We passed through the Raton Pass proper in the dark, and given the overcast skies, there was nothing to see
Way too dark (it was a dark and gloomy night.....). We picked up a large group of scouts coming out of the Piedmont BSA camp. They were tired and wet, having to wait at the small station for 4 hours waiting for us, with mostly only bedrooms and camping rolls,to sit on.
By the time we hit Kansas the next morning we were through the mountains,and 5+ hours behind and building. The replacement freight engine along with out Amtrak engine tended to run around 65 mph. We had to pull over a few times to allow freight trains to pass us.
Attempts to keep the train from losing too much time meant that all depot stops were very abbreviated, meaning that our smokers seldom got chances to feed their habit, and tourists like me were not allowed to wander far from the train for photos and explorations. I was disappointed that I did not get to do,a quick tour of the Kansas City Union station, as i had heard glowing reports of the interior. I did get a few exterior shots from the train landing.
As we neared the Illinois state line and the Mississippi. Plans were being made by Amtrak about the upcoming 6+ hour arrival in Chicago. They indicated that many of the eastern passengers headed yo NYC and environs would be bedded for the night in Chicago and be placed onto trains the next day. But those of us scheduled for the Cardinal, this was an issue. The train only runs approximately every other day. They did not want to bed and feed us for two days while waiting for the next train.
So a group of us (I had not known there were so many of us) a long with a similar group from CZ, were taken off the train at thr Galesburg stop (which I had never even heard of before), placed onto a Amtrak bus, and taken to three different Amtrak depots from there to Indianapolis. It was a straight shot from Galesburg to those thee stations along I95. The driver even stopped along the way for us to run into a gas station/Wendy's restaurant and pick up dinner and a snack.
By the time we arrived into Indianapolis, we would have missed our train, but for good or bad, the Cardinal train has fallen behind 58 minutes into our schedule and we only had to wait about 20 minutes before it pulled into the station, and we were allowed to climb the stairs to the second story and climb onto the train. The SWC and CZ passengers filled the empty seats on the train.
Arrived at Cinci an hour and 10 minutes behind schedule. The Amtrak waiting area and baggage claim are on the 2nd story of the Union Station (now mostly a museum). The waiting area was beautiful. Old school wood paneling with train motif/designs, and a granite drinking fountain (sans running water), and a bank of old school wooden phone booths(with phones removed) greeted us. As I and other passengers waited in the Amtrak terminal area, the two amtrak employees politely reminded us that they would be shutting down the lounge and office at 6:30am. Weirdly the Amtrak area hours were from 11:30pm to 6:30am. This generally provides enough coverage for the Cardinal line which only comes through the middle of the night (3:30am) and the advent of online ticket sales meant that they no longer sell tickets during the day via humans.
The station attendant was very official and helpful, and I was able to move to the building main lobby, though no businesses were yet or now open. My ride was able to pull up right in front between the fountain and the main doors and I loaded my luggage in and I was good.
Given all the connections that I had to make, and the last minute changes of my travel modes, I was ecstatic to see that the bag that I had checked into Anaheim made it all the way to Cincinnati with me!
I had several,people ask me if I would make the trip again. My answer is yes I would. It was an adventure. There were disappointments, but I got to meet a great group of travelers and talk and learn their stories. The Amtrak staff were pleasant, and mostly helpful.
Things I would change:
1. Get the sleeperette, this might encourage traveling with a companion in order to split that cost
2. Insist at the La ticket window for a window seat. (They put me off and insisted that I only needed to talk with my car attendant and I would be moved-liars)
3. Eat more of my breakfasts in the dining car
4. I missed seeing the Chicago station
Things I like:
1. Dining car meals are a good experience
2. The cafe car worker is very helpful (iced coffee anyone?)
3. The on route sites are amazing. You just don't appreciate this country from the air
4. Most of the Amtrak stations are loved by their local communities and are well maintained and most have been lovingly restored (if old) or are new constructions
Things I didn't like (and probably won't change)
1. The coach bathrooms are tiny. They are not built for larger persons
2. The observation car seats do not swivel nor recline
3. Wow is the Indianapolis station a dump. First time I have felt slightly unsafe. Glad I was with a large group.
I shall post links to photos later, I have approximately 400+ photos! plus 13 hours of videos that I should whittle down.
