Also in the same issue of the Boston Globe as the article in the thread on America's freight lines:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2015/11/29/nostalgia-coupled-reality-transcontinental-train/KQ51nQY58E4uqQ33WY60YI/story.html
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Good article.
I took the train this past summer to go from Little Rock, AR, to Washington, DC.
I could have flown (which after 9/11 and years of penny-pinching by the airlines has totally lost its glamour appeal), I could have driven (been there, done that - Tennessee is a looooong state and I-81 in Virginia is a disaster waiting to happen much of the time, plus, I didn't want to look and feel worn out when I got to DC).
So I took the train. Little Rock - Chicago - Washington, DC. Relaxing travel. Roomy seats (yes, I did coach), lots of space to work. Nice, changing scenery.
Once business was done in DC, it was a short train ride up to the New York area to visit some friends there. Then an overnight on the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago and a few days visiting a friend there, before taking the train home.
If I had driven, I wouldn't have done a "grand tour", if I had flown, it would have been a roundtrip to DC only. The train allowed me an easy way to connect with friends in several places and I had lots of productive time while on the train. Doesn't get much better than that.
But take a train from coast to coast, and the perils of an ill-informed nostalgia about the grandeur of rail travel are quickly apparent. America is a vast country, and trains take a long time to traverse it, especially since long-haul trains average just under 50 miles per hour. The trip from Boston to Portland, Ore., takes more than three days. And while service has improved in the past few years, Amtrak still has reliability issues. The train I rode out of South Station made it to Pittsfield before it broke down. Standing outside the carriage in a light drizzle, attendant Dave Huggins is reassuring, “Don’t worry, we’re part of the connecting train in Albany, so they can’t leave without us.” Delays on passenger rail can easily cascade. Soon enough we’re on the way again through upstate New York and towards the country’s midwest rail hub in Chicago. It’s an overnight leg of the journey, which sounds romantic, but while the sleeping cars are nicely appointed and there’s Wi-Fi, trains constantly pitch and roll. Even more so on the upper level of a two-story car.
Much of Amtrak’s ridership are the retired set, which means that walking the length of a speeding train can be a bit tricky.
Quoting Schlimm: "Much of Amtrak’s ridership are the retired set, which means that walking the length of a speeding train can be a bit tricky."
Yes. The last two or three trips my wife and I took when she was still able to walk, she spoke of the uncertainty of passing the stairwell in Superliner cars. I do want to travel by train again, and I am now uncertain about traversing that area.
Johnny
I have had one real concern about roll--this spring, as we went into Denver on the Beltline (after detouring across Wyoming), it seemed to me that the track needed surfacing badly, badly--we were creeping along and rolling more than I had ever known a train to roll. I did not remember such movement last a trip last year when I was coming home and the same routing was used.
Deggesty I have had one real concern about roll--this spring, as we went into Denver on the Beltline (after detouring across Wyoming), it seemed to me that the track needed surfacing badly, badly--we were creeping along and rolling more than I had ever known a train to roll. I did not remember such movement last a trip last year when I was coming home and the same routing was used.
I suspect 'Spring' most likely also means 'thaw'. Thawing of frozen ground under 286K pound loads can create a number of alignment problems.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
schlimm But take a train from coast to coast, and the perils of an ill-informed nostalgia about the grandeur of rail travel are quickly apparent.... Much of Atrak’s ridership are the retired set, which means that walking the length of a speeding train can be a bit tricky.
But take a train from coast to coast, and the perils of an ill-informed nostalgia about the grandeur of rail travel are quickly apparent....
Much of Atrak’s ridership are the retired set, which means that walking the length of a speeding train can be a bit tricky.
Most people taking the train already know it is not the fastest mode. They take it so they can enjoy the scenery or the space to move about the car(s). It's also easier/safer to eat on a train than it is in an automobile. (staring at the taillights ahead of me for hours in an artificial concrete 'canyon' isn't my idea of fun. Rubber-necking is fraught with dangers these days, if there is anything to see) Just how fast can you drive between Boston and Portland?
