NYP-DLB and back on the Silver Meteor - live report

[cpotisch]

Looks absolutely wonderful!

It really was. I am incredibly impressed with Brightline.

Thank you for sharing the trip with us!

You’re very welcome! It’s actually been sort of refreshing to write a report like this, since it means I don’t have to worry about remembering every little bit myself! 

For people without smartphone/apps, etc., did you notice a ticket booth? Or would you reserve online ahead of time and print out a ticket like you can on Amtrak?

There are electronic kiosks in the station where you can buy tickets. There isn’t a “ticket booth”, as Brightline has focused on minimizing the number of employees needed to “run the show”.

 

[jis]

You can actually get a Brightline human agent at the checkin counter to sell and print you a ticket, or help you at the kiosk do so too.

Even more importantly, you can get them to help with deciphering the godforsaken parking app too. :lol:

 

[cpotisch]

Or would you reserve online ahead of time and print out a ticket like you can on Amtrak?

And to clarify, I purchased my ticket days in advance. It’s just that I was able to use the “BrightID” in the app instead of a specific QR code for each ticket.

 

[cpotisch]

Anyhow, off to the Sunday brunch buffet for the second (and last) time! I will make sure to take plenty of pictures this time around.

 

[JRR]

Lucky you, Since we won't be on the Meteor till early January we have to wait to overindulge.  We go to the one on University Dr.
And speaking of dinner, since we were Meteor riding snowbirds for past 8 years, we've always ordered the fish entree and have never been disappointed.  Only one time the salmon was a little dry, but still delicious. I ask for the mashed potatoes instead of the rice. I think their mashed is so much better. 
 

I ordered the baked potato with the salmon tonight (on the 97) and they gave me the rice also which I was too full to eat!

 

[cpotisch]

So here is the buffet from yesterday...

Here is the dessert table, piled high with cookies, rugelach, apple pie, apple meringue pie, cake, danishes, tarts, brownies, etc:/monthly_2019_01/D950D941-69CE-471D-AC0F-9998713870EE.thumb.jpeg.264d0d1ce10de603a56e08073e882d3e.jpeg

My first plate consisted of home fries, and two mini waffles from the waffle bar: one chocolate and one plain, topped with whipped cream, maple syrup, and fresh strawberries:
 

After that, I got another plate full of potatoes (didn’t bother with a picture), and then quite literally doubled down on my previous waffle order:/monthly_2019_01/9D7E146F-29C3-417F-B095-8AB02F8143EC.thumb.jpeg.263a3e4e3d110eb767941016f4a02282.jpeg

Then I grabbed a raspberry danish and submerged it in the chocolate fountain, and though it doesn’t really look like much, boy was it good:/monthly_2019_01/6F9F4AC0-215F-45A7-B12E-5CFE94EF56BE.thumb.jpeg.2c18c2afbeb9c6c5c6bb332388d65c38.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/C4ABEF9C-0153-4DBF-AA11-2C4BEE581625.thumb.jpeg.db3989c54d53baebac11d233ab3bc5c6.jpeg

Then got some coffee ice cream:/monthly_2019_01/0033CE83-5336-48A1-9839-480E5271B1AC.thumb.jpeg.f249e7f1e3b2dd46109e381e803b76ad.jpeg

And then went for another plate of potatoes (I do like potatoes)/monthly_2019_01/B8F6E99B-CB27-4782-8509-DDA344D734D3.thumb.jpeg.4e600b33533dae82a02c271304f2bf61.jpeg

And then totally fell asleep at the table after my big meal. ^_^

 

[cpotisch]

And so, in less than nine hours, I am on the train home. The nice thing about taking the train back is that I have something to look forward to at the end of the trip, though the northbound run always seems to be less enjoyable than the southbound. It’s been an absolutely lovely trip, and of course I will post plenty of updates from the train, as well as some of the pictures of my evening of fireworks and ice cream and such, but this is still sad.

Good bye, Florida.

 

[pennyk]

I was outdoors when your train passed the street on which I live.  I heard, then saw your train. 

 

[railiner]

I was outdoors when your train passed the street on which I live.  I heard, then saw your train. 

You should have had a 'micro-gathering' on the platform, during the 'smoke-stop'.....

