Have U ever...?
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amtrakwolverine
Engineer
yes the metro subway in L.A when i had a 8 hour layover. got a day pass and rode the red line.
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Yes, I did that,so far as riding by myself, on the Washington DC Metro. Did it all day..
p&sr
OBS Chief
All the time. Once from California I got as far as Boston before turning around. Never stepped off except to transfer, and never stepped outside a Station.
chertling
Lead Service Attendant
Its not Amtrak, but when I was a kid, I begged my parents to take me to Detroit (60 miles each way) for the day. The sole reason for the trip? So I could ride the just opened Detroit People-Mover.
Kramerica
Service Attendant
Yes. Spent a day in NYC basically just riding the subway. (We did stop at Coney Island though) Spent a handful of Saturdays riding different Metra lines in Chicago for the $5 weekend pass. The main goal was to simply ride the trains and see the scenery and towns.
Shotgun7
Service Attendant
I've frequently boarded a train out of Deerfield or Tampa and simply said to the conductor, "How far can I go and make it back in the same day?" Not only does it provide for a random, pointless adventure, but it lets you experience towns that you'd never think to visit otherwise.
diesteldorf
Lead Service Attendant
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I've down this routng a couple times:
1. La Crosse, WI to Detroit Lakes, MN
2. Detroit Lakes to Milwaukee
3. Milwaukee back to La Crosse. It works out to be 20 out of 24 hours on the train.
In Chicago, t's actually pretty easy to take a train one way, stop and eat diner at whatever town you are in, catch the next train back to Chicago.
1. La Crosse, WI to Detroit Lakes, MN
2. Detroit Lakes to Milwaukee
3. Milwaukee back to La Crosse. It works out to be 20 out of 24 hours on the train.
In Chicago, t's actually pretty easy to take a train one way, stop and eat diner at whatever town you are in, catch the next train back to Chicago.
chuljin
Lead Service Attendant
I often do that. And I don't mean point running (for which I'm [in]famous), but things like going to Oxnard (of all places) just to stay for 40 minutes and have an excuse to come back on the sole single-level Pacific Surfliner set, or going to Santa Ana, or Irvine, or Moorpark, or wherever, just to turn around and come back. Neither point-running (as it would be a crappy points-per-dollar ratio for that purpose), nor going someplace to do something non- or only lightly-train-related at that place (as I'll turn back in only 30-45 minutes), but the sheer love of riding the train.
It's what I described in my AU intro as 'Type 2' trips.
The most recent example was this past Saturday, when I decided to go to Moorpark for lunch at a place called The Hub that is often talked up by Amtrak crews. I could have just gone up there (from Glendale, where I live) on one train (769), and come back on another (784), but instead, for S&Gs, I took 768 down to Santa Ana, hung out there for 45 minutes, then 769 up to Moorpark, had lunch, then 784 back down, but overshooting all the way to Fullerton, then 785 home. (Riding 784 south of LA also affords an opportunity to hang out with our own BlueJeanGirl, however briefly.
)
It's what I described in my AU intro as 'Type 2' trips.
The most recent example was this past Saturday, when I decided to go to Moorpark for lunch at a place called The Hub that is often talked up by Amtrak crews. I could have just gone up there (from Glendale, where I live) on one train (769), and come back on another (784), but instead, for S&Gs, I took 768 down to Santa Ana, hung out there for 45 minutes, then 769 up to Moorpark, had lunch, then 784 back down, but overshooting all the way to Fullerton, then 785 home. (Riding 784 south of LA also affords an opportunity to hang out with our own BlueJeanGirl, however briefly.
)Did that between Amtrak segments: Red & Orange Lines (Rubber "Train") in LA.
sky12065
Conductor
YES! YES! Until the train operator in the amusement park told me I had to get off to make more room for the kids waiting their turn to get on! :blush:
HELL YEAH!! I call it joyriding, and do it every chance I get. From the looks of this topic, it appears I'm hardly alone.
Did that all day in NY with Alan
In the UK; I did once travel for something like 4hs 45 on one train; got off the train, crossed over the line and travelled the 4hrs 45 back (tho this wasn't just for the hell of it).
But then; they always say life is all about the ride, not the destination.
Rafi
Conductor
Wayman and I did that this past November in Philly... Went all over thanks to Will's impeccable planning.
I did a trip myself earlier the same month—flew to Fort Lauderdale, took TriRail to Miami, took the Silver Star through Tampa to Orlando, and flew back to Baltimore the same night. That one day trip felt like a 2 day vacation! It was pretty surreal.
Rafi
I did a trip myself earlier the same month—flew to Fort Lauderdale, took TriRail to Miami, took the Silver Star through Tampa to Orlando, and flew back to Baltimore the same night. That one day trip felt like a 2 day vacation! It was pretty surreal.
