TraneMan
Conductor
I got a coupon in the mail from AGR for a free passenger ride. So figured I use this up before it expires in Feb. I booked a ticket for me and used the coupon for my partner. I was going to use this at a later date. but really didn't see when I could use it this winter, so booked it for this past weekend.
We arrived Winona about half hour from our last time the status of an hour late.. It became an hour and 20 minutes late. I had a ticket for #28, and the conductor put us on #8. When we get up in the area, we could not find an open two person seat in 8, so I headed back to 28 and there was a few open 2 seat, so we got on the last 27 car #31010 (I think that was the number.) I didn't see the attendent's name since he had a jacket on, but he was friendly.
This car sure has not been updated at all.. The bathroom was screaming the 70's green! The faucet was spraying water almost everywhere. There was no info/book/safety and Empire Builder Magazine in the seats pocket holder. The seat pad was worn out, so I could feel a rod of some type across my butt, but it wasn't enough to bother me. The temp was on the money.
We had lunch and sat with a couple who started off from the Bay area and was on their way up to New Englad area to see the fall color. This was their first time on the EB and they loved it.. They thought the EB was a rough ride, and I told them I know it's pretty rough around the Fargo area, but he said the whole ride did seem rough... I didn't think it was that bad? (Maybe the Coast Starlight is smoother ride??) I had the lunch special of Chili over baked potaotes, and that was pretty good! Eric had the burger, and he said it a bit better than the last month's ride.
We were running late, and got caught up behind the Metro train, so we were not moving into CHI as fast should of been.. They made an announcements that there was a few train was waiting for them to make the connections, and who was getting on the Wolverine had to ride a van.
While we were in CHI. I was able to go back and visit the 40th train!
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Return
I got a message from a friend on FB telling me the Saturday night train was running very late, and thought our 8 10/2 train may be leaving late. I was hoping that won't happen since we did't have anything planned after we checked out of the hotel. This morning, I checked the status a few time and was showing on time 2:15.
We got to the union station, and we were going to sit in the old hall, and there was no benches there. :-( So had to head down and wait in the waiting room, was able to find a chair! After waiting for about 10 min, we were boarding. We had a ticket for #7, but we were put onto #27, and I was okay with that since It seems 27 is a bit quieter since you don't get all the traffic who may be going to the dinning car or who going to the lounge from the sleeper. Car #31041 was kinda hit and miss w/ info and magazine in the seat pocket. We the car attendent was very nice (didn't write down her name) she asked if we needed a pillow, and said I'd take one. The seats were better this time than our car down. Bathroom was not screaming anything from the 70's color.. Still the old style set up just an updated blue in a way.. Guess I gotten spoiled from the sleeper car from last month!
We left CHI on time. After we left CHI, I went up to the lounge car and just soak in the view, and noticed the "Post" by the step w/ arrow of where is what was missing a lot of letters on it.. Car was clean, and the windows could of been cleaner.. Lot of water spot, so was hard to get a good video/photo there, so I went back to our seat and did photos/video there.
in MKE we had a couple came on board and they were not an english spoken couple. They sat one row behind/across from us. Her cell phone was ringing almost non-stop or she be calling.. Almost every call was with her mom and they were some what loud!.. Only thing she spoke in english was " love ya mama, Love ya love ya and this was said about 20 times before she hung up, and another call takes place 2 minutes later! Around Tomah WI, I kinda gave this stare at her like "really!!?" She stayed off of it while they had supper in their seat.
I got up and went to get something to eat, and went down to the snack car, and I was really really bummed out they didn't have the italian sub! I was soo looking forward for this! :-( So I had to settle for the cheese burger.
Soon as they were done, back on the cell she was! Ugh! My partner, said. "Oh joy! We got a cell phone lady on our train!!!" Around LaCrosse, it was less and I feel bad for the rest of the people who will have to ride w/ them.. This couple is going to I think Pasco WA!
Our timing wasn't too bad. we were anywhere around 5 minutes late, then just before Winona, we were put into siding and made us 20 minutes late into Winona.
