Hello all

[DrownedKing]

I've been putting this off for awhile, but I think it's high time I introduced myself. I've only been lurking to this point, but you all have already been an invaluable help to me.

My name's Anthony, and I'm from New Orleans. I vaguely remember riding what I think was the Gulf Coast Limited between New Orleans East and the World's Fair with my kindergarten class in '84, and I took the Crescent a few times between New Orleans and Atlanta while I was in high school, but my first "real" (read: overnight) Amtrak trip was last December, between NOL and IND. Despite some difficulty getting out of CUS on the 21st (I'll get a trip report up one of these days, honest) I enjoyed it, and was delighted to find that even coach on a train was more comfortable than first class on a plane (well, domestic first class at least ). Maybe it's the reduced stress, or the fact you've no choice BUT to relax on a train, or that people don't feel they have to ignore you in order to replace the personal space they've lost.

In any case, I'm planning a trip to SJC next May, and I'm debating whether to take the SL/bus/San Joaquin/bus or the CNO/CZ/CC combo (Unfortunately I'll have to fly back ), and I'm looking to find or manufacture any excuse to take the train I can in the meantime. And since I'd never have gotten to this point without the postrs I've seen and the advice I've recieved here, I thought it only fair to thank you all. I promise to contribute what I can, and hope to be around here for a long time to come.

 

[GG-1]

I've been putting this off for awhile, but I think it's high time I introduced myself. I've only been lurking to this point, but you all have already been an invaluable help to me.
My name's Anthony, and I'm from New Orleans.

Aloha and Welcome

 

[JayPea]

Welcome to the forum, Anthony! I took a nice long trip in July and August (Champaign, IL-New Orleans-Washington DC-Chicago-Portland-Los Angeles) and spent overnight in New Orleans. It was my first visit there and want to go back!

As for me, I'd take the combo. Any reason to ride trains and not buses is good enough for me! I know how you feel about flying; I take my Amtrak trips (or the long ones, anyway) with my uncle, who lives in Central Illinois. I live near Spokane, WA, so most of the time I fly out his way, we decide which city we want to go to, and then fly home from there. This last trip involved flying from Spokane to Chicago by way of Denver and then from Los Angeles back to Spokane.

Again, welcome, and enjoy Amtrak travel!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Welcome!Great city!The train is always the way to go,busses are not in favor here,planes even less so!Its a great way to learn about trains and history and the next best thing to actually riding yourself!Hope you join AGR and get the AGR MC,itll earn you free trips on the train!

 

[AlanB]

Welcome Anthony!