NW cannonball
Conductor
Arrived DCA by air about 11:00 - rode Metro (use http://www.wmata.com...r_form_solo.cfm ) to Washington Union Station.
A fairly long walk to the Metro from where plane arrived.
Even at midday the Metro cars got crowded at times. If I'd had more luggage it would have been a problem. Changed Metro trains once, got to Union Station in about a half hour.
Checked in at the "Club Acela" about noon.
Found an Indian food place on the lower level food court -- spent about $10 on more curry and chicken than I could eat -- but really tasty -- even the lentil dumplings -- there's lots more places to eat at WAS.
Silver Star arrived on time - so about 2:40 the Club Acela staff called us Star sleeper passengers and led us by backstage ways to the train ( scheduled departure is 3 PM)
Boarded the Silver Star - when we arrived the train had an electric locomotive but that was swapped out while we sleeper compartment people were settling in .
On Board Staff - Jim -- got us all settled in and took dinner reservations. (I was travelling alone in a Viewliner roomette)
Dinner in the diner -- the "Maryland Crab Cakes" really Crab cakes -- I mean - really tasted like crab - not some mild crab-tasting protein substitute -- I loved the crab cakes -- but I can imagine that some people might complain that not bland enough. Well - it's all personal taste.
When the cook came out from his tiny cooking space in that ancient Heritage Diner I gave him hi 5 and thank you man
I took the early dinner because I needed to catch up on sleep before JAX.
Almost fell asleep -- the tracks south from Richmond have some sway in them -- and then did fall asleep.
Woke a half hour out of JAX - Jim woke me but I was almost awake already -- somewhere south of Savannah the tracks get really good and the train speeds up.
Detrained at JAX station - a clean and pleasant place that services 6 trains/day.
Unlike almost all fellow passengers I used local bus transit. Which is very good - espesciailly if you get the one or three day pass. The buses are on an hourly schedule but you can't beat the price.
Took the bus to the hotel on the North side of the River Downtown -- the whole North side is government and corporate offices - weekends there's nobody there except at the big party place on the north shore waterfront.
Which place had really good sushi and a fine local band playing.
Unfortunately the Jacksonville sky train doesn't run weekends.
Next morning after a one night stay caught the first city transit bus at Market and Forsyth at 04:50 to the Navy base - got real wet - and was the only person checking out of the hotel at that time --
But what I did and where in the heavy rain at the Navy base is another story .
Silver Star -- real good - on time or earlier -- good on board staff.
Got where I needed to go on time and under budget.
Thanks all staff Silver Star.
Edit --
All along the way there were fallen trees that had been cut off to clear the line -- makes it very clear that the storm problems earlier this summer were really a severe problem
and edit again -- the Dining and Lounge crew were also good, as was Jim the SCA
A fairly long walk to the Metro from where plane arrived.
Even at midday the Metro cars got crowded at times. If I'd had more luggage it would have been a problem. Changed Metro trains once, got to Union Station in about a half hour.
Checked in at the "Club Acela" about noon.
Found an Indian food place on the lower level food court -- spent about $10 on more curry and chicken than I could eat -- but really tasty -- even the lentil dumplings -- there's lots more places to eat at WAS.
Silver Star arrived on time - so about 2:40 the Club Acela staff called us Star sleeper passengers and led us by backstage ways to the train ( scheduled departure is 3 PM)
Boarded the Silver Star - when we arrived the train had an electric locomotive but that was swapped out while we sleeper compartment people were settling in .
On Board Staff - Jim -- got us all settled in and took dinner reservations. (I was travelling alone in a Viewliner roomette)
Dinner in the diner -- the "Maryland Crab Cakes" really Crab cakes -- I mean - really tasted like crab - not some mild crab-tasting protein substitute -- I loved the crab cakes -- but I can imagine that some people might complain that not bland enough. Well - it's all personal taste.
When the cook came out from his tiny cooking space in that ancient Heritage Diner I gave him hi 5 and thank you man
I took the early dinner because I needed to catch up on sleep before JAX.
Almost fell asleep -- the tracks south from Richmond have some sway in them -- and then did fall asleep.
Woke a half hour out of JAX - Jim woke me but I was almost awake already -- somewhere south of Savannah the tracks get really good and the train speeds up.
Detrained at JAX station - a clean and pleasant place that services 6 trains/day.
Unlike almost all fellow passengers I used local bus transit. Which is very good - espesciailly if you get the one or three day pass. The buses are on an hourly schedule but you can't beat the price.
Took the bus to the hotel on the North side of the River Downtown -- the whole North side is government and corporate offices - weekends there's nobody there except at the big party place on the north shore waterfront.
Which place had really good sushi and a fine local band playing.
Unfortunately the Jacksonville sky train doesn't run weekends.
Next morning after a one night stay caught the first city transit bus at Market and Forsyth at 04:50 to the Navy base - got real wet - and was the only person checking out of the hotel at that time --
But what I did and where in the heavy rain at the Navy base is another story .
Silver Star -- real good - on time or earlier -- good on board staff.
Got where I needed to go on time and under budget.
Thanks all staff Silver Star.
Edit --
All along the way there were fallen trees that had been cut off to clear the line -- makes it very clear that the storm problems earlier this summer were really a severe problem
and edit again -- the Dining and Lounge crew were also good, as was Jim the SCA
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