Last trip on a passenger train?

[mcouvillion]

In 1991 I convinced my wife to travel with me on the UP passenger train pulled by 3985 from Houston to San Antonio following the Republican National Convention. Thank goodness I was not able to get dome car seats - those folks were dying to get in the cooler sections of the cars, out of the summer heat! We were in the City of Salina, and I actually spent much of the trip hanging out of the vestibule doors with my video camera. I got shots from both sides going around curves, at speed, stopped, blowing off the boiler (I bet they ruined the produce in the refrigerated freight car they unloaded the hot condensate on. It ran for 5 minutes!) I ended up with a personal videotape of 2 full hours of 3985 coming to Houston, on display in Houston, and running to San Antonio. When we got to our hotel, I had to wash my hair 3 times to get all of the oil soot out. I had never before seen black shampoo suds hit the bottom of the tub! What a great time!

Mark C.

[railroadyoshi]

After a long time without riding on a train, i will finally ride the commuter train (MBTA-South Acton/Ficthburg line) to Boston for my course at MOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My mom wont let me go alone though, because they have taken out the footbridge over Storrow Drive/McGrath-Obrien Highway

For Bostonians, anyone know when the new Green Line is going to be in service from N Station to Lechemere?

[orsonroy]

Sometime in March, on Metra from Elgin to Chicago and back.

Two weekends ago at IRM, on the North Shore set and on a caboose train pulled by some ***ed ugly diesel...

It's been since 1991 since I rode on Amtrak.

[Anonymous]

I rode Via's Canadian from Edmonton to Winnipeg just over a week ago on July 3 and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's a fantastic trip and is everything a passenger train should be. It was 17 hours late because of a CN frieght that derailed in BC, but I'm actually glad that it was late, as much more of my journey was in the daytime then.

[espeefoamer]

Yesterday I went from Fullerton to San Diego to ride the new trolley extension between San Diego Mission and Grossmont Center.This line runs under SDSU with a station there.Saw an "astronomical event[}:)] [8D]" while passing the Mugs Away Saloon on the way[:D]. It was their annual Moon Amtrak day.

[GN-Rick]

I last took the Empire Builder from Everett,Wa to Havre, Mt, in 2003 to
the GNRHS convention there (and return). It was great. Comfortable
and with scenery that you don't get from a plane, car or anything else.
I will be taking the Builder this Friday to this year's GNRHS convention
in Fergus Falls, Mn. I'd do it any chance I get..[:D]

[Anonymous]

Went from Vancouver B.C. to Seattle. The trip followed the coast and we observed a beautiful sunset over the water. Coming back we took the highspeed catamaran to Victoria. We then travelled up the E.N. up to Courtenay B.C. the view over some of the tressels was spectacular.

[UPJohn]

Last summer on the River Line into Camden NJ. I dont know does that count as a passenger train. Its really a commuter. I have ridden at Strasburg like 20 times

[Anonymous]

I was just on the Algoma Central a little over a month ago. The Sault to about 90 miles south of Hearst round trip.

[cnw4001]

Forgot my trip on CN (Algoma Central) from the Soo to Hearst two years ago.

Also didn't think about GO Train trips as recently as last year in the Toronto area.

[Anonymous]

I went on the Amtrak Surfliner in 2003. Great train. We were in the back, which was the front on the way back, since we were in a cab car.

[mersenne6]

Abolut 2 weeks ago - rode the maglev train from downtown Shanghai out to the airport. The trip took about 7 minutes and we hit and stayed at 253 mph for part of the run. I could have taken that trip back and forth all day long.[:)]

[railroadyoshi]

The last time I rode Amtrak was some 7 years ago
recently, I wanted to ride to Minneapolis from Boston, but my mom was scared.

Last time I rode a train was probably last summer in India

[aartlib]

April 1952.....The Texas Eagle from El Paso,Tx (Fort Bliss) to NYC,NY After a small stint with Uncle Sam in Korea.

GOD BLESS AMERICA[tup]

[Anonymous]

hmm lets see its was a bout 10 years ago i took a ride on steamtowns train from scranton to mascow pa and back

[BigOzzy86]

I rode on the Durango and Silverton in Colorado when I was a kid. I heard that a few years back their main engine house burned down. Does anyone know if the main campground in Durango still has a 7.5 gauge train that runs around the campground.

[tjsmrinfo]

jan 2004 on amtraks california zephyr from salt lake city to galesburg ill then a shuttle bus to i forget then another qmtrak into fort worth then the heartland flyer into gainesville texas

tom

[cspmo]

I usually take the Train to Chicago about 3 times a year, but lately I don't have the time to do so.
The last trip on a train was between Chicago, & St.Louis behind UP Challenger.

