AAARGH!
Conductor
Thursday 8/20:
I awoke at 3:15am to travel to the station at Pittsburgh. There is now a VERY convenient parking garage across the street from the Amtrak station. It is open 24/7 and costs $13/day. No problems finding it (thanks to my GPS).
The Capital Limited arrived about 5 minutes late. As I boarded the coach, I was told by the attendant to sit in seat #1. I have never been assigned a specific seat and was a bit miffed that I was. But I soon realized it was on the side I wanted and had no pillar in the way. I was assigned a seat mate even though half the coach was empty. I spent 95% of the trip in the diner (CCC) or SSL to give my seat mate room to stretch out and sleep. By the time we got to WAS, the coach was full, so I guess assigning seats wasn't a bad idea.
I had breakfast in the CCC. I like the look of this car, but it seems inefficient (not able to hold as many people). Good breakfast of scrambled eggs, grits (no brown sugar?), and a crossaint (sp?). The LSA/server (same person) was very pleasant. It was not busy at all at 6:45 when I came in.
There were only two 'campers' in the SSL (coach passengers sleeping the night in the SSL), so there was plenty of room UNTIL A large LOUD family came in and took up 4 of the tables. One was already occupied by a sleeping Buddhist monk (no joke), but the kids just climbed right over him. He said nothing and sat with them as they made stupid remarks to their parents across the aisle about a Chinese guy wearing a robe right in front of him!. The parents said nothing. He stayed there for about a half hour before moving down the car. I guess even Buddhist monks have limits to their patience. I moved to the other end of the car shortly after they arrived. They kept the 4 tables (making one heck of a mess) for most of the trip. Disgusting.
We arrived in WAS about 15 minutes late (we were put in the hole once due to track work). Not bad at all!
The CL consist was 3 P42s, Transdorm, 2 sleepers, Diner (CCC), SSL, and 3 coaches. Typical LD consist except for the 3 P42s. Is this normal?
I spent about 6 hours in WAS. I used a free Club Acela day pass to store my bag and then took the Metro to the Smithsonian stop. As soon as I was above ground, I saw President Obama's motorcade pass by. Neat! I then toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (I think that is what it's called). Anyway, it's where they print the money. Nice 30 minute tour. I saw a room with about 16 palettes of $100 bills waiting to be cut, wrapped, and packaged. Each palette was $32,000,000! So the room contained $512,000,000. Yikes. :excl: :excl: :excl:
After visiting two museums (Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Gallery and the east wing of the National Gallery of Art), I walked back to WUS to recover. Did I mention it was HOT! I now know what a stick of butter feels like on a hot griddle! It wiped me out! I'm glad I had access to Club Acela with the free drinks and cool air.
I boarded a NE Regional to BWI. The only thing unusual was that it was standing room only (lots of standees). Even the café was full. Turns out a MARC train overheated and we took up the slack. The conductor even made an announcement that if a MARC passenger had a seat, that they should give it to an Amtrak passenger because they paid for it. Nobody did. Anyway, a lot of people got off at BWI, so the standees could then sit down. Normal NEC Regional consist with a toaster on the front.
Friday 8/21:
I retuned to BWI about an hour early. I saw an Acela FLY through on the middle track, That is IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! My NE Regional to PHL was on time and the Asst. conductor was very friendly. We hit a max of 125 mph as normal. I do love going fast. Inside, I am still 5 years old.
I did see one thing I thought was unusual sitting at the Baltimore (not BWI) station. It was a NE Regional set with a toaster on the front, but then a coach, baggage car, more coaches/BC and the café somewhere in the mix. The first coach was between the engine and baggage car. What good is it there?
Anyway, I had a 2 ½ hour layover at the PHL 30th street station. First time I got to spend time there and walk around. What a beautiful station! Second in my book only to LAUS (of those I have seen). WUS is a VERY close third.
Last leg was the Pennsylvanian to PGH. On time the whole way, 30 min. early into PGH (can you say padding?). Consist was one P42, 1 BC/Café and 4 coaches. Horseshoe curve was a treat as always. There were about 30 people in the park train watching/photographing. Our engineer blew the horn as we passed them. They had a lot to watch as there was quite a bit of NS traffic the whole way between Harrisburg and PGH. Glad to see freight traffic up again. Hopefully this is a good sign for the economy.
