Hopped in the car and drove I-10.
I did. I just wanted to point out that a lot of podunk towns end up having the train pass through a really odd hours.Apparently in your enthusiasm to respond you did not carefully read what I said.....
I think Virgil Tibbs said the exact same thing.
1. Yeah, TSA is a PITA
Agree with it being relative. Can't say the food is 5-star but I have never had a bad meal on Amtrak. Don't do brussel sprouts or any of the foofoo food. I'll inhale a filet any day/anytime. Since the CZ passes my window the scenery ain't bad at least westbound.
I found some menus from the old CZ online and they did have hamburgers a lunch but since we traveled from Chicago to Omaha on the CZ, I just got dinner. That was a classier sort of meal. We'd sneak up to the dome car when the train crossed the Mississippi for the view but the rest of the way was coach. I do distinctly remember the radiotelephone in the observation car. I always wanted to call someone, anyone, on that phone. Never understood why Dad wouldn't pay for it.
I always wanted to send a Telegram when riding on the Famous Trains when I was a Boy, but didnt have the Dollar it cost!I found some menus from the old CZ online and they did have hamburgers a lunch but since we traveled from Chicago to Omaha on the CZ, I just got dinner. That was a classier sort of meal. We'd sneak up to the dome car when the train crossed the Mississippi for the view but the rest of the way was coach. I do distinctly remember the radiotelephone in the observation car. I always wanted to call someone, anyone, on that phone. Never understood why Dad wouldn't pay for it.
RadRadiotelephone in the observation car?I found some menus from the old CZ online and they did have hamburgers a lunch but since we traveled from Chicago to Omaha on the CZ, I just got dinner. That was a classier sort of meal. We'd sneak up to the dome car when the train crossed the Mississippi for the view but the rest of the way was coach. I do distinctly remember the radiotelephone in the observation car. I always wanted to call someone, anyone, on that phone. Never understood why Dad wouldn't pay for it.
Give me some slack here; I was at most nine years old.......Radiotelephone in the observation car?
I remember some trains having that (such as the Afternoon Congressional, and the seasonal Florida Special, but not the CZ...
Some trains had a land-line phone in their obs car plugged in at the terminal, until departure...
I was told it was a radiotelephone. My Dad's objection to using it was the cost, not that it only worked when stopped in stations.Nine years old and already a slacker.
If this is real then I think you win the battle Jim. The closest I ever came to this sort of thing were the $7 per minute "Airfones" on some aircraft. Supposedly there were some long range intercontinental aircraft equipped for sending and receiving facsimiles in flight, but I never had the chance to see any in use and when I asked how it worked nobody knew.I always wanted to send a Telegram when riding on the Famous Trains when I was a Boy, but didnt have the Dollar it cost!
Same for me when I started Flying regularly Chris.Nine years old and already a slacker.
If this is real then I think you win the battle Jim. The closest I ever came to this sort of thing were the $7 per minute "Airfones" on some aircraft. Supposedly there were some long range intercontinental aircraft equipped for sending and receiving facsimiles in flight, but I never had the chance to see any in use and when I asked how it worked nobody knew.
I made 2 calls from Amtrak when they had the phonebooths installed. I can't remember what train or where I was heading. A quick call home and to the office cost like $15.00. Did it for the novelty. I didn't bring my heavy big battery corded handset cellphone on the trip.I found some menus from the old CZ online and they did have hamburgers a lunch but since we traveled from Chicago to Omaha on the CZ, I just got dinner. That was a classier sort of meal. We'd sneak up to the dome car when the train crossed the Mississippi for the view but the rest of the way was coach. I do distinctly remember the radiotelephone in the observation car. I always wanted to call someone, anyone, on that phone. Never understood why Dad wouldn't pay for it.
), but when my niece turned thirteen I decided that for her birthday we'd dress up and I'd take her to a really nice restaurant. I remember her looking at the menu, then asking, "What is fill-it mig-nan?" The first thing which ran through my mind was, "You're not getting out of here for less than eighty bucks...."
The "Metroliners" had little pay phone booths in them, and definitely did not have to be in a station. That was a selling point. That and their "astounding" speed, which as I pointed out here http://hnn.us/blog/143567 was not as fast as the City of New Orleans and/or Magnolia Star on the Illinois Central pre-Amtrak.
I do remember it was a low-level car. And most likely in the NEC to/from BOS. But I don't remember riding a "Metroliner" but have done "Amfleet" on the LSL from CHI to BOS and once BOS-NYC to catch the LSL out of NYP back to CHI. Connecting there to the CONO to FTN. Glad I did since Boston (North Shore area) was slammed with a major blizzard about 2 hours after I left. Family couldn't get out of the house for four days.
It must of been the Club or Cafe Amfleet version. It was a credit card version. Also, it was in the "cellular" era. I did use a radiotelephone (with rotary) in a co-workers van several year earlier. And look at us know!