 

[cpotisch]

Sorry I’ve totally forgotten to update this from the train. We had a very nice day, including some pretty good food in the dining car, and a very nice dad and son who we first met on the platform in Delray. I think the dad is like 70 or so, while the son they said is 28. Both super nice and friendly.

We left Charleston, SC a few minutes ago, and I’m now in the upper bunk getting settled for some shut eye. I have gotten lots of pictures so far, but internet is slow from the train, so I think I will wait to post them until I am home.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Thanks for the wonderful pictures of your brunch, especially the potatoes and that dessert table!

Of course it is always harder going northbound from Florida, because it signals the end of the adventure is near.  But there will be another adventure somewhere just around the corner.

 

[cpotisch]

Thanks for the wonderful pictures of your brunch, especially the potatoes and that dessert table!

You're very welcome. 

Of course it is always harder going northbound from Florida, because it signals the end of the adventure is near.  But there will be another adventure somewhere just around the corner. 

Indeed. We are planning a train trip to New Orleans with my grandparents, that should take place early this summer, which should be plenty fun. Of course that's more than five months from now, but I guess that just means I have more than five months of excitement thinking about it! Win-win, I guess.

 

[cpotisch]

OK, so here are all the photos from the ride home...

Arriving at DLB:/monthly_2019_01/E99BA0E4-0601-45C7-9351-036C86D55214.thumb.jpeg.1ac60c2dbc65c1171d86ecffd7abe9a2.jpeg

Southbound Tri-Rail on the other track (a GP49 pulling three Bombardier Bi-Levels):/monthly_2019_01/A8442ADA-A3A2-48F9-83A4-D85179AD2390.thumb.jpeg.eb752f292747968475966806d344bf40.jpeg

#98 approaching:

For the first time, I noticed this little “AMF” labeled thingy underneath each coach. Can someone tell me if that’s an abbreviation for Amfleet or something else?/monthly_2019_01/BEDAE512-BE38-4595-ADE4-23503BA8A61C.thumb.jpeg.a564f33cad30cc5f1ff5ddd371d14205.jpeg

We had V-II diner 68012 Harrisburg:/monthly_2019_01/ECB9722D-BF94-4793-80F5-C89A248DB9ED.thumb.jpeg.971d00b06d76d6576ca465a9549c0fc6.jpeg

While waiting in Delray, we struck up conversation with Sam and Bill, a serious railfan and his father, who were also booked in 9810, and were heading up to Baltimore. They were super nice, so we made sure to be seated together at Breakfast.

#98 was supposed to depart Delray at 9:22, but it ended up arriving in DLB at 9:35 AM, and by the time they made the second stop for sleeper passengers and we were onboard, it was after 9:40 the 13 minutes late. We immediately went straight to the dining car, and just barely made it to breakfast in time. As usual, I got cranberry juice and pancakes, which were very good:

Departing DLB:

We got a 1:00 PM lunch reservation, so most of the meal was spent passing through Kissimmee and then stopped in Orlando. Unfortunately, unlike our cheerful and talkative breakfast we had with Sam and Bill, lunch was extraordinarily quiet. The couple we were seated with were incredibly anti-social. We tried to strike up some small talk but they totally shut it down. That is obviously their right, but it just put a damper on the mood.

That said, the food was VERY good and plated pretty elegantly as well, so for most of the meal, I wasn’t really thinking about how antisocial our table mates were. Admittedly the side salad didn’t look or taste like much.../monthly_2019_01/A1DE14DB-A75F-4829-A008-5724ABD0F7A8.thumb.jpeg.cb332153e6f66a6a2713033a0afad67b.jpeg

...But the mussels I ordered were GREAT. They had some finely chopped tomatoes and Parmesan on them, and a nice toasted bun on top to mop up the sauce. It was REALLY good. Like it wasn’t just good by Amtrak standards. It was actually a legitimately tasty meal. :help: /monthly_2019_01/BF9E582B-9E65-494E-B136-0C83F4B624A4.thumb.jpeg.0151a4ef5b151746226b9b34c4efa1db.jpeg

I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that since our ride down, they had apparently changed up the dessert menu. They had ditched the “salted caramel parfait”, and in its place was a new “Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cake”. I ordered that, and of course immediately said yes to whipped cream when the waiter asked. Once again, it was a really nice presentation, with little rosettes of whipped cream around the cake, and was legitimately delicious. Sweet but not too sweet, a little spicy and very pumpkiny, Well done Amtrak, that dessert is extremely good./monthly_2019_01/0B5F7BEF-08BD-4F86-B885-94AC58F66B3B.thumb.jpeg.b21f8c90b2e3ffb78019be7fae79ac45.jpeg