Ever watch an elderly person crawl down the aisle of an aircraft in light chop? A little rocking in a top-heavy passenger car is a walk in the park in comparison.
The sky is not falling. I will agree it isn't as blue as it used to be.
schlimm Much of Amtrak’s ridership are the retired set, which means that walking the length of a speeding train can be a bit tricky.
"Much" is of course subject to definition.
Based on riding across half the country on Amtrak LD trains (and a NEC Regional) this past summer, I saw train cars (coach class, lounge and diner) filled with people of all ages. Parents with young children, teens, college students, young adults, and, yes, some retired folks. But in no way were the retired folks in majority or even close to. (Caveat: I didn't inspect the sleepers, so maybe it's all retired folks hiding in there.)
That said, walking in a moving train (speeding sounds like it belongs in some Hollywood epic about a runaway train full of hapless passengers), can occasionally get a little interesting if there's significant rocking motion. But it doesn't seem that it's any worse than walking in a plane that is having a less than perfectly smooth flight (of course, they'll tell you to sit down and fasten the seatbelt then). I'm not even going to talk about trying to walk on a moving bus, which can be dangerous for any age.
But back to the ridership on Amtrak: I was thrilled to encounter a fabulous mixture of all ages.
Dinner in a dining car half-filled with girl scouts on their way home from a chaperoned tour of the Windy City was a lively experience. Not bad, just great to see them enjoying the trip.
And the little kids all bunked out in their seats across the aisle from me from Chicago to Washington were adorable. So happy to get to sleep on and ride a train! And I think their mom was thrilled to not have to drag them on and off planes and such.
Summer gets more families on LD trains. Try riding in the winter (not Christmas time).
schlimm Summer gets more families on LD trains. Try riding in the winter (not Christmas time).
If February qualifies as winter, looks like I will be doing some LD rides then. I'm looking forward to seeing what the passenger age mix will be then.
CJtrainguy I'm looking forward to seeing what the passenger age mix will be then.
Our platform is adjacent to Amtrak's. I haven't done an age survey, but I would offer that the travellers are a mix of ages. Oftimes they are travelling alone.
Many of the riders in and out of Utica are to/from NYC. Not commuters, but headed to/from the city nonetheless.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
ChessieCat123, you are right, sometimes slow is good. You know, one thing I learned somewhere in my 76 years is that "getting there is half the fun" and that applies to many wonderful aspect of living! I have put on a lot of Amtrak miles, from the crazy piano lounge car on the restored Montrealer to Acela and I have always enjoyed meeting a variety of people of all ages: little kids in the dining car are especially fun and learning the best portions of a wild salmon from an Alaskian fisherman who was also a "groupie" for a band from the small town where we live while traveling on the Coast Starlight was a hoot. A four hour serious talk over breakfast on the City of New Orleans (when it had a dining car) with G.W.B's dentist, a political exile from Zimbabwe, and a retired Navy mechanic was terribly enlightening. Tomorrow, when I travel on the Lake Shore to Chicago and California Zephyer to Denver, I am certain to have even more interesting moments in my life which just do not occurr on most other (save ships) means of getting from here to there. Over the years, I did use commerical air a lot and occassionaly did meet up with interesting folks but there are few things in life which are more fun for me than looking out the window of a train and soaking in all the wonders of this large, diverse and wonderful country and then rolling over and going back to sleep!
Since the author of the article was riding in a sleeper on an LD train, I suspect the age mix he describes is older in the sleeper car and younger in coach.
Johnny, the Super Liner cars on the top deck are a real thrill . The down stair well is a real menace., the way it curves in the narrow hallway. the other cheap thrill is , half dozing ~ looking out the window during a rain storm, then a train passes by going by in the other direction~~ whoosh!! ,what a thrill. However that part of the fun of train travel going from Az. to Chi town is not soon forgotten.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
The stairway in a Superliner can be a challenge for those who aren't used to it, but it is designed so that injuries are rare. The area is narrow, so the wall can provide an additional point of contact to help stabilize you. The stairway spirals down in three distinct straight segments, so that a person who falls isn't likely to fall the full length of the stairway. There are sturdy handrails on both sides, from top to bottom. Serious falls are a rarity, in my experience.