[Anonymous]

About 2 1/2 years ago the Cardinal from Cincinnati to Chicago. Amtrak was doing some deep discounted promotions. We got 2 round trip tickets for 36 dollars. That was $8 per person each way. After working all day Friday we drove to Cincinnati and caught the train at 11:00 pm. We arrived in Chicago about 7:30 and spent the day at the Field Museum and the Navy pier and walking the through downtown. At 8:00 we were back at Union Station to catch the train back to Cincinnati. By 7:30 Sunday morning we were two tired 45 year olds.

It was a great trip, a sleeper would have been more comfortable but I went away from that trip convinced that trains are the only civilized way to travel.

[Train 284]

Mine was about 4 or 5 years ago..........I took the California Zepher from Reno, Nevada to the Midwest. Great trip!

[Anonymous]

A cab ride (GP-38) on the Mt. Hood Railroad. While it lasted only 1/2 hour, and covered 4 miles I was more excited than the grandkids at seeing Thomas the Tank Engine.

[cnw4001]

Several years ago from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.

[jwmurrayjr]

We just got back from Scotland. We flew to London and took the GNER from Kingscross to Inverness first class (8 hours). We "hired" a car and drove about 1200 miles around the highlands (I don't recommend it for the faint of heart.)

Then we returned remains of the car to Inverness and took Scot-rail back to Edinburgh (4 hours).

The 1st class service on the GNER was very nice. It even had a dinning car. 1st class on Scot-rail was not nearly as good. In fact it was not quite as good as 2nd class on the same train because the service was identical and the 2nd class coaches were newer. [:)]

I suppose that British rail service is going the way of Amtrak.

But it was a train.

Mind the gap!

[nslakediv]

this weekend, Tiffin Ohio to Woodville Ohio and back. Amtrak in August, Sandusky Ohio to Chicago and back, it was 2 hours late picking us up and 3 hours late getting to Chicago then 3 hours late leaving chicago which made us 3 1/2 hours late arriving in Sandusky. it was fun though. took same train in november of 2003 with zero delays though.

[Anonymous]

The last time I rode a passenger train was September 1996, on an Amtrak from Renssalaer NY to Savannah GA. Allow me to give you the highlights:

1. Leave Renss. station around 3 p.m. Twenty minutes out something goes wrong with the engine and they have to back it up verrrry slowly to the station and move us all onto another train.

2. Arrive in NYC, but due to the delay in Rens. I missed my connecting train, so I'm put on another headed for Wash. D.C., where I'll meet up with the train I was originally supposed to catch in NYC.

3. Arrive in D.C. 5 minutes before my connecting train to Savannah departs. 5 minutes out of the station a signal goes down somewhere on the main line and we end up sitting on a siding for 2 hours.

4. Finally, we're given the go ahead, but the signal is still down so we can only go 20 mph until we clear it. This lasts about an hour and a half.

5. About 3 a.m., no idea where, THE ENGINE RUNS OUT OF FUEL!! Seems with all the idling we did outside of D.C. someone forgot to factor in the extra fuel used. We wait for about an hour while they truck some out to us.

6. Finally, at 8 a.m, I arrive in Savannah, 6 hours late.

Oh, one other thing: the whole trip was coach, no meal, no peanuts, no "sorry for all the hassle, here's a burger or soft drink or first class seat to compensate you for your trouble". The employees themselves were nice enough, but needless to say, I have not rode on Amtrak since, and though I may be wrong for saying it, I have little interest in ever doing so again.

Sorry this is so negative, but I guess it's a symptom of what happens when you hand the government the keys to a railroad.

[willy6]

New Brunswick,NJ. to Washington DC in 1968 on the PRR powered by a GG-1.

[jacon12]

This train..

That runs from Skagway, Alaska to a turn around point back up in the mountains..

mostly following the path of gold rush back in the 1800s. Besides like the train and the scenery, I was in constant awe that men could have traversed the area with heavy packs on their back, several times in order to get their supplies to the top that was required by the Canadian government.
Jarrell

[tutaenui]

I commute by train daily Simla Crescent to Wellington (NZ) Does that count, Otherwise Hamburg to London via Brussels 1997.

[Anonymous]

Last week - Southwest Chief - Chicago to LA and then down the coast to San Diego, round trip. Train crews were real proud of their on time preformance. 1 hr. early into LA - 20 min. early into Chicago. This was a Santa Fe (not BNSF) operation according to the lounge car attendant who had some unkind remarks about the ability of CSX and Union Pacific to run trains. Spectacular scenery. Well worth $151.60 (senior discount)