I caught #22,the Northbound Eagle in Austin, riding on a Voucher from last year so had Roomete #2.Rolled out on time @ 931AM while enjoying Last call Breakfast in the CCC. Due to trackwork around Tower 55 in FTW today's Eagles would be detoured between DAL and FTW on the TRE Route!Train was fairly full and had usual consist but the Equipment was the Best I've seen on this Route!
The Revenue Sleeper was in immaculate shape and everything worked! The SCA Alfred, a 7 year Vet was outstanding, very friendly and helpful! He used to work the LSL but now has bid onto the Eagle Route And likes it!
He told me that the Ice was now being kept in the Diner or Cafe and he had to go get it as needed!(due to a failed inspection but the crew thinks its part of the nickel and dime cuts!Also the SCAs are only being issued 1 Bag of coffee instead of the usual threecqnd when its gone (before lunch!)that's it!!!! Of course no Cranberry Juice or Newspapers!
The rest of the consist included rebuilt CCC, SSL and Coach which were like new! 2 Old Ratty Coaches were on the back, the markers Coach was dead heading! The Eagles are coming up in the World, we used to get the oldest dogs that Amtrak had!
Lunch was served after Temple, no Special Salad or Soup had been loaded nor Angus Burgers!!!! I had a really good Special Sandwich that was a delicious Brat on Pretzel Bun but Luscious, the friendly LSA told me the rumour is that all "Specials" will be going away and there will be One Standard National Menu! Shades of the hated Simplified Dinning Service! Breakfast and Lunch were served on bare tables with plastic dishes and flatware!
We rolled into FTW 1 hour down, watched the Hour Late #21 pull out heading South! Also the Heartland Flyer consist was on a siding along with a Protect Engine and a Superliner Coach! We stayed about 20 minutes during the Station work, lots of pax got on ( the Sleeper and Transdorm filled up!)
We then rolled out on the TRE route heading for Dallas. Two TRE consists had come and gone during our dwell but we didn't see another one till we got to Dallas! We passed two UP Freights in Sidings on the way to Dallas as we smoked along on the smooth tracks about 60-70(eyeballed, I have no GPS)!
33 minutes later we pulled into Union Station, did station work a d rolled out right on time! I was hoping to be late so I could eat Dinner before LGV without being rushed!
Dinner red started, I took the 5PM.Ordered the Steak with Mashed and a Corn Medley for the Veggie! Skipped the sad looking Amsalad but had Hot rolls that were excellent and the steak proved to be the Best I've had on Amtrack and the sides were outstanding! The steak was small, the LSA told me the chef was Excellent and that as part of the "cuts" that portions would be smaller! We were served on plastic again with a paper table cloth and Lucious had really good soft jazz playing and carnations on the table!(provided by the crew!)I had the good vanilla gelato for desert and finished about 6:20. We rolled into the LGV freight yards @ 6:30 and stopped at the station only 20 minutes down! The tracks are rough between Dallas and LGV and we saw Lots of UP freights and passed a factory that manufacters Oil Tank Cars to be sent to the Hi-Line to delay the EB more! (The place is running 3 shifts and hiring!!!!
De-trained, caught a cab to the Super 8 on the West side to downtown as I watched #22s Markers headed North and East in the twilight headed to Chicago!
The Revenue Sleeper was in immaculate shape and everything worked! The SCA Alfred, a 7 year Vet was outstanding, very friendly and helpful! He used to work the LSL but now has bid onto the Eagle Route And likes it!
He told me that the Ice was now being kept in the Diner or Cafe and he had to go get it as needed!(due to a failed inspection but the crew thinks its part of the nickel and dime cuts!Also the SCAs are only being issued 1 Bag of coffee instead of the usual threecqnd when its gone (before lunch!)that's it!!!! Of course no Cranberry Juice or Newspapers!
The rest of the consist included rebuilt CCC, SSL and Coach which were like new! 2 Old Ratty Coaches were on the back, the markers Coach was dead heading! The Eagles are coming up in the World, we used to get the oldest dogs that Amtrak had!
Lunch was served after Temple, no Special Salad or Soup had been loaded nor Angus Burgers!!!! I had a really good Special Sandwich that was a delicious Brat on Pretzel Bun but Luscious, the friendly LSA told me the rumour is that all "Specials" will be going away and there will be One Standard National Menu! Shades of the hated Simplified Dinning Service! Breakfast and Lunch were served on bare tables with plastic dishes and flatware!
We rolled into FTW 1 hour down, watched the Hour Late #21 pull out heading South! Also the Heartland Flyer consist was on a siding along with a Protect Engine and a Superliner Coach! We stayed about 20 minutes during the Station work, lots of pax got on ( the Sleeper and Transdorm filled up!)
We then rolled out on the TRE route heading for Dallas. Two TRE consists had come and gone during our dwell but we didn't see another one till we got to Dallas! We passed two UP Freights in Sidings on the way to Dallas as we smoked along on the smooth tracks about 60-70(eyeballed, I have no GPS)!
33 minutes later we pulled into Union Station, did station work a d rolled out right on time! I was hoping to be late so I could eat Dinner before LGV without being rushed!
Dinner red started, I took the 5PM.Ordered the Steak with Mashed and a Corn Medley for the Veggie! Skipped the sad looking Amsalad but had Hot rolls that were excellent and the steak proved to be the Best I've had on Amtrack and the sides were outstanding! The steak was small, the LSA told me the chef was Excellent and that as part of the "cuts" that portions would be smaller! We were served on plastic again with a paper table cloth and Lucious had really good soft jazz playing and carnations on the table!(provided by the crew!)I had the good vanilla gelato for desert and finished about 6:20. We rolled into the LGV freight yards @ 6:30 and stopped at the station only 20 minutes down! The tracks are rough between Dallas and LGV and we saw Lots of UP freights and passed a factory that manufacters Oil Tank Cars to be sent to the Hi-Line to delay the EB more! (The place is running 3 shifts and hiring!!!!
De-trained, caught a cab to the Super 8 on the West side to downtown as I watched #22s Markers headed North and East in the twilight headed to Chicago!
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Always nice to have a good crew that cares...