I used to tell passengers to think like a dancer, and use the motion of the train as your music. Keep feet at least as far apart as your shoulders, and keep at least one hand free to steady yourself by holding onto nearby seatbacks, tables, etc.
The apprehension is generally worse than the reality.
Tom
Tom, it may be that all of the Superliner cars on Autotrain have handrails on both sides of the stairwell--but even on my last two trips I had to go up and down with a handrail on just one side.
Johnny ---
If that's the case, it's news to me and I'm sorry to hear it. All the Superliners I ever worked were Superliner II's. Maybe the Superliner I's aren't so well equipped.
we travel often from Michigan to the west coast and find train comfort excellent, food very good and on board staff very helpful. We have used all three western trains and all were good. The Coast Starlight is one notch above them all. We always take a bedroom and most of the times travel on the Amtrak Rewards Program - good program.
Time is not always a key factor on long distance trains. Many older and younger ride them for short or medium hauls, many don't ride them end point to end point, ie NYC to buffola, cle or tol or any station combo, simply because of the lack of other travel options.
Those going the whole route or coast to coast, can't imagine time factoring in unless its comparing Amtrak to greyhound.
Any one know how long it takes to go NYC to LA on a bus?
I used to ride LD Amtrak because I got so tired of flying every week point to point as a traveling consultant that when I took vacation it was on a LD Amtrak train just because I was so sick and tired of the hassle of flying. The really nice thing was I could convert my airline FF miles into Amtrak Guest Rewards so the Amtrak LD trip with sleeper was deeply discounted or free. A lot of airlines that used to sponsor that type of miles conversion has disappeared and I think we are down to just United Airlines that does it now.
I even have the TSA skip our security pass deal with the airlines where I don't have to take any articles of clothing off and can just walk through. Cost $100 for 5 years and I had to sit through a 10-15 TSA interrogation but it was well worth it. Plus I can skip a large part of the hassle internationally as well. Even still with that......hassle to fly with long wait times and lots of rude people.
I think this marks the first year I have not taken the Texas Eagle RT twice between Dallas and Milwaukee. Favorite westbound train due to it's speed is definitely the Southwest Chief.
I have taken numerous cross country Amtrak trips. once in August. don't do that! screaming kids running through the Superliner lounge car! best time is Feb.-Mar., when it is still Winter. leaves haven't sprouted yet, so you see a lot more of the scenery that is otherwise obscured by trees in Summer. the eastbound Cardinal is especially scenic in Feb. lots of snow/ice on the bare trees and the River. crossing Montana/North Dakota in Jan. (Empire Builder) is quite an eye opener to this Florida boy!
dmikeeDon't try this without first securing a bedroom (not a compartment). Your aching back and neck from having to sit up nights in coach will thank you. Also remember, the entire trip is not scenic - night falls and you can only see grade crossings and the occasional coyote out west.
lots of interesting comments. I'm someone who has seen both kinds of train travel, the old days when trains were run by the host railroads. Some were better than others and traveling on Dad's pass made for some poor connections and long layovers, but the train experience made up for that. We always took coach but when I traveled with friends after I got too old for the pass-over 18- we did a tour on the original CZ and also a Pullman bedroom to CA on another trip. Got to ride on the all Pullman UP City of Los Angeles, which was a memorable experience. But I have enjoyed all of my Amtrak trips very much. Did ride the Builder, Starlight and SW Chief.
As to walking on the trains, learned at an early age to sorta bounce with the motion of the train and walk a little faster when they are moving faster and rarely ever stumble. I pace myself with the trains and bouncing but always keep a hand near the seat backs for the unexpected curve or sudden stop. I always walk on any trains I ride to keep remembering how to do the "train walk".
Haven't flown for years and have no desire to do it, with all the hassles of TSA and crowds. I know that the security is essential and necessary but have heard many complaints about how it's handled. Years ago, we had the xray of bags and carry-ons and walking thru the detector, even wanding at times, but things have happened to make it necessary to be more strict, which is sad.
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