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ptgolf
Little Six
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 Posted - February 20 2007 : 8:10:02 PM
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Hello, I am assuming since you all enjoy model trains you also are interested in the real ones. I took the family on a trip to Philadelphia from New Haven last weekend on Amtrak. When we boarded the train we went from car to car until we found 4 seats all together. Come to find out we were located in the "quiet car" After`we sat down I started to talk to my wife and an older gentleman turned around and told us we were in the quiet car and had to keep our voice down. It was at that point I noticed on the ceiling of the car signs indicating it was infact a quietcar and we couldn't use cell phones or have loud conversation. When the car attendent came to take our tickets I asked him the rules of the quiet car and he said you were to behave as if you were in a library! 3 hours of silence for 2 young girls was pretty tough! That older gentleman spent more time getting up telilng people to be quiet than he did reading his book.
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Posted - February 20 2007 : 9:14:55 PM
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Do that many people ride the trains ? Trains and railways are fast dissappearing around my location in Eastern NC.
Edited by - FreshFish on February 20 2007 9:17:32 PM
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ptgolf
Little Six
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Posted - February 20 2007 : 10:54:56 PM
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| I would say train travel between Washington DC and Boston is still very active. This was the 2nd time in 2 years I have taken Amtrak and both times the train was fairly crowded. You do not have assigned sets and both times it was a struggle to get 4 seats together. My daughters do love the Cafe Car and made several trips back and forth getting snacks.
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Posted - February 21 2007 : 02:18:55 AM
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Go figure, eh?
Somewhere on one of the railroad chain websites " http://www.spikesys.com/webville.html " is a picture of an Amfleet Pullman/sleeper with a Classifying sign on it that reads "No Humping"
A "quiet" car... tsk tsk. Dat guy, he shoulda taken da plane. I thought Amtrak was in trouble, besides.
But, whatta I know?
John
oh, I also heard that Walthers has bought LifeLike... My favorite hobby dealer is chopping prices on all LL trains and accessories... 50%!
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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 Posted - February 21 2007 : 07:03:14 AM
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I have not heard of an Amquiet Car, but I was surprised on my last trip to St. Louis and back from Kansas City that the onboard crew took a car for themselves and attempted to put the majority of the passengers all into one of the four Superliners on our train. As we left St. Louis on my return trip, I was under the impression that the train must be very full due to the fact that the car I was in was so full. People using cell phones; people hacking and choughing; kids making noise; I thought wonderful this is gonna be a nice ride back. As we left St. Louis, I got up and walked the train...we have four Superliners...the first one was EMPTY. I went back and picked up my things and went to this first empty Superliner. Turns out the crew, two guys, kept this Superliner for their use. When I inquired, I was told that there was just the two of them and that was why...okay...hmmmm. Anyway, I stayed in the first car and enjoyed a quiet ride, but felt bad for all the people sandwiched into that last Superliner.
The story was the same on the trip out from KC to StL. That time it was the last Superliner on the train that was kept empty for the two Amtrak employees.
[?]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - March 02 2007 : 05:21:15 AM
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My two train trips were sports related. The first was a trip on The VIA from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, just across the river from Detroit, to Toronto to see the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays. It was anything but quiet! A bunch of Canadian beer drinking Tiger fans, especially at that time when there was a reason to celebrate. That old coot wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes on that train.
4 years ago, I won a sports radio station's sports trivia contest. The prize was a trip for 2 to Chicago to see the Tigers and White Sox. "You can get your plane tickets at the............" "Whooaa Whooaa, No! Raymond doesn't fly!!" "Would you prefer Amtrak?" You all know what my answer was. No Labatt's though.
OH, if Amtrak could only go to Hawaii!!!
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obtrey
Little Six
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Posted - March 02 2007 : 10:39:02 AM
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In 2005 I took my wife, daughter, granddaughter to Disneyworld. Since
the little one didn't want to fly we took Amtrak from Philadelphia to Kissimee (don't blame me for the spelling I know where I went) Florida. Having gone this route before when my children were younger I wasn't looking forward to 26 hours on a train, the last time I woke up at @ 3am with wet feet and found out one of the "children that were let run loose" stuffed a whole roll of toilet paper in the toilet and it was overflowing. That train station is closer to Disney than Orlando. We left Philadelphia and had to change seats once so the attendant could keep track of her passangers. This time wasn't too bad as I spent most of my time in the Club car reading and drinking EXPENSIVE coffee. We sitll had to stop in Washington to switch from electric to diesel no overhead after Washington. Just as we were leaving the house and I mean going out the door the phone rings and I answered it, it was Amtark calling to tell us there was no train service beyond Orlando because of a hurricane that was expected. We went anyway and the hurricane didn't interfere, but there was sitll no service beyond Orlando. All in All the trip was great, just once in a while someone on the phone or playing a game on their computer really loud, but the conductors kept that under control. Coming home the same way We left Disney and arrived in Philly @26 hrs later and basically the same situation on the train as on the way down. 26 hrs is uncomfortable after a while and the expense was @ the same as if we flew but it wasnt too bad.
