were only a mile or so away. I managed to catch a glimpse of the White House and Washington Monument before an announcement blared that "a large storm is coming, return to your vehicles or buses". Found that announcement somewhat amusing - I'd imagine not many people on the National Mall actually drove down there, and fewer probably took the bus than took Metro or just walked! Ended up getting soaked before finally returning to the hostel and taking a shower before bed.

Next: Day 3 - duck tour (hopefully), visiting with family, and the return trip

 

[shelzp]

I like to take those duck tours whenever I'm in a city for the first time because you get to see things from the water which makes a different point of view than from any other form of transport.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

As far as the "return to your buses", there were probably a dozen or more tour & charter buses nearby.

I heard something on TV this morning about them stopping an event on the mall due to a storm, but wasn't really paying attention.

I'd like to go to NASM at Dulles, but have heard it's not easy to get to via mass transportation. Guess I could drive down, I live about 2-1/2 hours away, but would rather not.

 

[trainman74]

I heard something on TV this morning about them stopping an event on the mall due to a storm, but wasn't really paying attention.

It was the annual Memorial Day concert -- they had to stop it about halfway through. (It was being broadcast live on TV, and they switched to a repeat of last year's event.)

 

[thully]

Day 3-

After getting up and going down to the second floor for a quick breakfast, I checked out of the hostel and went to Metro Center to catch the Red Line to Union Station with the hopes of getting on the DC Ducks tour. As it turned out, they did have a single seat open at 10:30am, which I went ahead and reserved. Then I went to have my bags I held in the station - $22 for 2 hrs! I know I could have stored them at the hostel, but then I'd have to go back afterwards, which would mean less time with the relatives I wanted to see. At this point, I started to wonder if I really wanted to ride #29 in coach with the 5AM arrival into TOL - and decided to hedge my bets and booked a refundable Southwest fare from BWI to DTW.

Duck tour was somewhat interesting, though I think me may have missed out on parts due to Memorial Day street closings. Perhaps the highlight was seeing low-flying planes at Reagan National Airport going over the Potomac. We didn't get to see as much by River as I had hoped, though. In any case, after returning to Union Station I picked up my bags, after which point I took the Red Line Metro to Shady Grove to meet family. Added money to my fare card beforehand, and it turned out I added too much (the Metro fare system sure is confusing!)

Had a nice lunch out with my relatives at the Dogfish Head brewery, and then faced a bit of a quandary as to what to do - do I go on the train and deal with the 5AM arrival, or do I miss out on the train, pay extra money, and fly home? If I had all the time in the world, I'd just take the train all the way to CHI, arrive more comfortably, and take a Wolverine home - but I don't. In the end, I opted to take the train and cancel the plane ticket - I figure the next time I do DC I may fly (or get a sleeper if possible - though fares seem to be running a bit high even at their lowest). Since my relatives were closer to Rockville, I ended up going there to board instead of WAS. It was definitely different boarding at such a small station - as it is mostly for MARC commuter trains, there was not even any Amtrak signage in sight there! Boarded with a few other people, but had to cross over to the track labeled "to Washington DC" to do so - why, I do not know...

Currently on the train between Rockville and Harpers Ferry - my dinner reservation isn't until 8, unfortunately (boarding at RKV probably didn't help me there). I am in a car with quite a few other Toledo passengers, though it also has some bound for CLE and SOB (they actually have tags saying SOB - that gave me a bit of a chuckle). Hopefully I'm not regretting this tomorrow - definitely love the scenery on this train, but I am dreading the 5AM arrival with work tomorrow. Maybe well get a delay - I would actually be happy over a 1-2 hr one, though passengers bound for SOB/CHI probably wouldn't be as thrilled...

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Great report, although in your most recent update I was growing concerned you may fail us and bail a nice comfortable train for the terror and horror of an airliner and all that goes with it :lol:

 

[thully]

Yeah, I definitely almost bailed on this one for the flight - I'm not as flying-adverse as some on this board, but I do find the train more enjoyable if I have time for it. The early-morning arrival is not my favorite, though - every time I've almost opted for the flight, it has been one of these early morning arrivals. All the previous times, though, I ended up getting a sleeper on the train - this is the first time I'm doing overnight coach with an early morning arrival. Also, those trips were all on the LSL coming into TOL, which is a bit more sane of an arrival time than the CL (particularly when you add in the LSL's chronic lateness - I was on one delayed for 2hrs, and another that experienced an 8hr delay and Michigan detour right after I got off in TOL).

