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A few last minute warnings and reminders


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 05:08 PM

Just a few things that come to mind, particularly for the newbies of the group.
  • Potty breaks - Keep in mind that all of the transit lines we will be riding in the three cities are just that - rapid transit, and as such aren't expected to have rest room facilities. I suggest making sure you take care of things before leaving your hotel room, or at some public location before meeting up with the group. Likewise, do so at our meal stops as ample time has been allowed above and beyond what it should take us to obtain and eat our food. Should the need arise during our travels, if a quick run in-run out is possible, and we won't miss the next train, we can wait a couple of minutes. If you do break off, please let somebody know so we don't leave you behind. Regarding Atlanta, Bill informs me that station rest rooms are very limited and it's probably safer to avoid them -- the exception would be the one at the Airport. And in Chicago, METRA trains may or may not have toilets but they are not the greatest place to be either. Ditto for the station restrooms; use the ones in the Metropolitan Lounge if you can.
  • Weather - Dress appropriately for summer weather. It might be helpful to bring one set of clothes in the event of rain, since we're probably going to try and stick to the schedule anyhow. Bring sunblock as well, since we'll be waiting outdoors without shelter in aome cases for the trains. You might want to bring an umbrella as well, although my past experience shows that if I bring one, it doesn't rain, and if I don't bring one, we have a downpour.

    Bring water to keep yourself hydrated. But remember that drinking it in excess will lead to issues with the first bullet.
  • Timekeeping - I strive to stick as close to our itinerary as possible. However, some of the endpoint stops have been padded. So if an inbound train is waiting when we arrive, we will head right out. This could put us as much as 15-20 minutes ahead of the itinerary. This may snowball further if we do the same thing again. If you plan on joining the group after we meet at the initial meeting location, check with somebody to see where we are and whether we are behind, ahead of, or right on schedule. In general, we try to meet at the specified location, and then walk to the platform of the first train about 10 minutes before its departure. If you don't see the group, head for the proper platform and hopefully you will catch up with us.

    The last thing I want to do is to leave somebody behind (it has happened quite a few times) so make sure you are aware of any last minute changes not reflected on the itinerary you might have saved or printed out. You are certainly welcome to sleep later and join us en route, but please let me know before the meeting time so we don't expect you. And let us know where you will join us, perhaps at an intermediate stop. This is one of the main reasons for the contact listing that was e-mailed to all participants on the list.
  • Walk-on's - On some of our past Fests we have met people who never corresponded with us before, but saw of our activities online and decided to join us. These people are welcome to join us. The guest list can always be amended after the Fest is over. But please do keep in mind our timekeeping as above, so we might be ahead of schedule and you could miss us. Best thing to do would be to join us early at the starting point, or at a meal stop later in the day.
  • Meal stops - Where possible I've allowed about 2 hours in most cases to have lunch before resuming rail activities for the afternoon. If we finish ahead of time, and everyone is ready to hit the rails, we could leave early and do the rest of our activities ahead of the advertised. Lunch in Atlanta and New Orleans will be at mall food courts, while Memphis is still to be played by ear. Lunch in Chicago is dependent on our on-time arrival from the City of New Orleans, but it takes precedence over rail activities if too little time is left for those.

    Dinner has been planned in each city, with sit-down or buffet style restaurants. But this is less of an issue since we don't have any planned train rides after dinner in any of the three cities. How long we spend at dinner is a factor in that those who need to ride trains back to their hotels afterwards may encounter less frequent schedules the later at night it is... certainly moreso post-rush hour. Remember Santee (near San Diego)??
  • Unplanned trips - Impromptu evening trips or moonlight runs have happened on our Fests. We did them in Toronto (2004) and Boston (2007 & 2008), and we rode New Orleans' St. Charles line after dark on our brief stopover on our way to Southern California in 2009. That is totally up to the whims of those who wish to do it, even if not everyone wants to participate. Relaxing in a hotel room after a long day out in the heat may very well be the preferred activity. We might try to do a sunset or moonlight run in Memphis on the Riverfront Line after dinner, as a time killer rather than spending several hours in Central Station before the City of New Orleans departure. We would just ride it 1-1/4 times around the loop and get off at the station on the second pass. Or the third or fourth if you're having a good time! :)


Kevin Korell


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#2 bill haithcoat

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 05:59 PM

About restrooms in Atlanta, they do have them at Five Points. filthy but plenty of traffic . A few rail stations have them but I cannot find a list. Used to have a lot of them. I know for sure H.E. Holmes, the end of the westbound route has one portable restroom, one person at a time, unisex. I think Decatur and also North Springs have them, you have to get them unlocked with a key. And at Perimeter Mall (Dunwoody stop)I can lead us to the restrooms. I myself need them frequently so I can probably help but I could help more if I could find a list. I know for a fact that the rail station nearest me, Arts Center, does not have a restroom but I know how to find one at the adjacent Arts building. And yes, as Kevin said, they are at the airport and they are excellent.

#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 15 July 2011 - 06:19 PM

Important thing is, I don't want anyone having to water the trees, plants, grass, dumpsters, buildings, etc.. (yes we've had more than a few do that). I can't bail anyone out of jail if they are arrested for indecent exposure or public nuisance. Bill's mention of Dunwoody brings up a good idea. If you are desperate, and have the time to do so, you could get off well before the end of the line, hopefully finish what you have to do, and rejoin us as we pass on the return trip. Bill would know better than I do, how far a walk it is between the station and the mall restroom in both directions, and whether you would have enough time to catch up to us. I would assume that besides Dunwoody (Perimeter Mall), the same would hold true for Lenox (Lenox Square) on the other branch.

Edited by KevinKorell, 16 July 2011 - 01:22 AM.


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#4 jis

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Posted 16 July 2011 - 06:17 AM

And then there is the traditional railfan art of track watering, but that could be quite dangerous in third rail territory. :lol:

#5 steve4031

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Posted 16 July 2011 - 08:18 AM

An eletrifying experience to say the least.

#6 GG-1

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Posted 16 July 2011 - 07:09 PM

And then there is the traditional railfan art of track watering, but that could be quite dangerous in third rail territory. :lol:

Don't remember how long ago, but back in High school a kid in my class got hit doing just that. Luckly he did survive though he spent 4 or 5 months in a hospital from the burns. Caused him to miss graduation.

Aloha

Edited by GG-1, 17 July 2011 - 01:21 AM.


#7 jis

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Posted 16 July 2011 - 07:20 PM

Potential candidate for Darwin Award? :unsure:

#8 KevinKorell

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Posted 19 July 2011 - 12:25 AM

One more reminder: As we depart Atlanta on the Crescent on Tuesday morning, set your watches back one hour, as we enter Central Time before the next stop, Anniston, AL. The remainder of the journey will be in the Central time zone, until those headed east from Chicago cross Indiana over next weekend.


Kevin Korell


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