Jump to content


Photo

MTRF/Meeting places


1 reply to this topic

#1 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 09 July 2017 - 11:47 PM

As we draw closer to the July 15th start date of our travels together, it is important to know where we will meet each day or reassemble within the same day after we split up. Let's go through each day and review the activities and where it will be best to meet.

Saturday, July 15: People are coming into Chicago (or starting out from there) from many different directions. We will of course meet in the Metropolitan Lounge, and maybe some can go to lunch as time allows before the departure of the Southwest Chief.

Sunday, July 16:   Since we will be starting from Kansas City Union Station approximately 10 AM, we need to meet before then at the streetcar stop adjacent to the building.   For some, it probably means an "unofficial" ride first, to get there from the stop closest to your hotel.  We may break up for lunch, but we should again meet at Union Station, this time inside the building, in advance of our Missouri River Runner departure. We will determine time and location within the station after we arrive in Kansas City.

Monday, July 17:   In St. Louis, with almost all of us staying at the same hotel, we can walk together to the nearest Metrolink station to begin our light rail riding.  Since we start travel at 10:36 AM, I suggest starting to walk together from the hotel around 10 AM, as we probably will all need to buy Day Passes to ride. Those not staying there can meet us en route or at the Metrolink station.

Tuesday, July 18:  Arrival in Dallas...whenever the Texas Eagle shows up. Some are meeting us in Dallas, and will no doubt keep track of our progress.  What we do after arrival is dependent on when we get there.  Leave this one as To Be Determined.  If late enough we may wish to store luggage at hotels or check-in, or even have dinner first and then ride DART light rail afterwards.

Wednesday, July 19:  Full day in Dallas.  We start with the westbound Orange Line in the morning.  I think given the various hotel locations, this could be a "rolling meet", in other words we board the same Orange Line train at locations nearest to where we are staying. Based on the known hotel locations on the contact list, I will amend the itinerary to include multiple departure points. The Pearl/Arts District start point was just a place holder at one end of downtown until the hotel choices were all known. We can contact one another by texting to ensure we are on the correct vehicle.

Thursday, July 20:  Again with the diverse hotel locations, another "rolling meet" might be best here. But we are starting out on the Green Line in a totally opposite direction (east), so those who boarded last on Wednesday would board first on Thursday, and vice versa.

Assuming too that we may split up in the Bishop Arts District at lunchtime, we can agree on a time and meet at the same streetcar station where we arrived.  I suggest however that if we have all enjoyed our lunch, that we get ourselves back to Union Station as soon as possible (and given that the Dallas Streetcar's reliability has not been perfect).  Some may have left luggage at hotels and wish to retrieve it before getting back to Union Station for our departure on the Texas Eagle. Again where we reconvene in Union Station in advance of boarding that train will be determined after we get to Dallas.

Friday, July 21:  We get to Chicago when we get to Chicago.  No group activities in town are planned due to uncertainty of the arrival time.  Some may be headed directly out on eastbound Amtrak trains, while others will be able to check-in at hotels.

 

Saturday, July 22:  For our last Fest activity, the Metra UP-NW Line to Harvard, we can meet on the 2nd Level (track level) of the Ogilvie Transportation Center/500 West Madison (formerly CitiGroup Tower) complex.  Since the train leaves at 8:30 AM and we will want to stake out good seats, I suggest getting there around 8:00 and promptly purchasing your tickets (or you can get the ticket including the Weekend Pass on Friday after we arrive at Union Station). We will move towards boarding the train once the track is announced.  When the round trip is complete, so is the Fest. Lunch to be determined, and then we head our separate ways.



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#2 jis

jis

    Member

  • Global Moderator
  • PipPip
  • 1753 posts

Posted 10 July 2017 - 08:53 AM

On Saturday (7/15), since I am arriving into ORD at 8:15am with no checked baggage, I should be in Union Station latest by 11am, and perhaps  earlier than that.





Reply to this topic



  


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users