the_traveler
Engineer
Due to the LONG journey, this will be in (at least) 3 installments!
NOTE: The tribe has spoken, and all episodes will be shown here!
Episode III has been released for your viewing pleasure!
8/20
the_traveler is on the move again for the LLLOOONNNGGG trip “home” (wherever that is)!
FOR YOUR SAFETY AND FOR THOSE AROUND YOU, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HOLD ON!
I arrived at Union Station and went to the QT to pick up my ticket. My plan was to ride a Talgo PDX-SEA (Portland-Seattle), take #8 SEA-SPK (Spokane, WA) and #27 SPK-PDX for a circle trip! (Would you expect the_traveler to do otherwise?
) The SEA-SPK portion was bought (paid) previously – when the EB was on the 20% off sale! However, plans changed!
At the QT, I input the reservation number. (This segment was an AGR award.) I was informed that it could not be found! So I went up to the counter, and I was informed that it was CANCELLED – without my knowledge! I was informed to contact AGR to find out why, as the agent did not know.
After going thru all the hoops, I found out that this segment was cancelled on July 7. I did make some changes on July 7, but this segment was not one of those cancelled. I did not know about this cancellation until this time. Also, #506 had already departed.
So, I missed my circle trip – and my chance at the 8/20 bonus points!
Time for a change on the fly! I decided to ride PDX-TAC-VAN-PDX (Tacoma & Vancouver, WA) that day. (The reason for this coming up after the short break!) Then I planned to depart from PDX the following day.
However, when I went to remake the reservations, I was told that there were NO SEATS AVAILABLE from PDX! The only way to go was via a roomette, However, it did not seem reasonable for me to use 15,000 points for a “short” segment (of a “few” hours) for a roomette for 1 person. But I agreed – because in order to make my other connections, I had to depart PDX (again) on 8/21.
Later, I checked the website, and saw that it showed that there WERE seats! After asking if they (AGR) use a different res system than Amtrak (they do not), it was determined that there were LOWER LEVEL COACH SEATS only! So I cancelled the roomette and rebooked for coach. (5,500 points instead of 15,000 points – 9.500 more points to use for my next trip! )
……..
I got an AGR award for PDX-TAC in BC! Then got an AGR award TAC-VAN (I thought in BC but they made it for coach) and a PAID ($9) ticket VAN-PDX (to qualify for the 8/20 bonus of course)!
I waited at Union Station for 2 ½ hours and took #516 to TAC. #516 is a Talgo – and happens to be the new PDX-VAC (Vancouver, BC) run! However, it was announced just a little to late for me to take it. (It began 8/19 and I was leaving on 8/20.)
I seriously thought about taking #516 to VAC, but then thought otherwise. If I did, it would have reached VAC at 10:30 pm, then I would have to clear Customs, sleep for a very few hours and then leave VAC the next morning at 5:30 AM, so that I could connect to the CS! Spending $200-300 for a hotel for that short time didn’t make any sense.
I took BC on #516 and departed PDX for the 2nd time. (Thus the name. I had to differentiate PDX (the airport) from PDX (Union Station) – so the airport (where I flew into on 7/25) is C and Union Station is C.1 – are you confused yet? :lol: (The .2 signifies that I had left C.1 on 8/12, so this is my 2nd departure from C.1 on this trip – so far!) #516 departed PDX at 2:45 PM.
However, it departed VAN at 3:20 PM – 15 minutes late. (For those of you still keeping score, this departure from VAC is D.3 – I had departed VAN twice on 8/12!) #516 departed KEL (Kelso-Longview, WA) (E.2 – I also departed there on 8/12) at 3:53 and finally arrived into TAC at 5:44 a few minutes late.
I then took #509 back, departing TAC (F) at 6:16 PM. It departed KEL (E.3) at 8:00 PM and VAN (D.4) at 8:32 PM. #516 arrived back into PDX at 8:50 PM – 10 minutes early.
I then got a ride back to the place that I stayed for the past 4 weeks! (And that was only day #1 – stay tuned for the bumpy ride! At times, it’s rougher than some of the track and switches! :lol: )
8/21
Not wanting to carry my (extra) bags on an unreserved train (the Capitol Corridor) or around SAC (Sacramento, CA) the following day, I checked my bags from PDX to LAX. I could do this because I had tickets to LAX.