It was another enjoyable trip. No complaints at all!
I awoke at 3:15am to travel to the station at Pittsburgh. There is now a VERY convenient parking garage across the street from the Amtrak station. It is open 24/7 and costs $13/day. No problems finding it (thanks to my GPS).
The Capital Limited arrived about 5 minutes late. As I boarded the coach, I was told by the attendant to sit in seat #1. I have never been assigned a specific seat and was a bit miffed that I was. But I soon realized it was on the side I wanted and had no pillar in the way. I was assigned a seat mate even though half the coach was empty. I spent 95% of the trip in the diner (CCC) or SSL to give my seat mate room to stretch out and sleep. By the time we got to WAS, the coach was full, so I guess assigning seats wasn't a bad idea.
I had breakfast in the CCC. I like the look of this car, but it seems inefficient (not able to hold as many people). Good breakfast of scrambled eggs, grits (no brown sugar?), and a crossaint (sp?). The LSA/server (same person) was very pleasant. It was not busy at all at 6:45 when I came in.
There were only two 'campers' in the SSL (coach passengers sleeping the night in the SSL), so there was plenty of room UNTIL A large LOUD family came in and took up 4 of the tables. One was already occupied by a sleeping Buddhist monk (no joke), but the kids just climbed right over him. He said nothing and sat with them as they made stupid remarks to their parents across the aisle about a Chinese guy wearing a robe right in front of him!. The parents said nothing. He stayed there for about a half hour before moving down the car. I guess even Buddhist monks have limits to their patience. I moved to the other end of the car shortly after they arrived. They kept the 4 tables (making one heck of a mess) for most of the trip. Disgusting.
We arrived in WAS about 15 minutes late (we were put in the hole once due to track work). Not bad at all!
The CL consist was 3 P42s, Transdorm, 2 sleepers, Diner (CCC), SSL, and 3 coaches. Typical LD consist except for the 3 P42s. Is this normal?
I spent about 6 hours in WAS. I used a free Club Acela day pass to store my bag and then took the Metro to the Smithsonian stop. As soon as I was above ground, I saw President Obama's motorcade pass by. Neat! I then toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (I think that is what it's called). Anyway, it's where they print the money. Nice 30 minute tour. I saw a room with about 16 palettes of $100 bills waiting to be cut, wrapped, and packaged. Each palette was $32,000,000! So the room contained $512,000,000. Yikes. :excl: :excl: :excl:
After visiting two museums (Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Gallery and the east wing of the National Gallery of Art), I walked back to WUS to recover. Did I mention it was HOT! I now know what a stick of butter feels like on a hot griddle! It wiped me out! I'm glad I had access to Club Acela with the free drinks and cool air.
I boarded a NE Regional to BWI. The only thing unusual was that it was standing room only (lots of standees). Even the café was full. Turns out a MARC train overheated and we took up the slack. The conductor even made an announcement that if a MARC passenger had a seat, that they should give it to an Amtrak passenger because they paid for it. Nobody did. Anyway, a lot of people got off at BWI, so the standees could then sit down. Normal NEC Regional consist with a toaster on the front.
Friday 8/21:
I retuned to BWI about an hour early. I saw an Acela FLY through on the middle track, That is IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! My NE Regional to PHL was on time and the Asst. conductor was very friendly. We hit a max of 125 mph as normal. I do love going fast. Inside, I am still 5 years old.
I did see one thing I thought was unusual sitting at the Baltimore (not BWI) station. It was a NE Regional set with a toaster on the front, but then a coach, baggage car, more coaches/BC and the café somewhere in the mix. The first coach was between the engine and baggage car. What good is it there?
Anyway, I had a 2 ½ hour layover at the PHL 30th street station. First time I got to spend time there and walk around. What a beautiful station! Second in my book only to LAUS (of those I have seen). WUS is a VERY close third.
Last leg was the Pennsylvanian to PGH. On time the whole way, 30 min. early into PGH (can you say padding?). Consist was one P42, 1 BC/Café and 4 coaches. Horseshoe curve was a treat as always. There were about 30 people in the park train watching/photographing. Our engineer blew the horn as we passed them. They had a lot to watch as there was quite a bit of NS traffic the whole way between Harrisburg and PGH. Glad to see freight traffic up again. Hopefully this is a good sign for the economy.
It was another enjoyable trip. No complaints at all!
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