pianocat
Lead Service Attendant
Now that I'm once again nestled in the cozy warmth of my house, surrounded by 2 sleeping feline companions, a glass of merlot in hand, some Chopin Nocturnes on the player, I'm ready to compose a travelogue of my most recent adventure. The fact that it's New Year's Eve only inspires me further. This is the real definition of peace - at least, to me.
The only mode of transportation lacking from my trip and the movie called "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles", is airplanes. Perhaps a more accurate title would be "Trains, Greyhound buses, and Automobiles"...but that is just wrong on oh, so many levels, despite the truth of the situation.
Saturday, Dec. 21 wasn't the date I was planning to depart southern Indiana, but it's winter...and it's southern Indiana....and the only reliable thing about the weather here is the fact that it's highly unreliable! Beginning the previous Tuesday I'd been scouting the forecasts about an approaching winter system due to hit over the weekend. I knew if I made it to St. Louis where the train travel began, I'd be fine. However, the location of the final snow/ice line vs. straight rain was shifting south to n. St. Louis with every weathercast I watched. Plans needed to be made, so I decided to get myself to St. Louis a day earlier than scheduled. This meant 2 days at the downtown Omni International, which offered a better rate for those 2 nights than the one night I'd previously booked [a promotion called Elves and Eggnog...don't ask
] .
Off I go on Saturday, Dec. 21 from the Evansville [iN] Greyhound station through torrential rain and harrowing, nothing-short-of-daredevil-driving by the hired professional on an antiquated bus that needed to be retired in 1996 if not earlier. [see my separate thread in Non-rail Travel entitled "A Greyhound Experience"] Enough on that! The Gateway Arch was a welcome site for me, as I knew it meant I'd probably survive the remainder of the ride, but also - this meant I'd likely make it to California since the trains don't routinely cancel due to a little ice or snow. [Last year, I missed visiting my daughter because Dallas was hit by a snow storm - the plane couldn't get to Eville to GET me back to Dallas...it was very disappointing!] This year, I knew the train wouldn't fail me, as long as i GOT to the train.
When I walked in to the lobby of the Omni in St. Louis, my eyes didn't go to the reception desk, rather, the C3 Yamaha grand piano sitting right in middle of the lobby!!!! This was so awesome and much needed after the ride I'd just experienced. After assuring the desk that I was indeed a paying, reserved customer, I sat down at the instrument and lost myself in Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. Over the next couple of days, I think I either entertained or hurt the ears of several dozen clients! Monday, the 23rd was coming quickly...it meant get thyself to Amtrak station and then, get thyself to KCY on the Missouri River Runner. I left the hotel around noon, checked in at the Amtrak desk and the agent saw that I was reserved in a sleeper to California, so she said 'you have privileges in our 1st class lounge'. She gave me the code for getting in to the room, directions for how to work the TV, etc. I was NOT expecting this at STL! Such a neat surprise! Finally, it was time to join the cattle line for the MRR that left at 4pm. I had no problem with the elevators [i don't do escalators at all!] and found a window seat without issue. It was getting dark, so it really wasn't a big deal - nothing much to see. [And I discovered on the way back, in daylight...that there is little to actually see, anyway!] Had a great seat companion who shared many interests with me. Before we knew it, we were in KCY on time and looking at 6 degrees above zero!! I knew the SWC had left CHI on time, so knew I'd make my connection. Still, spent considerable time in KCY station taking photos. Being Christmas eve, the main hall was incredibly beautiful with decorated trees in subdued lighting....and then, I saw it....another grand piano in the hall! This one had straps keeping all from it, so I didn't give a recital...but it was a player, and the mechanism popped off a few Christmas pieces late night on Christmas eve! Just a very magical time, there in KC, even if brief.
We got on to the SWC around 11 I'm thinking...it blurs, I was dog tired. Wasn't worried about rushing to the platform as I had a sleeper scheduled. Now I knew I'd get to see my daughter in California...even if things happened on the way, at least I was on the final leg!
From the arrival at the hotel in St. Louis I'd started reading a book I downloaded called "The Christmas Train" by David Balducci. I learned of this book here at AU! It became my project to finish this by time I arrived at Riverside, CA. As exciting as the book is....I didn't find the same type of drama on the SWC - but then, the book is fiction, and I was experiencing real life. Still, it was a very entertaining read - and knowing that it was written about this particular train, at this particular moment that I was on it....well, it was a moving experience. Lots of accurate details. There was a family with small children a few rooms down from me...they had decorated their roomette in Christmas lights. At ABQ, I'm not sure what group is responsible for this - but all the children on the SWC were given a bunch of Christmas presents from a local group to accommodate the fact that they were traveling during the holiday. It was nothing but incredible!! These kids were loving it, and me too
Back a bit.... The ride through Kansas [rough track] was ok with me since I was dead tired and slept the whole way, but when sun came up in Colorado I was nothing short of a little kid with nose pressed to the window, watching the new scenes roll by. I had never taken this route...yes, the CZ, yes the EB but not this. The passes were awesome, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Only one tunnel was a nice thing! On board the train, the SCA was incredible - her name was Maria going out. [ Travis, coming back] It certainly helps to sort of have an idea of what to expect if you've taken a LD train before. A word about the food....the Dining car people were incredible! I'd never encountered any dining companions who were snobs or annoying to the nth degree where I just wanted to finish and leave. Not so this trip. There was a couple who made it clear that they were "special" and extremely wealthy. The waiter didn't come around when they wanted, the beans were cold, blah blah blah.... I wanted to apologize FOR them, to the waiter who was really quite nice and accommodating. Rude people make me mad. For the most part, I discovered some fascinating people I'll probably never again cross paths with, but who cares. For one moment - we were friends, and basically all in the same "boat".
