Another Fantastic Gathering in the City of Brotherly Love!! Thanks to Anthony, Alan, All of the Admin and the Members of the Committee that did such Yoeman duty to make our Annual Gathering such a Success! :hi: Great to see All the Familiar Faces and New Ones too!!! 
Special thanks to Peter for making sure we didnt get lost in the Wilds of New Jersey! :lol:
Mon 10/9
Last $3 Breakfast @ Subway in 30th St. Station with a few AUers, then hang out in the CA until Train time with some of the Usual Suspects! ^_^ Thought the Desk Women had learned their Customer relations Skills in CHI the way they acted towards Dick and Kevin! Not Pleasant! :angry2:
When it was time to Board our Regional to WAS the Red Cap that had promised to return to take us to the Train was a No-Show and the Overseer, er Agent in Charge kept telling us "He's on the way, Wait!" Finally we just said wed go on our own, our train was Boarding! Made it to Biz Class (Long Walk down the platform to the front of the SOLD OUT Train!)with a Couple of Minutes to Spare, rolled down the NEC to WAS, used a Red Cap to the CA, Eric's (GG-1) Sister was in the lounge to visit, Joe Hess and I went across the street to an Irish Pub to have a bite to eat (I had an "LBJ Burger", open face Burger with Chili with Beans!/Cheese etc. =Very Tasty!) and an Adult Beverage or two! (Guiness is Habit Forming!)
Took a RedCap to the Cap,(Eric,Joe Hess and I)we Boarded the TransDorm Sleeper,(Joe was in the 2900 Car) Nice Transdorm in Good Shape. Our SCA was an African Gentlemen named Alfred that was hard to understand (I don't speak English, I'm from Texas!)but would provide Good Service! Dinner in the Diner as we rolled up the Potomic through Harpers Ferrry, Martinsburg etc. as it grew dark! Great Diner crew, the LSA was very friendly and a Major Babe! :wub: Went to sleep after PGH where Kevin and Air Force Joe boarded, awoke on the way to SOB as the sun rose and had last call for Breakfast in the Diner, Rolled through the sad stretch between Gary and CHI into Union Station right on time!
Tue 10/10
After getting situated in the already Crowded Metro Lounge (very Friendly Service! ) we walked over to Al's Roast Beef and had a Sandwich that is almost up to Philippes standards! At 100PM Eric Boarded the SWC using a RedCap, Kevin had caught the Wolverine earlier and Joe would Board the Pere Marquette later! I went to the Hostel Intl. on Congress and Wabash and checked in, Fantastic Place to Stay for the Price, Highly Recommended! Great Cuban Sandwich in the Lobby Cafe, met my Roomates from China, Ireland and Australia, slept like a baby, had a Good Breakfast in the Hostel Diner (included) and walked over to Union Station on a Clerar, Crisp Fall Morning in the Windy City!
Wed 10/10
Checked into the Lounge, met Boston Mike, we decided to do a Double Points run while waiting on our Trains, so we bought $10 Tickets on the Lincoln Trains to/from Joliet! Enjoyed visiting the Nice, Well Perserved Old Union Station and had a Snack in a Mom and Pop Bakery by the Station while on our short Layover! Rolled back to CHI, Mike went on to his Hotel and I Boarded the Eagle @1:00PM via the Kindergarden Walk from the Packed Lounge! Great to see the #21/#421 Sleeper back on the Front where it belongs (the Winter Consist), our SCA was a new guy from the Extra Board, Adam, who also helped out in the Diner during meals as well as running the transdorm and our Sleeper! Very good Worker and Friendly, he was well trained by HOF SCA Jim!@ and the #321 Coach is being Deadheaded all the way to SAS now, not Cut Out in STL like before! Sleepers were Full but not the Coaches, took the regular Route down to STL, had Diner in the CCC (Healthy Option) and the Waitress was your Favorite and Mine, Miss Polly! :giggle: Friendly to me but later events would result in Calls being made to CR by other pax! The Gateway Arch was lighted as well rolled past and crossed the River as the Sun Set, the Cardinals were in WAS so Busch Stadium was dark! A one Hour Layover in STL, then rolled out heading into the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas! Slept well but the Tracks are Veeeeerrrry Rough between PBF and Hope,Ark! Woke up as well rolled past Hope on Time(didnt see Bill Clinton or Huckabee! :giggle: ), had Breakfast as we hit Texas @ TXA, then on through the Piney Woods of East Texas,lots of folks got off in LGV to catch the HOS and Shrevport Busses!