Anyway, I think I got my fix in for the year w/ the Empire Builder, and who knows. I may book a trip next year!
We arrived Winona about half hour from our last time the status of an hour late.. It became an hour and 20 minutes late. I had a ticket for #28, and the conductor put us on #8. When we get up in the area, we could not find an open two person seat in 8, so I headed back to 28 and there was a few open 2 seat, so we got on the last 27 car #31010 (I think that was the number.) I didn't see the attendent's name since he had a jacket on, but he was friendly.
This car sure has not been updated at all.. The bathroom was screaming the 70's green! The faucet was spraying water almost everywhere. There was no info/book/safety and Empire Builder Magazine in the seats pocket holder. The seat pad was worn out, so I could feel a rod of some type across my butt, but it wasn't enough to bother me. The temp was on the money.
We had lunch and sat with a couple who started off from the Bay area and was on their way up to New Englad area to see the fall color. This was their first time on the EB and they loved it.. They thought the EB was a rough ride, and I told them I know it's pretty rough around the Fargo area, but he said the whole ride did seem rough... I didn't think it was that bad? (Maybe the Coast Starlight is smoother ride??) I had the lunch special of Chili over baked potaotes, and that was pretty good! Eric had the burger, and he said it a bit better than the last month's ride.
We were running late, and got caught up behind the Metro train, so we were not moving into CHI as fast should of been.. They made an announcements that there was a few train was waiting for them to make the connections, and who was getting on the Wolverine had to ride a van.
While we were in CHI. I was able to go back and visit the 40th train!
----
Return
I got a message from a friend on FB telling me the Saturday night train was running very late, and thought our 8 10/2 train may be leaving late. I was hoping that won't happen since we did't have anything planned after we checked out of the hotel. This morning, I checked the status a few time and was showing on time 2:15.
We got to the union station, and we were going to sit in the old hall, and there was no benches there. :-( So had to head down and wait in the waiting room, was able to find a chair! After waiting for about 10 min, we were boarding. We had a ticket for #7, but we were put onto #27, and I was okay with that since It seems 27 is a bit quieter since you don't get all the traffic who may be going to the dinning car or who going to the lounge from the sleeper. Car #31041 was kinda hit and miss w/ info and magazine in the seat pocket. We the car attendent was very nice (didn't write down her name) she asked if we needed a pillow, and said I'd take one. The seats were better this time than our car down. Bathroom was not screaming anything from the 70's color.. Still the old style set up just an updated blue in a way.. Guess I gotten spoiled from the sleeper car from last month!
We left CHI on time. After we left CHI, I went up to the lounge car and just soak in the view, and noticed the "Post" by the step w/ arrow of where is what was missing a lot of letters on it.. Car was clean, and the windows could of been cleaner.. Lot of water spot, so was hard to get a good video/photo there, so I went back to our seat and did photos/video there.
in MKE we had a couple came on board and they were not an english spoken couple. They sat one row behind/across from us. Her cell phone was ringing almost non-stop or she be calling.. Almost every call was with her mom and they were some what loud!.. Only thing she spoke in english was " love ya mama, Love ya love ya and this was said about 20 times before she hung up, and another call takes place 2 minutes later! Around Tomah WI, I kinda gave this stare at her like "really!!?" She stayed off of it while they had supper in their seat.
I got up and went to get something to eat, and went down to the snack car, and I was really really bummed out they didn't have the italian sub! I was soo looking forward for this! :-( So I had to settle for the cheese burger.
Soon as they were done, back on the cell she was! Ugh! My partner, said. "Oh joy! We got a cell phone lady on our train!!!" Around LaCrosse, it was less and I feel bad for the rest of the people who will have to ride w/ them.. This couple is going to I think Pasco WA!
Our timing wasn't too bad. we were anywhere around 5 minutes late, then just before Winona, we were put into siding and made us 20 minutes late into Winona.
Anyway, I think I got my fix in for the year w/ the Empire Builder, and who knows. I may book a trip next year!