Would have went with a sleeper had one been available at a decent fare, but that wasn't an option this time around (there were some bedrooms for $500ish the week of the departure, but it's not worth THAT much to lie flat on a short hop like the Cap). In any case, if we arrive on time I guess it won't be any worse than what Sunset Limited westbound passengers have to deal with arriving into LAX. A 1-2 hr delay would actually be nice on this train, though - strange as that may be.

Currently enjoying the scenery in the Sightseer Lounge - went through Harpers Ferry a little while ago. I figure I'll stay here until shortly before dinner, maybe head back to the coach briefly, and then head to the diner at 8 - and try sleeping right afterwards. Figure I'll probably end up waking up at 4:30ish to shouts of "Toledo, next!". Given that everything is OK (and I don't end up going all the way to CHI by accident - not that CHI would be a bad place to accidentally go to!), my next report should be from TOL and/or the bus to ARB.

 

[Old MM]

Fun report to read

and sometimes, a person does need a plane. This need not be a contest.. all forms of travel can coexist !

 

[thully]

Conclusion - "Holy Toledo!"

Dinner was pretty good - I actually got to go down early as they called down both the 7:30 and 8:00 reservations at 7:45 or so. I ended up seated with a passenger bound for PGH who was on their first train ride - talked to him quite a bit while waiting for our food. I ordered the steak, which was quite good, and had some wine and ice cream with it as well. I'd say this was one of the best Amtrak meals I've had on my trips. After eating, I headed back to go to bed - though I went back up to the cafe car when I heard it was open to get some things for the Toledo layover (a couple Frappuchinos and a bagel).

Sleeping didn't go great, but it wasn't awful either - the chair on this train was slightly different (and a bit more comfortable) than the chair on the Superliner car I was in on #30. Woke up a few times - most notably around Cleveland, when I initially thought they had said "Toledo, Ohio" (but had in fact said Cleveland, Ohio). However, when I saw it was 3AM, it was clear this wasn't my stop. Went back to sleep on-and-off until I heard them say "Toledo, 2 minutes" around 5AM. I figured they would make an announcement more in advance, but at least I got as much sleep as possible. I scrambled to grab everything, and then had to return a few times when I realized I forgot things. However, the train was taking its time with the final arrival in Toledo, so when I finally got everything I still ended up waiting at least 5 minutes. Finally got off the train around 5:30 or so - tired, but OK.

Currently waiting at the Toledo station for my bus - after getting here, we were informed that it would be late due to the Lake Shore Limited being delayed (what's new?) Figure I'll get into ARB a bit later than hoped, but still OK. Seems to be lots of passengers at the station here - Toledo seemed to have many getting off, and I suspect many of them are eventually headed for southeast Michigan (whether via the bus or car). TOL is in fact the most-used station in Ohio - it surprised me, but I suspect it must be due to the use by Michigan residents going east. Also seems to be some passengers here waiting to get on the late Lake Shore Limited heading to CHI as well. I'm just relaxing here, drinking the Frappuchinos I bought for this purpose, and hoping the LSL doesn't get further delayed. I wonder what happens to the bus when there is a 6 hr delay or so - I'd hope they'd take the passengers of the on-time train separately!

All in all, a good trip - I'm glad I stuck with the train, though I would like to get a sleeper on my next overnight trip (though on the CL it's a bit much $ for the time involved). Hope the bus isn't too much later - though I guess that depends on the Late Shore Limited. However, TOL isn't a bad station to wait - it isn't like being at CHI or WAS by any stretch of the imagination, but it is bigger than our small station back in ARB. Luckily for all the late departures/early arrivals, they are open all night (though actually closed midday - probably the weirdest hours for any establishment I have ever seen, though it makes sense with the train schedule)

 

[thully]

Bus left at 7:30 as they said, and arrived about an hour late as expected. It was actually my most comfortable bus ride ever - had a front seat with extra legroom, and also had it to myself after DET. Got a pretty good view put my window, though all we really got to see on the bus was Detroit. Arrived at ARB around 10 and immediately took a quick cab home. Overall, I definitely dont regret doing the train with the early arrival - I feel fine, even though the bus trip is longish. The Capitol Limited is also a great train (better than the LSL for sure) - it really is all the amenities of western LD trains with a lot lesser time commitment.