NAVYBLUE
Lead Service Attendant
Hello from Chicago. The NAVYBLUE LD saga Part II. began yesterday. Arrived with daughter, SIL and grand kids in tow. Both kids enjoyed the NEC regional northbound from WAS. Then we visited inside the station and the nice clerk lady gave Sam a cardboard engineer hat and train booklet. Didn’t feel comfortable checking baggage into BAL so hoofed it all on. Stood on the platform away from a gaggle (20-30) of what looked like college students and looked for a coach that didn’t appear more than half full.
Because it took a while to get the gaggle on and their luggage I was able to get (2) big ones on and the carryon bag. I just put them in seats in front of me as there was plenty of seats and only one other stop before WAS. My daughter stood by the door while we got situated and watching the gaggle get on while my SIL jumped on with Sam to show him the train insides and then Sarah, Don’t know if that was the wisest thing in the world but he has a PhD in Space Physics and a H.S. diploma in common sense.
The ride to WAS was uneventful. I thought about getting a Redcap but in her true pioneer spirit my wife says “Get the luggage and lets go candya** or words to that effect. Piece of cake getting into WAS station and to ticket office to check in and check in baggage. After a grand tour of the station, we proceeded to Acela Lounge. I couldn’t see any damage to the ceiling from the mid Virginia earthquake but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any as I had read about some. Lounge was nice with snacks (pretzel/goldfish) soda including caffeine free root bar and coffee. Comfy chairs and Wi-Fi. Appeared to have plenty of food vendors and retail stores in the station.
Boarded CL 3:30 PM for a 4:05 departure to CHI Our SCA was Phil and after his group of sleepers got onboard he made his announcements. Came by the room and seemed like a real nice guy. Told him I was interested in an upgrade from roomette to bedroom and he said check with conductor when she came around to punch tickets. I had called at the Acela Lounge and reservations told me to upgrade was $220 ($360 current-$140 what I paid 11/9) Told them no thank you. I had tickets and IDS cards (as requested via announcement) ready for CDR.
After punching tickets, Winnie says “understand you are looking for an upgrade? “ Told her yes, told her I called 800 number and got car #/room #s available, but they wanted $220 and the SWC CDR gave me 3day/2night for $50 to upgrade form roomette to bedroom from LAX-CHI so I thought $50 was fair for an overnight from WAS-CHI on the CL. She said call 800 number and tell them train has left and they will give you upgrade for $50. Then she says “I am not required to sell tickets anyways” and then see leaves. I think to myself, well I am not required to ride Amtrak, but I do.
I say to myself, chill, you’re on a train with your wife, life is good. Be happy with what you have and enjoy. I call 800 number just for kicks, tell them what CDR said and they quoted me $220 again. It wasn’t more than 10 minutes later she comes back and says “I have a hold on bedroom A for you for $60 if you want it. WTF I say to myself. Why the dance? Instead I say thank you, we do the paperwork and off I go to room A. No one in B/C and I am happy as a clam. In letters to Amtrak does she get a nice or not so nice letter or no letter? I’m thinking. I got what I wanted. Took a little extra effort and patience on my part. No real reason to bitch.
On to dinner with wife, Lois (ops manager for generator co) and Rex (retiree) on way to home in Santa Fe. Meal was very good, Maryland crab cakes, pork chops, and sirloin steak dinners for the group. Wife and I had the sirloin steak med rare and medium and both were good and Rex was crab cakes were good. Pork chops so-so. CL had cloth tablecloth and real plates and bowls. Nice touch.
Pulled in to Chicago about 30 minutes late due to slow freight traffic in front of us. Saw Sears Tower and skyline on the way in, White Sox stadium, Chinatown and then in to the station.
Phil was a very good SCA and Craig (LSA) and Shantay (SA) were good but nothing out of the ordinary, Winnie (CDR), I wait your verdict.
Part II continues with CHI-LAX on SWC #3 as we leave Chicago and I will post as I get air card service and get the story written.
As far as scenery, other than coming in to Chicago we had Cumberland, MD and Harpers Ferry, WV before it got dark, We found out from our breakfast partner that she, her daughter and 18 month old granddaughter and 3 month old granddaughter had the train held up for (10) minutes at Cumberland as they called the station that the cab came late and would get there 10 minutes after departure. Good on you Amtrak. Heard someone at breakfast say the Cumberland train station was the oldest station in the U.S. and that is the only thing that survived the Civil War in Cumberland. Harpers ferry was nice at near sunset with confluence of the Potomac River and the Shenandoah River.
