Life-total Train Miles

[travelingengineer]

To complement the associated thread re: trains on which we rode, may I respectfully start this thread on how many MILES each of us may have accomplished thereby. My life-total is quite modest compared to that of most of you guys, so am sort of embarrassed. But, I'd sure like to know of the magnitude of your life-totals. Thanks in advance.

[Deggesty]

I have at last been able to correct the list of my rail miles, and I have broken the list down into several categories.

First, let me say that this covers travel from 1938 through 2011. I must admit that I did not like the beginning of my first trip (I was just a little past two years old); my mother told me that I screamed from Plant City, Fla. to Lakeland. Also, I took more trips until I married, in 1972, than I did after marrying. My wife convinced me that we should travel in sleepers wherever possible (we have spent only one night coach; I obviously have spent many nights in coaches).

Total miles: 271,958 Total coach: 123,932 miles Total First Class: 144,977 Total Business class:3049

Pre-Amtrak: Total: 102,715 Coach: 79,893 (this includes 98 miles on freights: 13 miles on woodracks, 44 in gondolas, and 41 on the engine) First Class: 22,822

Amtrak: Total: 169,243 Coach: 44,039 First Class: 122,155 Business: 3049

Some of the miles traveled after the advent of Amtrak were on the Southern (before 1979), the Rock Island, SP San Francisco-San Jose, RG (before 1983) SEPTA, MBTA, MetroNorth, Metra, Long Island, and VIA.

I still have some Amtrak and VIA routes to cover, and I hope to ride them in the near future.

Mark, eat your heart out.

I'll never match Mr. Frimbo.

[travelingengineer]

Ve-r-r-ry impressive, "Deggesty!" I hadn't thought of dividing my miles up as you have, such as "Total coach," "Total First Class," and "Total Business class," though nearly all of my (modest) miles are in First Class (i.e. now Amtrak Sleeping Cars). Wow, you've sure been "ridin' the rails."