Thur 10/11
Rolled into DAL an Hour early,Light Rain but Warm, watched the DART and TRE Trains come and go and the Dallas PD arrest a group of younger folks who had been caught Stealing on the Train back in Coach! On to FTW, Lunch was served as we left DAL, past Jerry World and backed into FTW Early again, would have an Hour and a half Layover waiting on #821 and #22 to arrive! The Hot Dog Man was selling,bought a Diet Coke!, he told me hes closed on Sun and Mon, open Tue-Sat. #821 rolled in from OKC, it has 4 Coaches and a Sightseer Lounge, the OU-UT weekend is on in Dallas Sat. so Large crowds of Crazies, er Fans are expected to ride the Train from OKC-DAL, then catch DART to the Fair Grounds where the Game is held! Special Busses will also run and TRE can also be ridden from FTW-DAL! The UT Students come up on #22/#422 to FTW, the cafe car usually runs out of Supplies Rapiidly! :lol:
Re-boarded the now almost empty Sleeper for the Final Leg into AUS, had talked with several Pax that had run ins with Miss Polly and the LSA in the Diner and i told them to be sure and call CR and Report thir concerns, they were very Friendly and Civil to me but Ive seen their act many times, Miss Polly needs a different assignment like some of the CHI Lounge Attendants that are now Counting Tickets or are on "Special" Assignment! Had an Early Light Dinner (The Last Supper!)as we left Temple, it started Pouring Rain as we rolled down the line to Taylor (best Bar-B-Q in Texas! :wub: ) down MOPAC and into AUS as the Sun started coming out and a Giant Rainbow (just like when I was Leaving on the way to PHL) greeted our Arrival in Austin only 30 minutes down!What a Long, Strange trip it had been but can't wait to take the next one, hope everyones Trips were as Great as mine were!
Special thanks to Peter for making sure we didnt get lost in the Wilds of New Jersey! :lol:Mon 10/9
Last $3 Breakfast @ Subway in 30th St. Station with a few AUers, then hang out in the CA until Train time with some of the Usual Suspects! ^_^ Thought the Desk Women had learned their Customer relations Skills in CHI the way they acted towards Dick and Kevin! Not Pleasant! :angry2:
When it was time to Board our Regional to WAS the Red Cap that had promised to return to take us to the Train was a No-Show and the Overseer, er Agent in Charge kept telling us "He's on the way, Wait!" Finally we just said wed go on our own, our train was Boarding! Made it to Biz Class (Long Walk down the platform to the front of the SOLD OUT Train!)with a Couple of Minutes to Spare, rolled down the NEC to WAS, used a Red Cap to the CA, Eric's (GG-1) Sister was in the lounge to visit, Joe Hess and I went across the street to an Irish Pub to have a bite to eat (I had an "LBJ Burger", open face Burger with Chili with Beans!
/Cheese etc. =Very Tasty!) and an Adult Beverage or two! (Guiness is Habit Forming!)Took a RedCap to the Cap,(Eric,Joe Hess and I)we Boarded the TransDorm Sleeper,(Joe was in the 2900 Car) Nice Transdorm in Good Shape. Our SCA was an African Gentlemen named Alfred that was hard to understand (I don't speak English, I'm from Texas!)but would provide Good Service! Dinner in the Diner as we rolled up the Potomic through Harpers Ferrry, Martinsburg etc. as it grew dark! Great Diner crew, the LSA was very friendly and a Major Babe! :wub: Went to sleep after PGH where Kevin and Air Force Joe boarded, awoke on the way to SOB as the sun rose and had last call for Breakfast in the Diner, Rolled through the sad stretch between Gary and CHI into Union Station right on time!
Tue 10/10
After getting situated in the already Crowded Metro Lounge (very Friendly Service!