My ride to the station had plans during the afternoon, so I was “forced” to go to Union Station early. So I said, “I’ll ride a train!” (The things I’m forced to do! )
I took #506 to VAN. It was a Talgo, but had a P-42 on the back, not the usual Talgo power. It had a Talgo loco on the front.
#506 departed PDX (C.1.3) at 12:15 PM. It arrived into VAN at 12:30 PM.
After a 38 minute layover, I departed VAN on #11 at 1:08 PM (D.5).
The CS (OK - I made a mistake - there's a 1st time for everything :lol: ) included 2 P-42’s, baggage, 1 trans-dorm, 2 sleepers, PPC, diner, Sightseer and 4 coaches. The coach I sat in had no outlets. But luckily the Sightseer was the next car! At the long stop in PDX, I walked thru the train. I discovered that 2 cars back was a car with power. After speaking with the CA, I was allowed to move!
#11 departed PDX (C.1.4) for the 4th and final time at 2:25 PM.
I chose to patronize the PPC and paid $10 (for coach) for the wine & cheese tasting. (I also bought 2 coffee mugs with the CS logo – my other one at home broke – and a bottle of wine for dinner. So I did my part to support the income of the PPC!)
My dinner seat mates included a couple from Canada on their way to take their families to Disneyland. They commented that they had not really thought about taking Amtrak, but were surprised that the fares are much lower than VIA Rail!
The good news about my new seat is that it had at-seat power. The bad news is that the seat to which I was assigned was seat #42 – which is right across from the stairs! This means there are bright lights all night long!
I noticed very few freights – at least that we were held for. One of the few was just north of KFS (Kalamath Falls, OR) about 9:30 PM. We finally arrived into KFS at 10:00 PM. Time for some fresh air (smoke stop) and time for sleep.
8/22
#11 arrived into Chico late and had to double spot. We did not depart Chico until 4:15 AM. However, due to padding, we arrived into SAC (Sacramento, CA) (G.1) at 5:45 AM. I continued riding the CS until OKJ (Oakland, CA) passing thru MTZ (Martinez, CA) (H.1). #11 arrived OKJ at 8:55 AM.
I left the CS and took a SJ to MTZ and a Capitol Corridor train to SAC. (I earn more AGR points this way!)
#714 deadheaded into OKJ at 9:45 AM, boarded at 9:50 AM and finally departed OKJ (I.1) at 10:05 AM. #714 arrived into MTZ at 10:47 AM. I then waited for the departure (H.2) of #728 to SAC at 11:44 AM.
I found it very ironic that the “Quiet Car” on #728 was the cab car – with the cab car forward and the horn sounding from the “Quiet Car”! Arrival into SAC was on time about 12:30 PM
I then spent the afternoon at the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM). The last (and only) visit to CSRM was 15 years ago. It is as good as I remember! The only bad (and surprising) thing is THERE IS NO PLACE TO LEAVE A BAG! So I had to walk around the museum with my luggage! (I find this surprising, since you could - not that I wouldh34r: – put “something” from the museum into your bag!) Even places like Wal-Mart and BJ’s Wholesale make you leave your bag!
Some may be wondering why I carried my bags instead of leaving them at the station. The reason is that one was my netbook case, and the other was my overnight bag. One thing I had to do in Sacramento was to go shopping, since my pants broke. (No, it wasn’t from too much food – yet!) I needed that bag to put my other pants into it.
After visiting CSRM, I went to the River City Brewing Company for dinner. (hic!) I needed to relax for the long overnight trip ahead. (Including a long overnight Ambus!)
I boarded #749, an unreserved Capitol Corridor train, at SAC (G.2) at 7:10 PM. I’ll leave out the letters and numbers (because I’ll soon run out of letters and numbers!), but I will include the stop and departure at MTZ (H.3) – I departed every station between OKJ and SAC 3 times on 8/22! Arrival on #749 into OKJ was at 9:06 PM. And it was getting cool – I was glad to have a sweater with me!
The Ambus was scheduled to depart at 10 PM for the overnight run to SBA (Santa Barbara, CA)! The bus was a motorcoach similar to Greyhound – but MUCH, MUCH nicer! About 25-30 people boarded at OKJ. It arrived at around 9:50 or so (OKJ was the first stop), and departed on schedule at 10 PM from OKJ (I.2).