Bob
In Malfunction Junction:
When all else fails get a bigger hammer.
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v8vega
Switcher
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Posted - November 12 2010 : 12:15:51 AM
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Ive taken the Coast Starlight from Van Nuys CA (1st stop out of Los Angeles) to Portland Oregon the last 2 years and am going again this Christmas. I found out for popular travel times like Christmas to get your ticket way early. I waited to long this year and the train was already full enough that the price had jumped up to the next level. It's 30 hours and you do get bored but this is a really scenic trip and I can read on the train. Flying I get motion sick. You sit up high and can see everything. $159 for seniors $188 regular. Around $450 + new baggage charges to fly + $40 to park. Amtrak parking is free. Im retired so I can spend the time. I realise working most people have to fly. I hated flying and look forward to the train. I spend most time in the club car.
Dennis
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Posted - November 12 2010 : 4:55:17 PM
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quote:Do that many people ride the trains ? Trains and railways are fast dissappearing around my location in Eastern NC.
Originally posted by FreshFish - February 20 2007 : 9:14:55 PM
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Hey, FF, I'm in central North Carolina. Aren't they still planning to re-open the rail service from Wilmington to Raleigh?
My family and I took the Amtrak from Raleigh to Washington, DC about 3 years ago. We really enjoyed the train ride. The roundtrip cost was cheaper than airfare. Plus we would have to land at Dulles or BWI and rent a car. Amtrak station is right in downtown DC. Took the Metro everywhere we wanted to go or walked. The ride on the train was nice. Spacious seating. Dinner was a pleasant experience but, not cheap. $8.00 for a plain hamburger if I remember correctly. The one way travel time turned out to be about the same as driving a car but, certainly less tiring for me and my family. They could nap easily in the recliner seats.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
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Posted - November 14 2010 : 11:11:25 AM
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i heard yesterday that our government is taking a second look at bullet trains.
That maybe the money could be spent better else where
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Posted - November 14 2010 : 12:26:27 PM
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| if the distance between stations is a thousand miles i see the benefit,but for shorter distances i cannot see the benefit of the stopping and starting,what you gain in speed in long term you loose in new brakes having to be fitted,plus you miss the views etc ken
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Posted - November 14 2010 : 7:54:02 PM
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I took Amtrak a month ago for a LONG ride. Philadelphia to Savannah Georgia and back. 14 hours but it beats driving. I drove that same trip a month earlier and it took 14 hours and I was going very very fast with only 3 stops. Not only did I feel like crud after such a long drive it costs more than the train (if only one person). Having to do the trip again I decided to look into flying. It was short notice and was over $500 roundtrip to fly so I decided to check out Amtrak and it was half that much. No brainer for me considering the stop over, security, parking, baggage etc. etc. with flying. I think the length of rail to travel was 650 miles and there was less than a dozen stops, you're covering ground very well.
I enjoyed it. They even had a name for the train, the Silver Meteor, thought that was cool. Easy to sleep on a train for me, it just lulls me to sleep. Food was decent but anytime you're a captive audience you pay a premium. I did buy some hot food for dinner and breakfast but also brought a stash of goodies with me. I agree with what someone above was saying, the food wasn't bad, just pricey. IMO you're safe with the hot dogs and french toast, just don't do them at the same time.
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Posted - November 14 2010 : 9:16:29 PM
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alot of people bring food on board tho So IF I ever get a chance to ride Amtrak I'll do that Sounds to me all you have fun 
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Posted - November 28 2010 : 10:49:47 PM
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I never got to ride the trains here, but every time I have gone to japan I went on the railway and subways.... but not the bullet trains!! It would be sooooo cool if we got a bullet train here I would so ride it! here to florida and back... a clevelanders tail  
I thought that modern bullets would be based on magnetics not.... so no breaks, just reveres polarity or something like that (like the roller coasters do now) and if the stops were every... 100 or 200 miles?? not so bad in my opinion!
trains are totally different experiance! Locally we have a lot of freight trains 10 -20 a day (or more) cool to watch.... except when you at the stop 5 minutes from home waiting for the train to go by.... and you have to pee! ahhhhh 
later!
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