) we walked over to Al's Roast Beef and had a Sandwich that is almost up to Philippes standards! At 100PM Eric Boarded the SWC using a RedCap, Kevin had caught the Wolverine earlier and Joe would Board the Pere Marquette later! I went to the Hostel Intl. on Congress and Wabash and checked in, Fantastic Place to Stay for the Price, Highly Recommended! Great Cuban Sandwich in the Lobby Cafe, met my Roomates from China, Ireland and Australia, slept like a baby, had a Good Breakfast in the Hostel Diner (included) and walked over to Union Station on a Clerar, Crisp Fall Morning in the Windy City!Wed 10/10
Checked into the Lounge, met Boston Mike, we decided to do a Double Points run while waiting on our Trains, so we bought $10 Tickets on the Lincoln Trains to/from Joliet! Enjoyed visiting the Nice, Well Perserved Old Union Station and had a Snack in a Mom and Pop Bakery by the Station while on our short Layover! Rolled back to CHI, Mike went on to his Hotel and I Boarded the Eagle @1:00PM via the Kindergarden Walk from the Packed Lounge! Great to see the #21/#421 Sleeper back on the Front where it belongs (the Winter Consist), our SCA was a new guy from the Extra Board, Adam, who also helped out in the Diner during meals as well as running the transdorm and our Sleeper! Very good Worker and Friendly, he was well trained by HOF SCA Jim!@ and the #321 Coach is being Deadheaded all the way to SAS now, not Cut Out in STL like before! Sleepers were Full but not the Coaches, took the regular Route down to STL, had Diner in the CCC (Healthy Option) and the Waitress was your Favorite and Mine, Miss Polly! :giggle: Friendly to me but later events would result in Calls being made to CR by other pax! The Gateway Arch was lighted as well rolled past and crossed the River as the Sun Set, the Cardinals were in WAS so Busch Stadium was dark! A one Hour Layover in STL, then rolled out heading into the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas! Slept well but the Tracks are Veeeeerrrry Rough between PBF and Hope,Ark! Woke up as well rolled past Hope on Time(didnt see Bill Clinton or Huckabee! :giggle: ), had Breakfast as we hit Texas @ TXA, then on through the Piney Woods of East Texas,lots of folks got off in LGV to catch the HOS and Shrevport Busses!
Thur 10/11
Rolled into DAL an Hour early,Light Rain but Warm, watched the DART and TRE Trains come and go and the Dallas PD arrest a group of younger folks who had been caught Stealing on the Train back in Coach! On to FTW, Lunch was served as we left DAL, past Jerry World and backed into FTW Early again, would have an Hour and a half Layover waiting on #821 and #22 to arrive! The Hot Dog Man was selling,bought a Diet Coke!, he told me hes closed on Sun and Mon, open Tue-Sat.
#821 rolled in from OKC, it has 4 Coaches and a Sightseer Lounge, the OU-UT weekend is on in Dallas Sat. so Large crowds of Crazies, er Fans are expected to ride the Train from OKC-DAL, then catch DART to the Fair Grounds where the Game is held! Special Busses will also run and TRE can also be ridden from FTW-DAL! The UT Students come up on #22/#422 to FTW, the cafe car usually runs out of Supplies Rapiidly! :lol:Re-boarded the now almost empty Sleeper for the Final Leg into AUS, had talked with several Pax that had run ins with Miss Polly and the LSA in the Diner and i told them to be sure and call CR and Report thir concerns, they were very Friendly and Civil to me but Ive seen their act many times, Miss Polly needs a different assignment like some of the CHI Lounge Attendants that are now Counting Tickets or are on "Special" Assignment! Had an Early Light Dinner (The Last Supper!)as we left Temple, it started Pouring Rain as we rolled down the line to Taylor (best Bar-B-Q in Texas! :wub: ) down MOPAC and into AUS as the Sun started coming out and a Giant Rainbow (just like when I was Leaving on the way to PHL) greeted our Arrival in Austin only 30 minutes down!What a Long, Strange trip it had been but can't wait to take the next one, hope everyones Trips were as Great as mine were!
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