Got to Riverside on time at 6am. Let me rant for a second about the station at Riverside....... It is totally unmanned, which is fine! but the overpass is almost 3 stories tall and though the 'up' elevator worked, the 'down' didn't. My daughter and her husband caught up with me on the way down to grab my luggage...but coming back, it was a challenge going UP! Fix the damn elevator, seriously! If I were handicapped, I'd have been SOL. Not acceptable.
I left Riverside on Saturday night, Dec. 28. The SCA greeted me BY NAME! as the SWC pulled up. I was impressed Had a good couple of nights in my roomette, watched the stars as we traveled across the desert stuff. Orion's belt! Got back to KCY on time, made my connection to the River Runner, and arrived in St. Louis on time on Monday, Dec. 30. One word about the MRR train..... on the way TO Kcy, there was clearly a case of a smoker in the car that I was in. [i'm a 7 year clean smoker, and I can smell this a mile away!] No Conductor in sight or I would have said something. If I come away with any recommendation it is that Amtrak be more of a policing presence than it was on this route. It not only annoyed me, it made me a bit sick.
To add another footnote.....the visit with my daughter and her husband was great! We visited Laguna Beach on Christmas day, I got to see where she teaches at UC/Riverside, and we enjoyed many a good vegan meals here and there. I would like to move out there [this is NOT a sudden decision], and am looking at possibilities for transferring my teaching business that direction. It may be about 3 years before I can comfortably do this, but mark my words - I will end up in that climate, near my daughter, eventually. For the time being, for visits,.... I will take the train.
Amtrak came through 100% for me. I am so fortunate and grateful to have made this journey. Thank you for letting me write all this. I would take this route again in a heartbeat. Love this site, and Love Amtrak! They really do care about their pax.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!
Pianocat, aka Donna
The only mode of transportation lacking from my trip and the movie called "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles", is airplanes. Perhaps a more accurate title would be "Trains, Greyhound buses, and Automobiles"...but that is just wrong on oh, so many levels, despite the truth of the situation.
Saturday, Dec. 21 wasn't the date I was planning to depart southern Indiana, but it's winter...and it's southern Indiana....and the only reliable thing about the weather here is the fact that it's highly unreliable! Beginning the previous Tuesday I'd been scouting the forecasts about an approaching winter system due to hit over the weekend. I knew if I made it to St. Louis where the train travel began, I'd be fine. However, the location of the final snow/ice line vs. straight rain was shifting south to n. St. Louis with every weathercast I watched. Plans needed to be made, so I decided to get myself to St. Louis a day earlier than scheduled. This meant 2 days at the downtown Omni International, which offered a better rate for those 2 nights than the one night I'd previously booked [a promotion called Elves and Eggnog...don't ask
] .Off I go on Saturday, Dec. 21 from the Evansville [iN] Greyhound station through torrential rain and harrowing, nothing-short-of-daredevil-driving by the hired professional on an antiquated bus that needed to be retired in 1996 if not earlier. [see my separate thread in Non-rail Travel entitled "A Greyhound Experience"] Enough on that! The Gateway Arch was a welcome site for me, as I knew it meant I'd probably survive the remainder of the ride, but also - this meant I'd likely make it to California since the trains don't routinely cancel due to a little ice or snow. [Last year, I missed visiting my daughter because Dallas was hit by a snow storm - the plane couldn't get to Eville to GET me back to Dallas...it was very disappointing!] This year, I knew the train wouldn't fail me, as long as i GOT to the train.