After a short (about 20 minute drive) over the Bay Bridge, we arrived at SFC (San Francisco, CA) about 10:20 PM – and sat there for about 20 minutes! WHY? :huh: The driver announced the stop would be about 20 minutes – and offered anyone who wanted to get off (to stretch) could. When no one took him up on the offer, he got off the bus, closed the door – and left! I assumed that he may have gone into the Ferry Building to get the passengers who were boarding. But I don’t think this was the case. 3 boarding passengers came to the bus. But because the driver closed the door, they could not board. It was maybe another 10 minutes before the driver returned, so those 3 passengers got to wait on the sidewalk for 10 minutes!
I fell asleep (good brew! :lol: ), but I think we went down to SJC, PRB and SLO (San Jose, Paso Robles & San Luis Osbispo, CA - sp?) down 101.
8/23
There was a scheduled meal/rest stop about half way. This was about 2 AM in King City. It was at a 24-hour McDonald’s with a 24-hour gas station/convenience store next door. The only thing is that the inside of the McD’s is closed with only the drive thru open 24-hours. This means that any bus passenger who wanted something from McD’s had to walk up to the drive thru window!
The Ambus arrived SBA about 10 minutes early at 6:05 AM.
#768 departed SBA (J) at 6:46 AM. It was a Surfliner with a California coach/baggage/cab car. 1 Superliner coach,3 California II coaches and 1 California locomotive (I forget the type). There is a short stretch of ocean shore running south of SBA. The tide was coming in, so the Pacific had come to wave goodbye to the_traveler!
When #768 arrived into LAX at 9:5 AM, they added 4 additional coaches and 1 locomotive for the run south. It was race weekend at Santa Anita!
Upon my arrival at LAX, I went to the QT to retrieve my tickets for my next segment to BHM. Only when I input the reservation that I entered into my iPhone, it could not find it! (Could this be another cancelled reservation?)
It turned out that I had entered the reservation number incorrectly. I had input a 6 when it should have been 8! So I could go on the next segment after all!
I walked over to Phillipe’s for breakfast, then back to LAUS to retrieve the bags that I checked in PDX straight to LAX. I then waited at LAX for the departure of #2/422 at 2:30 PM.
NEXT EPISODE: The trip on #2 /#422 from LAX! Tune in - same time, same channel!
.........
EDITED: To include the spelling of the names, per request!
NOTE: The tribe has spoken, and all episodes will be shown here!
Episode III has been released for your viewing pleasure!
8/20
the_traveler is on the move again for the LLLOOONNNGGG trip “home” (wherever that is)!
FOR YOUR SAFETY AND FOR THOSE AROUND YOU, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HOLD ON!
I arrived at Union Station and went to the QT to pick up my ticket. My plan was to ride a Talgo PDX-SEA (Portland-Seattle), take #8 SEA-SPK (Spokane, WA) and #27 SPK-PDX for a circle trip! (Would you expect the_traveler to do otherwise?
) The SEA-SPK portion was bought (paid) previously – when the EB was on the 20% off sale! However, plans changed!At the QT, I input the reservation number. (This segment was an AGR award.) I was informed that it could not be found! So I went up to the counter, and I was informed that it was CANCELLED – without my knowledge! I was informed to contact AGR to find out why, as the agent did not know.
After going thru all the hoops, I found out that this segment was cancelled on July 7. I did make some changes on July 7, but this segment was not one of those cancelled. I did not know about this cancellation until this time. Also, #506 had already departed.
So, I missed my circle trip – and my chance at the 8/20 bonus points!
Time for a change on the fly! I decided to ride PDX-TAC-VAN-PDX (Tacoma & Vancouver, WA) that day. (The reason for this coming up after the short break!) Then I planned to depart from PDX the following day.
However, when I went to remake the reservations, I was told that there were NO SEATS AVAILABLE from PDX! The only way to go was via a roomette, However, it did not seem reasonable for me to use 15,000 points for a “short” segment (of a “few” hours) for a roomette for 1 person. But I agreed – because in order to make my other connections, I had to depart PDX (again) on 8/21.
Later, I checked the website, and saw that it showed that there WERE seats! After asking if they (AGR) use a different res system than Amtrak (they do not), it was determined that there were LOWER LEVEL COACH SEATS only! So I cancelled the roomette and rebooked for coach. (5,500 points instead of 15,000 points – 9.500 more points to use for my next trip!
)……..