Rafi
I did, too! Well, not a whole day. Just an afternoon: We rode LIRR out to Far Rockaway and then the A train back before walking around Rockefeller Plaza.Did that all day in NY with Alan
I've ridden the entire Metrolink system just for the sheer fun of it--no destination in mind. Each line has its own charm: the Antelope Valley line has the beautiful Soledad Canyon and the high-speed running across the flat high desert; the San Bernardino line races cars down the median of the 10 freeway; the 91 Line has the neverending parade of BNSF freights down an entirely multi-tracked right-of-way (and some scenic portions through Anaheim Canyon), and the OC line has stunning seaside vistas.
I've also ridden trains with no destination in mind in Barcelona, Vienna, London, Sydney, Boston, Washington, DC., and Chicago. This doesn't count the many times I've persuaded others I've traveled with to take a train to a specific destination (like Rosenheim-Munich) when they would have much rather driven--those times may be countless!
One other time, one of my family members drove our car from Paris to Poitiers (towards Bordeaux) while another family member and I rode the TGV there just so I could have the experience of riding the TGV!
Unfortunately, my local railroad's ability to make a profit on passenger rail and the high prices that result financially prohibit me from random riding, or else I'd probably do it more!
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printman2000
Engineer
Yup, check out my trip report...
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?...Southwest+chief
We used the Southwest Chief instead of a hotel.
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?...Southwest+chief
We used the Southwest Chief instead of a hotel.
Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
I ride for fun almost every weekend the only destination in mind is the end of the line although I am on a budget so its usually NJT or some other commuter outfit around here.
transit54
Conductor
While I was exposed to trains surprisingly little as a child (I didn't really develop any interest till I went off to college and starting regularly riding Amtrak) my father used to occasionally take me to work with him. While he drove to and from work, on his lunch break we'd drive out to a nearby Metro-north station and take the train one stop down and one stop back. I always used to enjoy the train rides and have fond memories of them.
My only Amtrak LD experiences have been taking the train for the sake of taking the train, including a loop from NYP to Chicago and back via the Cardinal and the LSL. And I expect them to continue to be that way for the foreseeable future - my ability to take time off from work is limited, so if I'm taking a LD train trip, that's pretty much all I'll have time for. I am constantly keeping my eyes open, however, for an opportunity to take a train LD for business, so I could actually spend a few days somewhere once I get there.
My only Amtrak LD experiences have been taking the train for the sake of taking the train, including a loop from NYP to Chicago and back via the Cardinal and the LSL. And I expect them to continue to be that way for the foreseeable future - my ability to take time off from work is limited, so if I'm taking a LD train trip, that's pretty much all I'll have time for. I am constantly keeping my eyes open, however, for an opportunity to take a train LD for business, so I could actually spend a few days somewhere once I get there.
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transit54
Conductor
Since we're discussing transit here, I just thought of another example. When I was in Moscow, I rode the Metro just for the sake of riding it. The many of the stations are incredibly ornate - works of art, really, and I spent a good part of one day riding around, just getting off at each stop and taking them in. It's not an all uncommon thing to do there and if anyone happens to find themselves in that part of the world, I highly recommend doing so.
I rode 97 this past Thanksgiving from WAS-RVR just so I could have Thanksgiving dinner in the diner. I've ridden 195 ALX-QAN to film trains roaring through, then ridden 66 back. Once I rode the Metro down to ALX to railfan there. We sat outside National Airport for 40 minutes due to track work. Not wanting to deal with that again, I bought a ticket on 80 for the 9 miles into WAS. Also, when I go to the annual NARP meeting in Baltimore, I drive south to Manassas, rather than getting on a Northeast Regional at WAS. At MSS I board 20, which gives me time for breakfast in the diner. The return trip on 19 also gives me enough time for dinner.
OlympianHiawatha
Engineer
It is usually easy to get low bucket at last minute on the Heartland Flyer; so from time to time I'll book a seat on a whim just for the chance to relax on board for 8 hours, get a couple cheeseburgers and beers in me and have lunch in Ft. Worth. It's a great way to kill a day and pick up a few hundred AGR points.
printman2000
Engineer
Can you say, "next Monday"? That is what the family and I are doing. Not just for AGR, but for fun!
A couple of years ago, I zigzagged Germany on ICE trains with a Eurailpass (no reservations required in Germany, unlike France & the TGV) for about 18 hours straight. My longest layover at any one station was maybe an hour at most. That begun after having just gotten off an overnight train at the crack of dawn... then I timed my last ICE arrival to coincide with another overnight train. Nowhere special in mind, but I did save money on hotel accommodations for the four consecutive nights I spent on (different) trains that week.
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AlohaA couple of years ago, I zigzagged Germany on ICE trains with a Eurailpass (no reservations required in Germany, unlike France & the TGV) for about 18 hours straight. My longest layover at any one station was maybe an hour at most. That begun after having just gotten off an overnight train at the crack of dawn... then I timed my last ICE arrival to coincide with another overnight train. Nowhere special in mind, but I did save money on hotel accommodations for the four consecutive nights I spent on (different) trains that week.
UH, Anthony was that an UnAmtrak UnLimited trip? :lol:
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