Thanksgiving 2014 travel - open thread

[mignyc]

I've got a ticket on the first train out of NYP tomorrow to Lancaster, but they're calling for snow in both places and I don't feel optimistic about an easy travel day.

Let's have an open thread to discuss Thanksgiving 2014 travel. Where are YOU going? How was your trip?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

If you have the 1st train out, I suspect you'll get to Lancaster before the rain turns to snow.

No travel plans for me, except to drive to the restaurant where my sisters and I are having our dinner.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

While the Storm will likely shut down or delay air travel and made driving difficult at best, the trains will most likely get through with minimal delay. Of course if ice attacks the Northeast Corridor or other electrified systems all bets are off.

 

[mignyc]

I hope you are right, but they are calling for snow in BOTH NYC at the time when I depart, and in LNC at the time when I arrive. I booked this trip on points so I could theoretically leave today instead, but that would be extremely difficult work-wise.

The only good thing is that the temperature in both places is predicted to be fairly warm.

 

[aviva_dawn]

Leaving on #6 on Thanksgiving Day from RNO to CHI, then changing to #50 in CHI to WAS.

Booked #50 for scenic purposes, and it was a bit cheaper than the CL at the time that I booked.

I'm supposed to arrive shortly after 6pm on Sunday.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I have to work the TCU/UT Game on Thanksgiving Night in Austin so will only drive 20 miles to Elgin to my sisters for a nice Meal before going to work!

Hook 'em Horns and Go Cowboys!!

Hope everyone traveling, however you travel, has a great trip and all of you

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

[mignyc]

Also, on this topic: what's the best way for me to get updated info in the morning about my train status?

 

[Ryan]

I wouldn't worry about the train at all. You can check Amtrak's website, but I wouldn't anticipate any problems, especially that early in the day.

The worst part of the trip is going to the the trip from the train station to your final destination.

Between the weather, and getting tagged to be the last man out of the office tomorrow, I'm going to miss out on my traditional "hang out at the train station and take pictures" on Thanksgiving Eve.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I wouldn't worry about the train at all. You can check Amtrak's website, but I wouldn't anticipate any problems, especially that early in the day.

The worst part of the trip is going to the the trip from the train station to your final destination.

Between the weather, and getting tagged to be the last man out of the office tomorrow, I'm going to miss out on my traditional "hang out at the train station and take pictures" on Thanksgiving Eve.

Haven't you convinced your employer to move to an office building facing tracks yet?

 

[jis]

In this day and age of virtualization, all that you need is a UHD camera, or a number of them strategically positioned and one or more extremely large UHD monitors with a superb sound system. It could be way better than the real thing!

Sent from my iPhone using Amtrak Forum

 

[AmtrakBlue]

In this day and age of virtualization, all that you need is a UHD camera, or a number of them strategically positioned and one or more extremely large UHD monitors with a superb sound system. It could be way better than the real thing!

Sent from my iPhone using Amtrak Forum

After just seeing the menu for our dinner out, I may see if I can facetime with my sisters. Oh, wait, I'm the only one with an iPhone.

The menu is "fancy" (proabably what a lot of AUers would like to see on the trains ) and to get the traditioanl turkey dinner is expensive for what I'll eat (few slices of turkey and mashed potatoes). Maybe I'll skip tradition and get the Filet Mignon (which is less expensive). Most of the sides will be a waste (though, knowing my sisters, they'll help themselves to them).

Maybe I can charge the meal on my AGR CC (and they pay be back). That will certainly make it worthwhile.

 

[Orie]

I don't think you'll encounter many problems. A few inches is nothing like the 70 they got in Buffalo.

 

[mignyc]

I think my concern is related to the volume of travellers tomorrow - the biggest travel day of the year. Any small issue becomes magnified by 4000 or something insane.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I wouldn't worry about the train at all. You can check Amtrak's website, but I wouldn't anticipate any problems, especially that early in the day.

The worst part of the trip is going to the the trip from the train station to your final destination.

Between the weather, and getting tagged to be the last man out of the office tomorrow, I'm going to miss out on my traditional "hang out at the train station and take pictures" on Thanksgiving Eve.

Haven't you convinced your employer to move to an office building facing tracks yet?

There was a thread recently about how apartments and buildings close to rail lines are becoming more desirable and valuable as the trend to urban living accelerates!
I know those buildings they are building everywhere around Union Station and up and down the tracks in Washington in what used to be a less than desirable area are Very Expensive and desirable! Urban Rail is Hot!!

 

[The Journalist]

I'll be on a San Joaquin from Denair (Turlock) to Bakersfield and then an Ambus to Las Vegas on Friday.

 

[Alexandria Nick]

CL to Pittsburgh. Only thing that's got me already grouchy is now I have to take the bus to the Metro. I can walk to the Metro faster than bus gets me there, but not in rain-snow.

 

[aviva_dawn]

Just hoping that the canyon is cleared by Friday, when the #6 that I'm on is supposed to be passing through, so that we don't have a Reroute through Wyoming.

I'm just grateful for the train time....and the more of it, the better.

 

[PRR 60]

Just hoping that the canyon is cleared by Friday, when the #6 that I'm on is supposed to be passing through, so that we don't have a Reroute through Wyoming.

I'm just grateful for the train time....and the more of it, the better.

Union Pacific expected the line to be reopened today.

 

[BCL]

I'm not really going anywhere, but a friend is visiting and taking Amtrak (I mentioned it in another thread on my AGR number being attached).

However, for my commute this morning I saw the longest Capitol Corridor train I've ever seen. I think it might have been something like 8 cars and even two locomotives. Or at least I think that's what the conductor told me.

 

[SarahZ]

We're on the SWC (3/25) right now.

We sat with some new travelers at dinner, so I got to play concierge. They were really happy when I told them dessert was included.

 

[chakk]

Just a short drive to stepson's apartment for his homemade Thanksgiving dinner with him and his girlfriend. Unlikely to see any trains on the journey this year.

 

[the_traveler]

Maybe I can charge the meal on my AGR CC (and they pay be back). That will certainly make it worthwhile.

I'll let you charge my meal to your card - but I won't pay you. :giggle:

I'm "traveling" to visit my sister and her cat's apartment - a whole 100 yards! I hope it's an overnight train!

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

I'm "traveling" to visit my sister and her cat's apartment - a whole 100 yards! I hope it's an overnight train!

I figured you would do a Great Circle routing through Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland and then back through Chicago

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Maybe I can charge the meal on my AGR CC (and they pay be back). That will certainly make it worthwhile.

I'll let you charge my meal to your card - but I won't pay you. :giggle:

I'm "traveling" to visit my sister and her cat's apartment - a whole 100 yards! I hope it's an overnight train!

One of my sisters is treating the rest of us, and she knows about my CC, so she has already put a check in her purse to write out to me to cover the meal that I will be putting on my card. Her paying and my earning points will make it worthwhile (may have to stop at Wawa for a turkey sub on the way home, though. :giggle: )

 

[mignyc]

It was only lightly raining in NYC when we left on the Keystone at 7:30 AM, but outside of Downingtown it began to snow big wet flakes. So far the train appears to be on time, although with the usual holiday caveat that the quiet car is packed full of people not being at all quiet, including a man with four very young children (all under 8) who the conductor allowed to sit directly behind his seat. They are driving everyone nuts, and when the crew changed in Philadelphia, the new conductor helpfully (not) found a seat elsewhere.