When I walked in to the lobby of the Omni in St. Louis, my eyes didn't go to the reception desk, rather, the C3 Yamaha grand piano sitting right in middle of the lobby!!!! This was so awesome and much needed after the ride I'd just experienced. After assuring the desk that I was indeed a paying, reserved customer, I sat down at the instrument and lost myself in Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. Over the next couple of days, I think I either entertained or hurt the ears of several dozen clients! Monday, the 23rd was coming quickly...it meant get thyself to Amtrak station and then, get thyself to KCY on the Missouri River Runner. I left the hotel around noon, checked in at the Amtrak desk and the agent saw that I was reserved in a sleeper to California, so she said 'you have privileges in our 1st class lounge'. She gave me the code for getting in to the room, directions for how to work the TV, etc. I was NOT expecting this at STL! Such a neat surprise! Finally, it was time to join the cattle line for the MRR that left at 4pm. I had no problem with the elevators [i don't do escalators at all!] and found a window seat without issue. It was getting dark, so it really wasn't a big deal - nothing much to see. [And I discovered on the way back, in daylight...that there is little to actually see, anyway!] Had a great seat companion who shared many interests with me. Before we knew it, we were in KCY on time and looking at 6 degrees above zero!! I knew the SWC had left CHI on time, so knew I'd make my connection. Still, spent considerable time in KCY station taking photos. Being Christmas eve, the main hall was incredibly beautiful with decorated trees in subdued lighting....and then, I saw it....another grand piano in the hall! This one had straps keeping all from it, so I didn't give a recital...but it was a player, and the mechanism popped off a few Christmas pieces late night on Christmas eve! Just a very magical time, there in KC, even if brief.
We got on to the SWC around 11 I'm thinking...it blurs, I was dog tired. Wasn't worried about rushing to the platform as I had a sleeper scheduled. Now I knew I'd get to see my daughter in California...even if things happened on the way, at least I was on the final leg!
From the arrival at the hotel in St. Louis I'd started reading a book I downloaded called "The Christmas Train" by David Balducci. I learned of this book here at AU! It became my project to finish this by time I arrived at Riverside, CA. As exciting as the book is....I didn't find the same type of drama on the SWC - but then, the book is fiction, and I was experiencing real life. Still, it was a very entertaining read - and knowing that it was written about this particular train, at this particular moment that I was on it....well, it was a moving experience. Lots of accurate details. There was a family with small children a few rooms down from me...they had decorated their roomette in Christmas lights. At ABQ, I'm not sure what group is responsible for this - but all the children on the SWC were given a bunch of Christmas presents from a local group to accommodate the fact that they were traveling during the holiday. It was nothing but incredible!! These kids were loving it, and me too
Back a bit.... The ride through Kansas [rough track] was ok with me since I was dead tired and slept the whole way, but when sun came up in Colorado I was nothing short of a little kid with nose pressed to the window, watching the new scenes roll by. I had never taken this route...yes, the CZ, yes the EB but not this. The passes were awesome, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Only one tunnel was a nice thing! On board the train, the SCA was incredible - her name was Maria going out. [ Travis, coming back] It certainly helps to sort of have an idea of what to expect if you've taken a LD train before. A word about the food....the Dining car people were incredible! I'd never encountered any dining companions who were snobs or annoying to the nth degree where I just wanted to finish and leave. Not so this trip. There was a couple who made it clear that they were "special" and extremely wealthy. The waiter didn't come around when they wanted, the beans were cold, blah blah blah.... I wanted to apologize FOR them, to the waiter who was really quite nice and accommodating. Rude people make me mad. For the most part, I discovered some fascinating people I'll probably never again cross paths with, but who cares. For one moment - we were friends, and basically all in the same "boat".
Got to Riverside on time at 6am. Let me rant for a second about the station at Riverside....... It is totally unmanned, which is fine! but the overpass is almost 3 stories tall and though the 'up' elevator worked, the 'down' didn't. My daughter and her husband caught up with me on the way down to grab my luggage...but coming back, it was a challenge going UP! Fix the damn elevator, seriously! If I were handicapped, I'd have been SOL. Not acceptable.
I left Riverside on Saturday night, Dec. 28. The SCA greeted me BY NAME! as the SWC pulled up. I was impressed
Had a good couple of nights in my roomette, watched the stars as we traveled across the desert stuff. Orion's belt! Got back to KCY on time, made my connection to the River Runner, and arrived in St. Louis on time on Monday, Dec. 30. One word about the MRR train..... on the way TO Kcy, there was clearly a case of a smoker in the car that I was in. [i'm a 7 year clean smoker, and I can smell this a mile away!] No Conductor in sight or I would have said something. If I come away with any recommendation it is that Amtrak be more of a policing presence than it was on this route. It not only annoyed me, it made me a bit sick.To add another footnote.....the visit with my daughter and her husband was great! We visited Laguna Beach on Christmas day, I got to see where she teaches at UC/Riverside, and we enjoyed many a good vegan meals here and there. I would like to move out there [this is NOT a sudden decision], and am looking at possibilities for transferring my teaching business that direction. It may be about 3 years before I can comfortably do this, but mark my words - I will end up in that climate, near my daughter, eventually. For the time being, for visits,.... I will take the train.
Amtrak came through 100% for me. I am so fortunate and grateful to have made this journey. Thank you for letting me write all this. I would take this route again in a heartbeat. Love this site, and Love Amtrak! They really do care about their pax.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!
Pianocat, aka Donna
