Night departures

[ScottC4746]

What is it that is so exciting about boarding a train after nightfall and waiting in the dark for it? Much like doing the same for an evening flight or cruise.

My next train is Southwest Chief 3 and looks like CHI is an underground station so while I leave at 2:45 PM it will feel like boarding at night.

 

[Pat Harper]

looks like CHI is an underground station so while I leave at 2:45 PM it will feel like boarding at night.

You won't be in the dark. They do have electricity there.

 

[the_traveler]

CHI is not really an underground station. It's just that the track level is below street level, but it is still open to the air. In fact, when boarding the SWC, if you look to the left, you will see the Chicago River, the Willis (fka Sears) tower and the rest of downtown! And yes, there is electricity there!

 

[steamer]

CHI is a heck of a lot more exciting at 2:45 PM than boarding the Coast Starlight northbound at SAC (Sacramento) at midnight. Elyria, Ohio (ELY) at 3 AM is very interesting but not too exciting.

 

[GG-1]

CHI is a heck of a lot more exciting at 2:45 PM than boarding the Coast Starlight northbound at SAC (Sacramento) at midnight. Elyria, Ohio (ELY) at 3 AM is very interesting but not too exciting.

I don't care where or what time it is, If I am getting on a train it is exciting!

Aloha

 

[railiner]

"Leavin' out", when I was around 18, on my various rail, bus, or plane fantrips, always seemed more exciting and dramatic when the departure was after dark.

A friend that often accompanied me agreed, and he attributed it partially to a manifestation of youth asserting their independence from parental custody.

It seemed more 'rebelious' to leave at a formerly forbidden hour.

That may explain it.

That was a long, long time ago for me.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Boarding in CLE for all of our Amtrak trips always begins between 2am and 5am. Some freights move by the station which keeps the exciting noise levels at their height if you are standing on the platform.

A beautiful view of the Terminal Tower and Key Bank Buildings and Browns stadium across the street.

And since the Capital Ltds and wb LSL are usually close to each other, lots of action within a short period of time.

Of course crawling into your sleeper at 3am is an art in itself, trying not to wake up other passengers

 

[had8ley]

CHI is a heck of a lot more exciting at 2:45 PM than boarding the Coast Starlight northbound at SAC (Sacramento) at midnight. Elyria, Ohio (ELY) at 3 AM is very interesting but not too exciting.

Birmingham in broad daylight ain't exactly a blast either... :lol:

 

[Rider]

I really enjoyed getting off the Empire Builder (Westbound) in St. Paul - at about 10 pm, with nearly an hour layover - I decided if I could walk to a bar in 10 minutes, I'd have time for a beer and walk back and make the train with plenty of time. I asked a local in the parking lot, he directed me, and in 5 minutes I was sitting in an Irish bar, sharing a table with two pretty young women, having a Guiness and listening to a band! After the beer (only one) I walked back and got on the train and we went on our way.

What a pleasant interlude at that time of night. I felt like I entered a different world for a half hour, then back to the train.

 

[the_traveler]

CHI is a heck of a lot more exciting at 2:45 PM than boarding the Coast Starlight northbound at SAC (Sacramento) at midnight. Elyria, Ohio (ELY) at 3 AM is very interesting but not too exciting.

Birmingham in broad daylight ain't exactly a blast either... :lol:

BHM should be "blasted"!

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I must agree there was certainly quite a charge in the air when I boarded the Lakeshore Limited at midnight in Buffalo. It was also kind of neat to get on a train where people were settled in for the night I guess I felt kind of late to the party.

Boarding the train at 3 AM to head to New York City was also quite interesting since I got to watch the sunrise as we were already well underway. It was almost like "waking up" on the train.

 

[ScottC4746]

I guess I have read too many books and watched too many movies about the night train to somewhere.