I got an AGR award for PDX-TAC in BC! Then got an AGR award TAC-VAN (I thought in BC but they made it for coach) and a PAID ($9) ticket VAN-PDX (to qualify for the 8/20 bonus of course)!
I waited at Union Station for 2 ½ hours and took #516 to TAC. #516 is a Talgo – and happens to be the new PDX-VAC (Vancouver, BC) run! However, it was announced just a little to late for me to take it. (It began 8/19 and I was leaving on 8/20.)
I seriously thought about taking #516 to VAC, but then thought otherwise. If I did, it would have reached VAC at 10:30 pm, then I would have to clear Customs, sleep for a very few hours and then leave VAC the next morning at 5:30 AM, so that I could connect to the CS! Spending $200-300 for a hotel for that short time didn’t make any sense.
I took BC on #516 and departed PDX for the 2nd time. (Thus the name. I had to differentiate PDX (the airport) from PDX (Union Station) – so the airport (where I flew into on 7/25) is C and Union Station is C.1 – are you confused yet? :lol: (The .2 signifies that I had left C.1 on 8/12, so this is my 2nd departure from C.1 on this trip – so far!) #516 departed PDX at 2:45 PM.
However, it departed VAN at 3:20 PM – 15 minutes late. (For those of you still keeping score, this departure from VAC is D.3 – I had departed VAN twice on 8/12!) #516 departed KEL (Kelso-Longview, WA) (E.2 – I also departed there on 8/12) at 3:53 and finally arrived into TAC at 5:44 a few minutes late.
I then took #509 back, departing TAC (F) at 6:16 PM. It departed KEL (E.3) at 8:00 PM and VAN (D.4) at 8:32 PM. #516 arrived back into PDX at 8:50 PM – 10 minutes early.
I then got a ride back to the place that I stayed for the past 4 weeks! (And that was only day #1 – stay tuned for the bumpy ride! At times, it’s rougher than some of the track and switches! :lol: )
8/21
Not wanting to carry my (extra) bags on an unreserved train (the Capitol Corridor) or around SAC (Sacramento, CA) the following day, I checked my bags from PDX to LAX. I could do this because I had tickets to LAX.
My ride to the station had plans during the afternoon, so I was “forced” to go to Union Station early. So I said, “I’ll ride a train!” (The things I’m forced to do!
)I took #506 to VAN. It was a Talgo, but had a P-42 on the back, not the usual Talgo power. It had a Talgo loco on the front.
#506 departed PDX (C.1.3) at 12:15 PM. It arrived into VAN at 12:30 PM.
After a 38 minute layover, I departed VAN on #11 at 1:08 PM (D.5).
The CS (OK - I made a mistake - there's a 1st time for everything :lol: ) included 2 P-42’s, baggage, 1 trans-dorm, 2 sleepers, PPC, diner, Sightseer and 4 coaches. The coach I sat in had no outlets. But luckily the Sightseer was the next car! At the long stop in PDX, I walked thru the train. I discovered that 2 cars back was a car with power. After speaking with the CA, I was allowed to move!
#11 departed PDX (C.1.4) for the 4th and final time at 2:25 PM.
I chose to patronize the PPC and paid $10 (for coach) for the wine & cheese tasting. (I also bought 2 coffee mugs with the CS logo – my other one at home broke – and a bottle of wine for dinner. So I did my part to support the income of the PPC!)
My dinner seat mates included a couple from Canada on their way to take their families to Disneyland. They commented that they had not really thought about taking Amtrak, but were surprised that the fares are much lower than VIA Rail!
The good news about my new seat is that it had at-seat power. The bad news is that the seat to which I was assigned was seat #42 – which is right across from the stairs! This means there are bright lights all night long!
I noticed very few freights – at least that we were held for. One of the few was just north of KFS (Kalamath Falls, OR) about 9:30 PM. We finally arrived into KFS at 10:00 PM. Time for some fresh air (smoke stop) and time for sleep.
8/22
#11 arrived into Chico late and had to double spot. We did not depart Chico until 4:15 AM. However, due to padding, we arrived into SAC (Sacramento, CA) (G.1) at 5:45 AM. I continued riding the CS until OKJ (Oakland, CA) passing thru MTZ (Martinez, CA) (H.1). #11 arrived OKJ at 8:55 AM.
I left the CS and took a SJ to MTZ and a Capitol Corridor train to SAC. (I earn more AGR points this way!)
