20 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Use this thread to discuss trips home from the Fest -- any travel after the group arrives in Chicago on July 19th.

[BillMagee]

Getting home from the Fest: 1 of 2 The poor, bedraggled Zephyr of 7/12 lumbered into Grand Junction just a hair before 9:30pm (due just before 4pm). I was sorry to leave the group, but was very happy to end my Zephyr trip at a sort of reasonable time. Grand Junction is DEAD at 9:30pm on a Sunday night - as in Twilight Zone dead. There are two cab companies in town, and I had called both. One was committed to transport the off-duty train crew in two cabs, and one sort of said they might be able to come down to the station, maybe. Sure enough, the first company had two cabs waiting, and they filled with the crew. They promised to come back for me. When they left, it was just me and two other men, and the area was desolate. It was not real comfortable there. I was very happy to see the other company show up. I shared the cab with the other two guys (and called off the first company). As we were driving away from the station, I was surprised to see the Zephyr still sitting there for it's "ten minute stop." By 10pm I was at my hotel, settled in, and enjoying a real bed with no bumps or rattles. Monday's trip home was more or less routine. The hotel was right at the airport, so I just walked over for my 7:45am flight. The flight from Grand Junction to Denver was in a small regional jet (EMB145) and took just 40 minutes from runway to runway (50 gate to gate). The Denver to Philadelphia flight was held about 30 minutes due to weather-related ATC issues in the Northeast, but we still got in only a little late. I was home and in the door by 4:45pm. As a gesture to the passengers due to the late departure, the captain of the DEN-PHL turned on DirecTV (seat back monitors) for the entire plane at no charge. Gee, after that Zephyr ride, 30 minutes did not seem all that late to me. Well that's it for my first of two times getting to and from the Rockies RailFest. Stay tuned for part two.

[amtrakwolverine]

After the group got off in denver I stayed on to CHI. The train lost some time in Nebraska and Iowa due to slow orders by bnsf due to track work and also we set off a hotbox detector and that took 40 minutes for the crew to inspect each axle. Then outside of gailsberg someone moved the crossing arm into the path of the train and we hit it head on and the arm went under the engine and loosened the air hose connection causing use to loose air. luckily it was fixed and didn´t do any real damage. Arrived into Chicago at 6:20PM. Here at the chicago guest hostel and tomorrow will head out on lincoln service towards stl. I got lucky and that my trains are not affected on the 19th and 20th by bustitution.

[KevinKorell]

With the main Fest officially over with our arrival back into Chicago, many are now awaiting their connections eastward. We'll surely hear about their adventures here. I'll remain in the Chicago area a few more days, doing short trips on Amtrak and Metra before taking the Cardinal eastbound on Tuesday night.

[pennyk]

There are 4 of us on the Capitol Limited making our way home to CLE and to Florida. Two of us ate dinner at the first seating and shared a table with a woman who is the administrator of a Facebook train group. We had very interesting conversations. The other two ate at the last seating. So far, I am pleased with my room in a nicely refurbished Superliner I. I was disappointed when I was informed that if the train is on time, there will be no lunch - only breakfast. In the past, an early lunch had been offered. I would like to publicly thank Kevin for an extremely well planned and smoothly executed fest. (I think I will text him and thank him again and tell him what I had for dessert - LOL)

[amtrakwolverine]

Sitting here.in Chicago waiting to board wolverine 358 after coming back from a side trip to stl.dispite the notice that trains may be 45 to a hour late we were only 3 minutes late into stl dispite a failed signal and a switch that wouldn't respond to dispatch and had to thrown manually. Like wise returning. Only 10 minutes late into chi.

[KevinKorell]

We still have two travelers awaiting Amtrak 97 to Florida. Guess I will be bringing up the rear with Fest travel as I'll be on Tuesday's Cardinal but won't be getting home until Thursday since I planned myself a stopover in the Washington area.

[BillMagee]

Getting home from the Fest: 2 of 2 We said goodbye to the Fest on Friday afternoon in Denver. Had dinner at the Denver Chop House and Brewery, in the former Union Pacific building. Very, very nice dinner, even though our daughter was disappointed to hear I had wine and not a craft brew. The next morning, we left our hotel at about 8:30 and headed to Denver International. We killed some time in the American Airlines lounge (US Airways) where there was a large photo of Union Station the men's room - kind of amusing. Then, we headed home on US 1751 to Philadelphia. US gave us upgrades (makes those mileage runs worthwhile), so we enjoyed a nice fight east in First with lunch and some adult beverages. We left on-time, got in about 10 minutes early, and walked in our door at about 5pm. Eight days: one Amtrak ride for 1311 miles and six flight for 7464 miles. It was fun! Thanks to Kevin for a great plan (once again), and the to group for a giving Marie and me such a nice time.

[pennyk]

I am one of the two travelers on 97. We boarded in WAS and left 30 minutes late. Although I have been on this train only a short period of time so far, it was been interesting. After I boarded the train and was waiting for the engine change and dinner, I was sitting in my bedroom with the door open just hanging out. I could overhear a conversation between my sleeper attendant and a passenger. The passenger and his wife/companion had several large suitcases which would not fit in a viewliner roomette. A conversation/argument ensued and the passenger was told he could check his luggage to Miami. Apparently that was not good enough for him. He wanted a bigger room. The train was full, and there were no more bedrooms. I think he had his eye on my room. He stood outside my door and asked me if I liked my room. I said yes. After leaving his luggage in the hallway, much to the dismay of the other attendants who were trying to walk through the hall, he agreed to check the luggage. He did complain that the a/c was off after the attendant exp!ained the engine change process. Dick and I were seated at dinner with a couple who were on 92 the day it struck an auto that went around the crossbars. That was their very first Amtrak trip. They were 8 hours late and seemed to be very good sports. Apparently, while I was eating dinner, a passenger got sick and vomited in the hallway from the dining car to her room. The same attendant cleaned that mess up. He was telling me this while we were outside during the fresh air stop in Richmond. He was apologizing to me because he had not been by to see me and show me where things were located. Then, in Richmond, 2 police officers escorted a passenger from the train. I do not know any details. It has been a busy night on 97.

Edited by pennyk, 20 July 2014 - 10:26 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Apparently, while I was eating dinner, a passenger got sick and vomited in the hallway from the dining car to her room.

I wonder if this is the same passenger who fouled Jishnu's original roomette in Denver. I think that was the reason for the bad-ordering of the room.