And while eating lunch in Orlando, we noticed the Good Year blimp up ahead!  :huh:   I don’t know what it was there for, but maybe someone who lives in that area (cough...1@pennyk[/USER]...cough) can answer that:/monthly_2019_01/B742AFEE-B0FD-40F3-A5C3-D0204921B9B0.thumb.jpeg.90413e46e46a24504e7b5b8ad02272df.jpeg

I think I took this somewhere near DeLand:/monthly_2019_01/CFECF673-05CF-42A2-8EC7-A74AC9EFEED4.thumb.jpeg.cdbd3a09724979f2dacee52d9fd5f52f.jpeg

[to be continued]

 

[cpotisch]

We got a 6:30 PM dinner reservation with Bill and Sam, so we started eating a little after crossing the border into Georgia, and finished as we arrived into Savannah.

/monthly_2019_01/0769CCA3-2EA3-464B-9408-B53A095D6086.thumb.jpeg.3faefacafd709ae939c7ff23390157fd.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/2D2FDD85-71AA-440F-AE05-15651ACE841C.thumb.jpeg.6ddad3b9a8f43315fe19532890dfe974.jpeg

Unfortunately, this was the first time I have ever had a dinner on Amtrak where they did not let me order the Black Bean and Corn Veggie Burger, which is technically on the lunch menu. I’m not totally sure if this was just a case of them not having any veggie burgers left, or if the generally unfriendly diner staff weren’t willing to go the trouble of preparing a lunch item at dinner. Whatever be the reason, the salmon was the only option I could eat (other than the really crappy vegetarian pasta I had on the way down), so here we are. /monthly_2019_01/19DB003A-9B7A-4CD3-9785-682D5D8165F0.thumb.jpeg.247b5a63ea43ab9422207092230efbb5.jpegThe weird cheesy sauce that came with it was disgusting, and the string beans were (unsurprisingly) mushy and flavorless, so I just kept to the salmon itself and the wild rice. Admittedly, the wild rice was pretty good and the salmon was decent, but they just can’t hold a candle to the black bean burger with Monterey Jack, lettuce, tomato, kettle chips, and a pickle, that I was looking forward to. 

And of course for dessert I got the Spiced Pumpkin Bundt Cake again, which was just as delicious the second time around. /monthly_2019_01/B9F08F51-679B-49B8-80C9-D02AA46301AA.thumb.jpeg.b549f70e1b860612e6230e9064271373.jpeg

Finally we headed back to our sleeper (BTW we were in car 9810, Viewliner 62046, and James was our wonderful SCA). We said goodbye to Sam and Bill, though we traded contact info. We got ready for bed, watched a bunch of Looney Tunes, and got some shut eye for the very last time on this trip.

 

[pennyk]

And while eating lunch in Orlando, we noticed the Good Year blimp up ahead!  :huh:   I don’t know what it was there for, but maybe someone who lives in that area (cough...1@pennyk[/USER]...cough) can answer that:/monthly_2019_01/B742AFEE-B0FD-40F3-A5C3-D0204921B9B0.thumb.jpeg.90413e46e46a24504e7b5b8ad02272df.jpeg

The Goodyear blimp was in Orlando because of a bowl game (football). The football stadium (Camping World Stadium f/k/a Citrus Bowl) is northwest of the Orlando Amtrak station.

 

[cpotisch]

We both woke up shortly after leaving Baltimore...

/monthly_2019_01/913D134D-929B-49A8-B32B-983C9FE0F485.thumb.jpeg.3978f1aad17ec7b717cc6be64f9cb82c.jpeg

...and decided to eat breakfast in the our room.

We asked James, and not only was he happy to do so, but also extremely quick and efficient in doing so. Within only a couple minutes he had brought us a menu and taken our orders. Maybe five minutes after that, my pancakes and mom’s quesadillas were “delivered”. I don’t know how you did it, James, but well done!

Got these pics as we approached Wilmington:/monthly_2019_01/557E0E87-6340-450D-A44A-4D21DA2603E4.thumb.jpeg.82d30b3bc6aa074085042dcd0362389d.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/2C8AB117-1075-4B73-9952-221865BCBB99.thumb.jpeg.b1834c7a79fa26fe7230c6c193e28db3.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/2148BF11-3E7B-46D4-88DD-483F87F8D25C.thumb.jpeg.f85269fd02dc49772125590ddc1efea3.jpeg

And got these two in Wilmington:/monthly_2019_01/0458EA4F-0E31-4C2C-931F-B41E55641757.thumb.jpeg.66540ef1c70189adf042cd1875722ccb.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/9729CA77-09D2-4A28-8673-4C6C45C1E56B.thumb.jpeg.75221dd9c9f99c90daef81aaae75005f.jpeg

And these shortly after Philly! /monthly_2019_01/11CFA055-D808-4743-9E3E-C1FDD3570276.thumb.jpeg.b3615c5951153e183738f04f911e3180.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/12575C4D-8E5F-4C8B-93E9-5C165E35769B.thumb.jpeg.50711b925c6203012a831f6c11f01078.jpeg

These appear to be a bunch of old Budd SPV shells, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not real. Maybe someone else knows the answer?/monthly_2019_01/CCF49E56-EA4A-42F5-98B6-E40F40CB1CD9.thumb.jpeg.74d9f9303da0778415cd765833186a1e.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/79E244EB-6D81-4EFC-BFE1-965CF399370C.thumb.jpeg.1bf38dad36d8aa6c6a21b24a7fdabc4b.jpeg

Going around this bend, I discovered that were actually being hauled by *two* ACS-64s, both with their pantographs up. I don’t know why 17,200 horsepower was considered necessary here, though. :wacko: /monthly_2019_01/AA7F8BC2-BFC7-41C2-AEF1-A4D15BDD2404.thumb.jpeg.a8deeaf9487949c41c398fc8ce282ff3.jpeg

In Newark Penn: 

And finally, New York Penn  

Our sleeper: Viewliner I #62046, car 9810:/monthly_2019_01/2AD50F9E-F308-430D-A703-902993595B46.thumb.jpeg.876cf272605f9a4dacef22d81b1c8b8d.jpeg

68012 Harrisburg:/monthly_2019_01/AAB2142F-A621-44EA-A245-A754F3F6B72C.thumb.jpeg.9a29f6dcacdc31f6777c3054a5062bc2.jpeg



Interestingly, we actually had two Lounge Cars; one in the normal spot between the last coach and the dining car.../monthly_2019_01/CCA809AA-00B5-4CCC-BBDB-B7F98B70D797.thumb.jpeg.68398687436847d55aa9f28ba14ffeed.jpeg

...And one at the front of the train right behind the locos./monthly_2019_01/4726EC74-9388-4C0D-BBED-285C79EC7E58.thumb.jpeg.6a18d36676759fe0656cb4939fea5f09.jpeg

I’m not sure why we had two, or if this one at the front was even in use at all (maybe it wasn’t, since I’m pretty sure they said over the loudspeaker that “the lounge car is once again open. It is located behind the coaches and in front of the dining car and sleepers”). IDK.

And here are the two ACS-64s that hauled us north of WAS:/monthly_2019_01/9863B833-7BDB-4768-BB2E-0E512DE50BA0.thumb.jpeg.73055a811368d43e33020d9d90313584.jpeg/monthly_2019_01/4A5AC966-E0EE-45B0-AB11-21DEBF8F794E.thumb.jpeg.7b796a06960c3d48c8f7c296317f2d57.jpeg

For the record, this wasn’t even a particularly long Meteor, with the typical three sleepers and I think five coaches (it might have been six). So with the extra lounge car, the train was only one or two cars longer than normal, and that really shouldn’t necessitate two electric locomotives with their pantographs up.

Finally, we were ready to leave the Silver Meteor behind. We dropped by ClubAcela to use the bathroom, change from my sandals to sneakers (it’s cold up here), and grab a couple snacks.

We caught the A home, and got here by 11:45 AM. After just under 14 days, which included roughly 2,800 miles of train travel, my trip was over.

Thanks for reading, y’all! 

 

[railiner]

Nicely done, thanks for posting!

 

[cpotisch]

Nicely done, thanks for posting!

Glad to do so! 

 

[gaspeamtrak]

That was one "helluva a trip report" !!! Thank you for sharing !!!

I loved all those pictures on and off the train and of all the food you sampled!

I'm like my food to ! My weight was around 150 lbs and I was 6'6" tall but after I turned  30 I didn't burn it off like I used too!!!

Be careful !!!   I think  I put 10 lbs. on just looking at those pictures!!!

Again, thank you for sharing with us and Happy New Year to you and your family !!!

 

[iplaybass]

Quote: These appear to be a bunch of old Budd SPV shells, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not real. Maybe someone else knows the answer?

They are old original "Metroliner" shells. I was fortunate enough in my youth to get a cab ride from 30th street to DC in one and remember doing 120mph in 1973. After retirement, some were converted to cab cars, and others left to rot. I think a few were kept for parts, but I don't know the story of the shells at Wilmington. They've been there for YEARS.

That place could have been a PRR/PC history museum; over the Amtrak years I've seen the Metroliners, GG-1, E-44, MP-54 (involuntary shudder), and once I think I even saw a low level "Congressional" trainset.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I've enjoyed reading this so much all the way through your trip--thank you!

I'm so glad you got a photo of that whale mural in Delaware that I'm always telling people to look for .

That pumpkin spice cake is the best dessert I've ever had on Amtrak, and that includes chocolate desserts.

Thank you for the report--it has given us up here in the north a nice dose of sunshine!

 

[cpotisch]

Quote: These appear to be a bunch of old Budd SPV shells, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not real. Maybe someone else knows the answer?

They are old original "Metroliner" shells. I was fortunate enough in my youth to get a cab ride from 30th street to DC in one and remember doing 120mph in 1973. After retirement, some were converted to cab cars, and others left to rot. I think a few were kept for parts, but I don't know the story of the shells at Wilmington. They've been there for YEARS.

But the windows on the ends of those shells look much more like that of an SPV than of a Metroliner:

/monthly_2019_01/CCF49E56-EA4A-42F5-98B6-E40F40CB1CD9.jpeg.3015dc2381ee2d7d81cd8c1e1c41bbed.jpeg

The windows on a Metroliner are short and asymmetrical:

While the windows on the SPV-2000 are tall and totally symmetrical:



So I don’t see how those could be Metroliner shells. :wacko:

 

[cpotisch]

That was one "helluva a trip report" !!! Thank you for sharing !!! 

I loved all those pictures on and off the train and of all the food you sampled! 

I'm like my food to ! My weight was around 150 lbs and I was 6'6" tall but after I turned 30 I didn't burn it off like I used too!!! 

Be careful !!!    I think I put 10 lbs. on just looking at those pictures!!! 

Again, thank you for sharing with us and Happy New Year to you and your family !!! 

Glad you enjoyed this! Getting back to eating normally is definitely going to be difficult!

Happy New Year!

 

[cpotisch]

That pumpkin spice cake is the best dessert I've ever had on Amtrak, and that includes chocolate desserts.

I probably have to agree here, however I do remember loving the crispy, chocolate covered cream puff that they were serving on my first ever LD trip (Silver Star NYP-DLB, December 2011). Other than that short lived cream puff, not a single other dessert on Amtrak has come close.

I've enjoyed reading this so much all the way through your trip--thank you! ... Thank you for the report--it has given us up here in the north a nice dose of sunshine!

My pleasure.  I’ll definitely make sure to do this again next time!

 

[iplaybass]

But the windows on the ends of those shells look much more like that of an SPV than of a Metroliner:
/monthly_2019_01/CCF49E56-EA4A-42F5-98B6-E40F40CB1CD9.jpeg.3015dc2381ee2d7d81cd8c1e1c41bbed.jpeg
 
The windows on a Metroliner are short and asymmetrical:

 
While the windows on the SPV-2000 are tall and totally symmetrical:
/monthly_2019_01/3C721E46-6F9A-4503-A7E5-4BD9205134D6.jpeg.90b4e0b00cb60ca82b03675430d22951.jpeg
 
So I don’t see how those could be Metroliner shells.

IIRC, Most of the Metroliners were stored and caniabalized at that Wilmington facility. Having said that, you're right about the windows. The Metroliners were environmentally unfriendly, same as the GG-1. PCB coolant (?), so they wouldn't have been left as is. Still think Budd may have used a few shells if only as the design template/prototype for Amfleet and its kin.