NAVYBLUE
Because it took a while to get the gaggle on and their luggage I was able to get (2) big ones on and the carryon bag. I just put them in seats in front of me as there was plenty of seats and only one other stop before WAS. My daughter stood by the door while we got situated and watching the gaggle get on while my SIL jumped on with Sam to show him the train insides and then Sarah, Don’t know if that was the wisest thing in the world but he has a PhD in Space Physics and a H.S. diploma in common sense.
The ride to WAS was uneventful. I thought about getting a Redcap but in her true pioneer spirit my wife says “Get the luggage and lets go candya** or words to that effect. Piece of cake getting into WAS station and to ticket office to check in and check in baggage. After a grand tour of the station, we proceeded to Acela Lounge. I couldn’t see any damage to the ceiling from the mid Virginia earthquake but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any as I had read about some. Lounge was nice with snacks (pretzel/goldfish) soda including caffeine free root bar and coffee. Comfy chairs and Wi-Fi. Appeared to have plenty of food vendors and retail stores in the station.
Boarded CL 3:30 PM for a 4:05 departure to CHI Our SCA was Phil and after his group of sleepers got onboard he made his announcements. Came by the room and seemed like a real nice guy. Told him I was interested in an upgrade from roomette to bedroom and he said check with conductor when she came around to punch tickets. I had called at the Acela Lounge and reservations told me to upgrade was $220 ($360 current-$140 what I paid 11/9) Told them no thank you. I had tickets and IDS cards (as requested via announcement) ready for CDR.
After punching tickets, Winnie says “understand you are looking for an upgrade? “ Told her yes, told her I called 800 number and got car #/room #s available, but they wanted $220 and the SWC CDR gave me 3day/2night for $50 to upgrade form roomette to bedroom from LAX-CHI so I thought $50 was fair for an overnight from WAS-CHI on the CL. She said call 800 number and tell them train has left and they will give you upgrade for $50. Then she says “I am not required to sell tickets anyways” and then see leaves. I think to myself, well I am not required to ride Amtrak, but I do.
I say to myself, chill, you’re on a train with your wife, life is good. Be happy with what you have and enjoy. I call 800 number just for kicks, tell them what CDR said and they quoted me $220 again. It wasn’t more than 10 minutes later she comes back and says “I have a hold on bedroom A for you for $60 if you want it. WTF I say to myself. Why the dance? Instead I say thank you, we do the paperwork and off I go to room A. No one in B/C and I am happy as a clam. In letters to Amtrak does she get a nice or not so nice letter or no letter? I’m thinking. I got what I wanted. Took a little extra effort and patience on my part. No real reason to bitch.
On to dinner with wife, Lois (ops manager for generator co) and Rex (retiree) on way to home in Santa Fe. Meal was very good, Maryland crab cakes, pork chops, and sirloin steak dinners for the group. Wife and I had the sirloin steak med rare and medium and both were good and Rex was crab cakes were good. Pork chops so-so. CL had cloth tablecloth and real plates and bowls. Nice touch.
Pulled in to Chicago about 30 minutes late due to slow freight traffic in front of us. Saw Sears Tower and skyline on the way in, White Sox stadium, Chinatown and then in to the station.
Phil was a very good SCA and Craig (LSA) and Shantay (SA) were good but nothing out of the ordinary, Winnie (CDR), I wait your verdict.
Part II continues with CHI-LAX on SWC #3 as we leave Chicago and I will post as I get air card service and get the story written.
As far as scenery, other than coming in to Chicago we had Cumberland, MD and Harpers Ferry, WV before it got dark, We found out from our breakfast partner that she, her daughter and 18 month old granddaughter and 3 month old granddaughter had the train held up for (10) minutes at Cumberland as they called the station that the cab came late and would get there 10 minutes after departure. Good on you Amtrak. Heard someone at breakfast say the Cumberland train station was the oldest station in the U.S. and that is the only thing that survived the Civil War in Cumberland. Harpers ferry was nice at near sunset with confluence of the Potomac River and the Shenandoah River.
NAVYBLUE
