Mystic River Dragon
Engineer
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2014
- Messages
- 4,536
Very short (like the trip itself 
), but a few tidbits I thought some of you might be interested in.
I was on 97 yesterday from TRE to ALX in a sleeper, which I chose because when I was checking prices, it was the same price as the business class on the Northeast Regional. So, my own room, with dinner included, was obviously the better choice, and I booked it.
At Trenton, when the door to my sleeping car opened, a familiar face stepped out onto the platform--it was Preston (who was my SCA once before) looking for me! He told me he was now on the extra board for 97 and was subbing for someone else, so it was just by chance that he happened to be on that run! I didn't get more details on his new schedule because he had to go help someone who had just spilled something and I had to settle in and then go to dinner.
I was in room 6, which was fine for the short ride I was going on, although I prefer the other side for a longer trip going south because you see more trains going by, as well as the lovely Philly skyline. Our engine from TRE to WAS was ACS-64 664, and at WAS we switched to P-42s 201 and 20 (which should be in Florida right now ).
I went to early dinner, and sat with a very nice couple going back home to Florida (getting off at Jacksonville) who do a train trip every year for their anniversary (28th anniversary this year), and this year they went up to Maine. Dinner itself was a lovely surprise. After all the miserable experiences people have had lately with Amtrak dining, I had no expectations whatsoever. But the lady who took our order asked if we wanted salads (we all said yes), they actually had a special (Salisbury steak, which I had--it came with mashed potatoes and veggies and was very good), and then the gentleman who was the other server came along while we were eating and asked if everything was okay and if there was anything else we needed. It was like the good old days . I didn't recognize anyone, but the lady who was our main server said she has been with Amtrak for 18 years. They took pride in what they were doing, and they also didn't rush us out of the dining car. When I got back to my roomette, we were nearly at Baltimore, and that was around 6:30.
Finally, for those of you keeping track of the Ocean View dome car's travels, I saw it hanging out in a train yard just north of WAS with some Amtrak engines and assorted consists. Is that a maintenance yard? Or just a place for the trains to get some rest before going on elsewhere?
The Meteor ride was the most exciting thing that will happen on this trip, because apparently it is going to rain forever (or at least while I am in Virginia). Oh well, the whole point was to get away and de-stress and relax, so I will be forced to do just that! So, unless something extremely exciting happens on the Carolinian going home, this is probably the whole of the trip report.
), but a few tidbits I thought some of you might be interested in.I was on 97 yesterday from TRE to ALX in a sleeper, which I chose because when I was checking prices, it was the same price as the business class on the Northeast Regional. So, my own room, with dinner included, was obviously the better choice, and I booked it.
At Trenton, when the door to my sleeping car opened, a familiar face stepped out onto the platform--it was Preston (who was my SCA once before) looking for me! He told me he was now on the extra board for 97 and was subbing for someone else, so it was just by chance that he happened to be on that run! I didn't get more details on his new schedule because he had to go help someone who had just spilled something and I had to settle in and then go to dinner.
I was in room 6, which was fine for the short ride I was going on, although I prefer the other side for a longer trip going south because you see more trains going by, as well as the lovely Philly skyline. Our engine from TRE to WAS was ACS-64 664, and at WAS we switched to P-42s 201 and 20 (which should be in Florida right now
).I went to early dinner, and sat with a very nice couple going back home to Florida (getting off at Jacksonville) who do a train trip every year for their anniversary (28th anniversary this year), and this year they went up to Maine. Dinner itself was a lovely surprise. After all the miserable experiences people have had lately with Amtrak dining, I had no expectations whatsoever. But the lady who took our order asked if we wanted salads (we all said yes), they actually had a special (Salisbury steak, which I had--it came with mashed potatoes and veggies and was very good), and then the gentleman who was the other server came along while we were eating and asked if everything was okay and if there was anything else we needed. It was like the good old days
. I didn't recognize anyone, but the lady who was our main server said she has been with Amtrak for 18 years. They took pride in what they were doing, and they also didn't rush us out of the dining car. When I got back to my roomette, we were nearly at Baltimore, and that was around 6:30.Finally, for those of you keeping track of the Ocean View dome car's travels, I saw it hanging out in a train yard just north of WAS with some Amtrak engines and assorted consists. Is that a maintenance yard? Or just a place for the trains to get some rest before going on elsewhere?
The Meteor ride was the most exciting thing that will happen on this trip, because apparently it is going to rain forever (or at least while I am in Virginia). Oh well, the whole point was to get away and de-stress and relax, so I will be forced to do just that! So, unless something extremely exciting happens on the Carolinian going home, this is probably the whole of the trip report.