#714 deadheaded into OKJ at 9:45 AM, boarded at 9:50 AM and finally departed OKJ (I.1) at 10:05 AM. #714 arrived into MTZ at 10:47 AM. I then waited for the departure (H.2) of #728 to SAC at 11:44 AM.
I found it very ironic that the “Quiet Car” on #728 was the cab car – with the cab car forward and the horn sounding from the “Quiet Car”! Arrival into SAC was on time about 12:30 PM
I then spent the afternoon at the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM). The last (and only) visit to CSRM was 15 years ago. It is as good as I remember! The only bad (and surprising) thing is THERE IS NO PLACE TO LEAVE A BAG! So I had to walk around the museum with my luggage! (I find this surprising, since you could - not that I would
h34r: – put “something” from the museum into your bag!) Even places like Wal-Mart and BJ’s Wholesale make you leave your bag!Some may be wondering why I carried my bags instead of leaving them at the station. The reason is that one was my netbook case, and the other was my overnight bag. One thing I had to do in Sacramento was to go shopping, since my pants broke. (No, it wasn’t from too much food – yet!) I needed that bag to put my other pants into it.
After visiting CSRM, I went to the River City Brewing Company for dinner. (hic!) I needed to relax for the long overnight trip ahead. (Including a long overnight Ambus!)
I boarded #749, an unreserved Capitol Corridor train, at SAC (G.2) at 7:10 PM. I’ll leave out the letters and numbers (because I’ll soon run out of letters and numbers!), but I will include the stop and departure at MTZ (H.3) – I departed every station between OKJ and SAC 3 times on 8/22! Arrival on #749 into OKJ was at 9:06 PM. And it was getting cool – I was glad to have a sweater with me!
The Ambus was scheduled to depart at 10 PM for the overnight run to SBA (Santa Barbara, CA)! The bus was a motorcoach similar to Greyhound – but MUCH, MUCH nicer! About 25-30 people boarded at OKJ. It arrived at around 9:50 or so (OKJ was the first stop), and departed on schedule at 10 PM from OKJ (I.2).
After a short (about 20 minute drive) over the Bay Bridge, we arrived at SFC (San Francisco, CA) about 10:20 PM – and sat there for about 20 minutes! WHY? :huh: The driver announced the stop would be about 20 minutes – and offered anyone who wanted to get off (to stretch) could. When no one took him up on the offer, he got off the bus, closed the door – and left! I assumed that he may have gone into the Ferry Building to get the passengers who were boarding. But I don’t think this was the case. 3 boarding passengers came to the bus. But because the driver closed the door, they could not board. It was maybe another 10 minutes before the driver returned, so those 3 passengers got to wait on the sidewalk for 10 minutes!
I fell asleep (good brew! :lol: ), but I think we went down to SJC, PRB and SLO (San Jose, Paso Robles & San Luis Osbispo, CA - sp?) down 101.
8/23
There was a scheduled meal/rest stop about half way. This was about 2 AM in King City. It was at a 24-hour McDonald’s with a 24-hour gas station/convenience store next door. The only thing is that the inside of the McD’s is closed with only the drive thru open 24-hours. This means that any bus passenger who wanted something from McD’s had to walk up to the drive thru window!
The Ambus arrived SBA about 10 minutes early at 6:05 AM.
#768 departed SBA (J) at 6:46 AM. It was a Surfliner with a California coach/baggage/cab car. 1 Superliner coach,3 California II coaches and 1 California locomotive (I forget the type). There is a short stretch of ocean shore running south of SBA. The tide was coming in, so the Pacific had come to wave goodbye to the_traveler!
When #768 arrived into LAX at 9:5 AM, they added 4 additional coaches and 1 locomotive for the run south. It was race weekend at Santa Anita!
Upon my arrival at LAX, I went to the QT to retrieve my tickets for my next segment to BHM. Only when I input the reservation that I entered into my iPhone, it could not find it! (Could this be another cancelled reservation?)
It turned out that I had entered the reservation number incorrectly. I had input a 6 when it should have been 8! So I could go on the next segment after all!
I walked over to Phillipe’s for breakfast, then back to LAUS to retrieve the bags that I checked in PDX straight to LAX. I then waited at LAX for the departure of #2/422 at 2:30 PM.
NEXT EPISODE: The trip on #2 /#422 from LAX! Tune in - same time, same channel!
.........
EDITED: To include the spelling of the names, per request!
Last edited by a moderator:
