Shortline
Conductor
821- OKC-FTW
Trip report OKC-FTW-CHI-KAL 10/15-10/16
I will be updating this report as we go, will try and write it in real time, will try and keep it in the present tense as much as possible-Cut me a little slack, a writer I am not!
Amtrak 821 Heartland Flyer OKC-FTW Departed on time, (or there about, wasn’t watching the clock but it was on time, or very close to it) boarding was reasonably smooth, other than some backup as a couple of older folks tried to re-arrange everything in their bags blocking the stairs for everyone else boarding. No biggie, was almost comical, since this was the coach-baggage, and there was NOTHING in the baggage area….they had all the room in the world in there, if they thought to use it…oh well. One person did try to board with a cardboard box of clothes and apparently no ticket….Conductor tried to get him to combine the box with stuff in his bags, but in the end let him board with it with a scolding about how he won’t be allowed to next time. He also let him board without a ticket, and told him to call on board to get it sorted out. Didn’t see how that turned out….
Got lucky today, in that the Heartland Flyer normally has only 3 coaches- This trip, coming off the Football Special following the OU/Teas weekend game, had 4 coaches, as well as a Sightseer Lounge (where I’m typing this on a Word doc to post later in a full trip report) which was a nice treat. Also had special wrapping on some windows and the locomotive for the big game, which I thought was pretty cool. Would have been nice if the café was also in this car, but it was closed, they were using the normal café on the lower level of the coach in the middle car of the normal consist. No biggie, just means a walk to get the coffee back to the lounge. I really wish more local/day trains had a true lounge like the SSL, it really makes a big difference, I’m watching some first time riders in this car, and they’re having a ball. Really need a better lounge option on the single level trains also, at least for the LD ones, the amcafe’s just aren’t the same as a true lounge/observation car!
Some on here may have read about the extremely late NB flyer into OKC on Saturday. Talking with the on board crew, they say there was a major mechanical failure on the locomotive but either didn’t know exactly what, or just didn’t want to discuss it in detail. Must have been too bad to move, as the locomotive is sitting in a side track just North of the Ardmore and the good part of the line where the tacks follow the Ouachita River. Rolled into FTW just a little late, but was a good trip, spent the whole time in the SSL working on a table, was actually productive and the 4 hours went very fast. Had good internet signal most places, but dropped calls and net a few times. Still more productive than if I was slogging around the airport! Was a line to check bags, so rather than stick to my plan of dropping the bags off, and wandering around to find something good to eat for lunch, I just hit the Subway in station.
Amtrak 22 Texas Eagle FTW-CHI The inbound 22 was a little late arriving, scheduled for 1:58 it didn’t actually arrive until right around it’s departure time of 2:20. Entertainment while waiting was provided by a guy rocking a sweet mullet, with a camo T-shirt that didn’t quite cover his belly, sleeveless jean jacket, and one of those clear plastic bags a Queen sized beadspread comes in for luggage, containing dozens of movies (Most on VHS). He was rocking to his headset, and slinging rocks with his super duper sling shot. It was entertaining to watch, he had pretty good aim, and range-Able to hit freight cars 4 tracks over, but alas, an Amtrak station person made him knock it off and put it away. Between that point and train arrival, all there was to watch, was his intermittent dancing with his wallet chain swinging, to what I can only assume was to a killer ‘Skynnard track. I have to believe, there was a fight in a trailer last night, he had to go, and she gets to keep the ’84 Camaro Berlinetta……..
22 arrived, and I got on the 2220 car, behind the Transdorm in Roomette 3. Was hoping reports were wrong, and the sleepers were still on the rear but it was not to be-2 cars back from the horn. Glad I brought earplugs. Antonio got me settled in, and took off to deal with more demanding customers boarding at Ft. Worth. Seems he’s going to have his hands full with a few of them….again, should be good entertainment for the ride from here to Chicago. So, I’m settled in to my Roomette, waiting to pull out. Currently backing out of the station almost exactly 20 minutes late. Good thing I’m not in TOO much of a hurry. About ready for a nap, all that’s keeping me awake right now, is waiting for the CO to come scan my ticket, then, I’m out for a while. Roomette was a little worn, but clean, got the normal skymall shopping mag, route guide, schedule and safety card, as well as a few bottles of water all laid out. This roomette is different from what I’ve had before, this one has no little closet, just a hanger rack. I think I like this better, seems a little bigger this way. As I was typing, CO scanned my ticket, so I’m off for a nap. Hope the horn doesn’t keep me awake! Will post this, and update as I get around to it, in installments, so it doesn’t get too big for one post. More to come tonight somewhere around Texarkana if all goes well.
Trip report OKC-FTW-CHI-KAL 10/15-10/16
I will be updating this report as we go, will try and write it in real time, will try and keep it in the present tense as much as possible-Cut me a little slack, a writer I am not!
Amtrak 821 Heartland Flyer OKC-FTW Departed on time, (or there about, wasn’t watching the clock but it was on time, or very close to it) boarding was reasonably smooth, other than some backup as a couple of older folks tried to re-arrange everything in their bags blocking the stairs for everyone else boarding. No biggie, was almost comical, since this was the coach-baggage, and there was NOTHING in the baggage area….they had all the room in the world in there, if they thought to use it…oh well. One person did try to board with a cardboard box of clothes and apparently no ticket….Conductor tried to get him to combine the box with stuff in his bags, but in the end let him board with it with a scolding about how he won’t be allowed to next time. He also let him board without a ticket, and told him to call on board to get it sorted out. Didn’t see how that turned out….
Got lucky today, in that the Heartland Flyer normally has only 3 coaches- This trip, coming off the Football Special following the OU/Teas weekend game, had 4 coaches, as well as a Sightseer Lounge (where I’m typing this on a Word doc to post later in a full trip report) which was a nice treat. Also had special wrapping on some windows and the locomotive for the big game, which I thought was pretty cool. Would have been nice if the café was also in this car, but it was closed, they were using the normal café on the lower level of the coach in the middle car of the normal consist. No biggie, just means a walk to get the coffee back to the lounge. I really wish more local/day trains had a true lounge like the SSL, it really makes a big difference, I’m watching some first time riders in this car, and they’re having a ball. Really need a better lounge option on the single level trains also, at least for the LD ones, the amcafe’s just aren’t the same as a true lounge/observation car!
Some on here may have read about the extremely late NB flyer into OKC on Saturday. Talking with the on board crew, they say there was a major mechanical failure on the locomotive but either didn’t know exactly what, or just didn’t want to discuss it in detail. Must have been too bad to move, as the locomotive is sitting in a side track just North of the Ardmore and the good part of the line where the tacks follow the Ouachita River. Rolled into FTW just a little late, but was a good trip, spent the whole time in the SSL working on a table, was actually productive and the 4 hours went very fast. Had good internet signal most places, but dropped calls and net a few times. Still more productive than if I was slogging around the airport! Was a line to check bags, so rather than stick to my plan of dropping the bags off, and wandering around to find something good to eat for lunch, I just hit the Subway in station.
Amtrak 22 Texas Eagle FTW-CHI The inbound 22 was a little late arriving, scheduled for 1:58 it didn’t actually arrive until right around it’s departure time of 2:20. Entertainment while waiting was provided by a guy rocking a sweet mullet, with a camo T-shirt that didn’t quite cover his belly, sleeveless jean jacket, and one of those clear plastic bags a Queen sized beadspread comes in for luggage, containing dozens of movies (Most on VHS). He was rocking to his headset, and slinging rocks with his super duper sling shot. It was entertaining to watch, he had pretty good aim, and range-Able to hit freight cars 4 tracks over, but alas, an Amtrak station person made him knock it off and put it away. Between that point and train arrival, all there was to watch, was his intermittent dancing with his wallet chain swinging, to what I can only assume was to a killer ‘Skynnard track. I have to believe, there was a fight in a trailer last night, he had to go, and she gets to keep the ’84 Camaro Berlinetta……..
22 arrived, and I got on the 2220 car, behind the Transdorm in Roomette 3. Was hoping reports were wrong, and the sleepers were still on the rear but it was not to be-2 cars back from the horn. Glad I brought earplugs. Antonio got me settled in, and took off to deal with more demanding customers boarding at Ft. Worth. Seems he’s going to have his hands full with a few of them….again, should be good entertainment for the ride from here to Chicago. So, I’m settled in to my Roomette, waiting to pull out. Currently backing out of the station almost exactly 20 minutes late. Good thing I’m not in TOO much of a hurry. About ready for a nap, all that’s keeping me awake right now, is waiting for the CO to come scan my ticket, then, I’m out for a while. Roomette was a little worn, but clean, got the normal skymall shopping mag, route guide, schedule and safety card, as well as a few bottles of water all laid out. This roomette is different from what I’ve had before, this one has no little closet, just a hanger rack. I think I like this better, seems a little bigger this way. As I was typing, CO scanned my ticket, so I’m off for a nap. Hope the horn doesn’t keep me awake! Will post this, and update as I get around to it, in installments, so it doesn’t get too big for one post. More to come tonight somewhere around Texarkana if all goes well.
