NYP-SAN

[Shawn Ryu]

The travel log will be comprised of two parts, Lake Shore Limited and Southwest Chiefs/Pacific Surfliner

So I arrived at New York Penn at about 3, waiting to take Lake Shore Limited which departed at 3:40. Got on train at about 3:20.

Going up to Albany, there was nothing much to see until we got past Poughkeepsie. I swear Amtrak needs their own set of tracks on this route, but I doubt this would happen. S

Arrived at Albany at about 6:30. Stopped at Albany Renassler for about an hour waiting for the train arriving from Boston. Didnt get to see the process of the trains being combined, sadly. Beautiful station though. Looks like a lot of people do use Amtrak to Albany. Not on this day, but you know. Metro North should think about extending the service.

I always heard that the tracks between Albany and Buffalo was awful, but it wasnt quite as bad, it was bad dont get me wrong, as I expected.

Dinner time. At 7 I had my first dinner in the diner car. Delicious. I had chicken and wild rice.

Arrived at Rochester at about 11. Scary moment as the border patrol boarded the train. I had my ID with me but still. Thankfully, nothing major occured, and the Guards got off the train with inspecting too many people.

Got off at Buffalo for 10 minutes to take a break, got to Buffalo at about midnight I believe.

Then I fell asleep until I got to Cleveland at about 3 AM. The station is extremely small and crappy. Just a tiny building with chairs and few ticket booths in it. Paul Brown stadium was right next to the station though.

Then I fell asleep again, until Toledo, where I had breakfast in the dining car. Great food, I had french toast, and bacon.

Midwest has too many cargo trains, so the traffic was quite bad. I still despise the cargo trains to this day.

We arrived at Chicago at about 10, but we had to wait 2 hours RIGHT OUTSIDE of the Chicago Union Station. Forgot why, but it was frustrating to watch Metra and other Amtrak services being allowed to enter while we were not.

Union Station is a wonderful little station, but keyword here is little. Way too small for what it has to serve. I mean its not Cleveland small, but still. Its a major station. And there also seems to be some construction going on, are they building high platforms? Does anyone know anything about this?

Part 2, trip to LA coming soon.

 

[Eric S]

The travel log will be comprised of two parts, Lake Shore Limited and Southwest Chiefs/Pacific Surfliner

So I arrived at New York Penn at about 3, waiting to take Lake Shore Limited which departed at 3:40. Got on train at about 3:20.

Going up to Albany, there was nothing much to see until we got past Poughkeepsie. I swear Amtrak needs their own set of tracks on this route, but I doubt this would happen. S

Arrived at Albany at about 6:30. Stopped at Albany Renassler for about an hour waiting for the train arriving from Boston. Didnt get to see the process of the trains being combined, sadly. Beautiful station though. Looks like a lot of people do use Amtrak to Albany. Not on this day, but you know. Metro North should think about extending the service.

I always heard that the tracks between Albany and Buffalo was awful, but it wasnt quite as bad, it was bad dont get me wrong, as I expected.

Dinner time. At 7 I had my first dinner in the diner car. Delicious. I had chicken and wild rice.

Arrived at Rochester at about 11. Scary moment as the border patrol boarded the train. I had my ID with me but still. Thankfully, nothing major occured, and the Guards got off the train with inspecting too many people.

Got off at Buffalo for 10 minutes to take a break, got to Buffalo at about midnight I believe.

Then I fell asleep until I got to Cleveland at about 3 AM. The station is extremely small and crappy. Just a tiny building with chairs and few ticket booths in it. Paul Brown stadium was right next to the station though.

Then I fell asleep again, until Toledo, where I had breakfast in the dining car. Great food, I had french toast, and bacon.

Midwest has too many cargo trains, so the traffic was quite bad. I still despise the cargo trains to this day.

We arrived at Chicago at about 10, but we had to wait 2 hours RIGHT OUTSIDE of the Chicago Union Station. Forgot why, but it was frustrating to watch Metra and other Amtrak services being allowed to enter while we were not.

Union Station is a wonderful little station, but keyword here is little. Way too small for what it has to serve. I mean its not Cleveland small, but still. Its a major station. And there also seems to be some construction going on, are they building high platforms? Does anyone know anything about this?

Part 2, trip to LA coming soon.

Small correction, it is Cleveland Browns Stadium, Paul Brown Stadium is in Cincinnati.

Chicago Union Station (particularly the Amtrak waiting lounges) tends to be overcrowded at times, it is true. What construction did you notice? Whatever it was, I would be shocked if high platforms are being constructed (in fact am positive they aren't) as most trains using the station are Metra trains (and Amtrak Superliner trains) that could not be served by high level platforms.

 

[Guest]

My bad Cleveland Browns stadium.

My thoughts exactly, Metra doesnt use high platform EXCEPT Metra Electric.

Plus Lake Shore Limited can also use the high platform.

Part two coming tomorrow hopefully.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Sorry guys the part 2 is very very late.

So I waited 2 hours in chicago. Great city, loved the Buckingham Fountain for sure.

I boarded the Southwest Chiefs around 3:45, I rode coach.

I met some interesting people on this train, Vietnam veterans, Boy Scouts etc...All good people I must say. Definitely had interesting meal conversations. This is why I love riding Amtrak, it is a very sociable place to be since everyone is so close together.

Nothing too special until we got to Kansas City at approximately 4 AM

Then we got to Trinidad Colorado where I bought a postcard and sent it home.

After that thats when someone got hit by our train and the train was delayed by 6 hours. Good thing I had people to talk to.

By the way, the prairie along the way to colorado was absolutely stunning. We got to watch thunderstorm far away from where we were. Very cool experience.

We got to California that Saturday around 4ish. AM of course.

We got to Victorville by 11, Fullerton by 1 PM.

And then finally got to LA Union Station (a beautiful station) by 3 PM ish.

Part 3 to San Diego next.