A double points run today to Temple for lunch and the Rail Museum, a cold clear day in Central Texas!
This morning Eagle #22 from San Antonio pulled into Austin about 15 minutes early, about 5 people got on, consist was the usual: one Engine, Transdorm Sleeper/Revenue Sleeper?CCC Diner-Lounge/Sightseer Lounge/three Coaches. Only one Coach was in use, very light pax load, the calm before the Christmas rush! New Asst. Conductor, Knew the Coach Ateendant/Lounge LSA and the diner (CCC) crew, LSA is one of the bossy Chicago women that seem to be based there!
Best SCA on Amtrak that I've had in the Sleeper, Jim, mentioned here by numerous riders as outstanding! He even brought the left over USA Today papers to the lounge car, said only 5 rooms were occupied! A firsat for me, Breakfast was still be ing served until 10:00AM in the CCC,first time I've experienced that since the Diner crew started going to SAS instead of Austin!
We made our stop on time in Taylor (Bar-B-Q Capitol of Texas!), arrived into Temple 15 minutes early, one of the Austin agents was working the Station today, the regular agent is out Sick. Had a great rib-eye steak lunch at a Mom and Pop Diner (Wes' Burgers and More),
then toured the Rail Museum upstairs in the old Santa fe Depot. (Amtrak occupies one small end with a small waiting room and ticket counter!) Nice sunny day, warming up into the 60s>
At 4:45PM right on time the SB Eagle #21/#421 rolled into Temple, I was the only one boarding, the passenger load was much heavier (#421 is going to LA in the AM from San Antonio). The diner had first call for dinner at 5PM, the LSA (a good one this time!)told me that they served until San Marcos, or 8PM, whichever came last! We made it into Austin right on time, rolled down a gridlocked MOPAC "Expressway" until ten minutes from the station came to a complete halt and proceeded to sit for one hour while two UP freights Slowly rimbled by, really loooong trains! The conductor announced that UP was doing track work South of Austin resulting in delays for the freights and Amtrak. We finally pulled in one hour down at 7:30PM, all in all a nice day trip for double points and a great lunch and re-visit of the rail Museum!
This morning Eagle #22 from San Antonio pulled into Austin about 15 minutes early, about 5 people got on, consist was the usual: one Engine, Transdorm Sleeper/Revenue Sleeper?CCC Diner-Lounge/Sightseer Lounge/three Coaches. Only one Coach was in use, very light pax load, the calm before the Christmas rush! New Asst. Conductor, Knew the Coach Ateendant/Lounge LSA and the diner (CCC) crew, LSA is one of the bossy Chicago women that seem to be based there!
Best SCA on Amtrak that I've had in the Sleeper, Jim, mentioned here by numerous riders as outstanding! He even brought the left over USA Today papers to the lounge car, said only 5 rooms were occupied! A firsat for me, Breakfast was still be ing served until 10:00AM in the CCC,first time I've experienced that since the Diner crew started going to SAS instead of Austin! We made our stop on time in Taylor (Bar-B-Q Capitol of Texas!), arrived into Temple 15 minutes early, one of the Austin agents was working the Station today, the regular agent is out Sick. Had a great rib-eye steak lunch at a Mom and Pop Diner (Wes' Burgers and More),
then toured the Rail Museum upstairs in the old Santa fe Depot. (Amtrak occupies one small end with a small waiting room and ticket counter!) Nice sunny day, warming up into the 60s>
At 4:45PM right on time the SB Eagle #21/#421 rolled into Temple, I was the only one boarding, the passenger load was much heavier (#421 is going to LA in the AM from San Antonio). The diner had first call for dinner at 5PM, the LSA (a good one this time!)told me that they served until San Marcos, or 8PM, whichever came last! We made it into Austin right on time, rolled down a gridlocked MOPAC "Expressway" until ten minutes from the station came to a complete halt and proceeded to sit for one hour while two UP freights Slowly rimbled by, really loooong trains! The conductor announced that UP was doing track work South of Austin resulting in delays for the freights and Amtrak. We finally pulled in one hour down at 7:30PM, all in all a nice day trip for double points and a great lunch and re-visit of the rail Museum!
