Day 1 (11/3/2024)
Got to Everett Station at about 8:30 am for the Cascades 516 at 9:21. I wanted to check my big bag and needed to fill out the long term (free) parking form needed for any stay over 72 hours.
Since the BC seat count on railsforless.us indicated a Talgo, I did a coupon upgrade. I was correct, the Mt. Bachelor Talgo set pulled in right on time, incidentally proving Seattle's wash rack remains out if service.
They've changed the document inspection on the Cascades a bit, now they have the agent do it prior to boarding at staffed stations. I did mine when I checked my bag. They fill out a slip that they checked documents. It turns out the conductor uses it as seat check once they scan your ticket.
Grabbed a backwards facing single seat on the Sound side and off we go.
After the ticket scan, went to the cafe to grab some breakfast, a breakfast bialy and a Bloody Mary. The breakfast bialy is surprisingly good, though chewy from being zapped in the microwave.
Got my scanner out, with my brand new Smiley railroad tuned Slim Duck antenna and sat back to enjoy the ride.
Got into Vancouver right on the advertised, precisely at 12:30 pm. As usual, BC was first off, though I had to grab my bag and saddle up, so the I was the BC tail end Charlie lining up for CBSA inspection. That was fast and easy, the ex-Stasi agents that CBSA had staffing Pacific Central Station pre-COVID are apparently gone for good.
Crossed the park in front of the station, loaded $5 onto my TransLink "concession" (senior) card and took the Skytrain to Waterfront station. At which time I outsmarted myself.
It is a slightly shorter walk from the Howe Street side entrance to my hotel than from the front entrance. But while the only escalator (up) from the platform to mezzanine worked fine, the "up" escalator between the mezzanine from the steet (not visible from the platform) was out of service. So I could either drag stuff down stairs and tap back in to get to the other side or drag my stuff up the equivalent of two flights of stairs.
Now I am not a light traveler. I need 8 days of clothes to make it to a laundry stop on these trips. I have to carry enough distilled water for my CPAP for the whole time. Plus my 2024 Canadian Trackside Guide, which is serious tome, scanner gear, yadda, yadda. Anyway, my bag weighed in at 46.8 lbs and my "toy bag" backpack at 27 lbs. So my 69 year old butt was dragging nearly 80 lbs up two flights of stairs.
The moment I walked into the hotel, someone came over to me to offer me a bottle of water, which gives you an idea of my condition after playing Stair Sherpa.
Almost always I forget something on a trip, and this time it was gloves. No gloves works for Vancouver, but not in Winterpeg in November. Went to The Bay and bought another pair.
Anyway, about to lose cell service leaving Jasper, so posting now.
Preview of things to come:
Got to Everett Station at about 8:30 am for the Cascades 516 at 9:21. I wanted to check my big bag and needed to fill out the long term (free) parking form needed for any stay over 72 hours.
Since the BC seat count on railsforless.us indicated a Talgo, I did a coupon upgrade. I was correct, the Mt. Bachelor Talgo set pulled in right on time, incidentally proving Seattle's wash rack remains out if service.
They've changed the document inspection on the Cascades a bit, now they have the agent do it prior to boarding at staffed stations. I did mine when I checked my bag. They fill out a slip that they checked documents. It turns out the conductor uses it as seat check once they scan your ticket.
Grabbed a backwards facing single seat on the Sound side and off we go.
After the ticket scan, went to the cafe to grab some breakfast, a breakfast bialy and a Bloody Mary. The breakfast bialy is surprisingly good, though chewy from being zapped in the microwave.
Got my scanner out, with my brand new Smiley railroad tuned Slim Duck antenna and sat back to enjoy the ride.
Got into Vancouver right on the advertised, precisely at 12:30 pm. As usual, BC was first off, though I had to grab my bag and saddle up, so the I was the BC tail end Charlie lining up for CBSA inspection. That was fast and easy, the ex-Stasi agents that CBSA had staffing Pacific Central Station pre-COVID are apparently gone for good.
Crossed the park in front of the station, loaded $5 onto my TransLink "concession" (senior) card and took the Skytrain to Waterfront station. At which time I outsmarted myself.
It is a slightly shorter walk from the Howe Street side entrance to my hotel than from the front entrance. But while the only escalator (up) from the platform to mezzanine worked fine, the "up" escalator between the mezzanine from the steet (not visible from the platform) was out of service. So I could either drag stuff down stairs and tap back in to get to the other side or drag my stuff up the equivalent of two flights of stairs.
Now I am not a light traveler. I need 8 days of clothes to make it to a laundry stop on these trips. I have to carry enough distilled water for my CPAP for the whole time. Plus my 2024 Canadian Trackside Guide, which is serious tome, scanner gear, yadda, yadda. Anyway, my bag weighed in at 46.8 lbs and my "toy bag" backpack at 27 lbs. So my 69 year old butt was dragging nearly 80 lbs up two flights of stairs.
The moment I walked into the hotel, someone came over to me to offer me a bottle of water, which gives you an idea of my condition after playing Stair Sherpa.
Almost always I forget something on a trip, and this time it was gloves. No gloves works for Vancouver, but not in Winterpeg in November. Went to The Bay and bought another pair.
Anyway, about to lose cell service leaving Jasper, so posting now.
Preview of things to come:
