NEWS AND OTHER STUFF WE THOUGHT OF
My Life on Amtrak I
’VE NEVER BEEN A BIG FAN OF FLYING. While I don’t have nearly the same kind of crushing anxiety I used to
about getting on a plane, it’s still not my favorite way to travel. I didn’t make my first flight until I was 22, but it took me only 18 years to board my first Amtrak train, despite growing up in an area saturated by frequent passenger schedules. While planes are great for quick hops
across the country, I try to work train travel into my schedule whenever I can. Besides supporting the industry, I find it to be a much better travel option for trips of a certain duration. For instance, I travel to the Chicago area a couple times a year to attend the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s annual “Conversations” each spring, and to work the booth at Trainfest in Milwaukee each fall. There are a number of flights that will get me there in about two hours, but that’s not counting arriving early at the airport for check-in and screening, the flight itself, and then the process of arriving at one of the nation’s busiest airport hubs, waiting for the rental car shuttle, and so on. Instead, I prefer the overnight journey on the Lake Shore Limited. The westbound train is scheduled to depart Rochester, N.Y., at 11:09 p.m., which means I can still get a full day of activity in, enjoy dinner, and make my way to the station at my leisure since I only live ten minutes from the downtown station. One of the joys of riding an overnight
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train is that someone else is taking care of the driving while you sleep. I’m a hearty soul that toughs it out in coach, and I’m usually passed out by the time we leave Buffalo. Sunrise greets the train west of Toledo, Ohio, and by the time we are pulling into Elkhart, Ind., I am enjoying breakfast in the dining car. After a morning arrival in Chicago, a brisk stroll brings me to the rental car desk to check in. A few minutes later, I’m in my car and on my way to my final destination. Not a bad way to go. Of course, this train is often derided
as the “Late-For-Sure Limited” due to occasional delays encountered across both CSX and Norfolk Southern territory on its daily New York-to-Chicago run. In my experience, these delays increase during the spring and summer months, when both railroads are deep into their track maintenance and signal replacement programs. You’ve probably seen some of my postings if you follow the Facebook fan pages for RAILFAN & RAILROAD or Passenger Train Journal. I like to share my experiences while riding, especially the unique aspects of the trip like enjoying a meal in the full-service dining cars. I really logged the mileage the past few months, with three visits to Chicago. After my April trip to attend the CRPA conference in Lake Forest, Ill., I scheduled an October visit to Kansas City, followed by a November run to Milwaukee with a return route via Lynchburg, Va.
In mid-October, publisher Kevin EuDaly and his family hosted a fun get-together for the entire White River Productions staff in the company’s home town of Kansas City, Mo. Even better, the party was held in a special room inside historic Kansas City Union Station! Why fly and rent a car, when I could just ride the train and arrive at the party (more or less)? I decided taking the Lake Shore Limited to connect with the Southwest Chief was the way to go. The Chief would be my first experience
riding on Amtrak Superliner equipment, which was a statement that befuddled many of my colleagues. Sorry, I grew up in the northeast, where we only have Amfleet equipment. My overnight trip to Chicago was uneventful, arriving a few minutes ahead of the 9:45 a.m. advertised schedule. I had a few hours to kill before my 3:00 p.m. departure of the Southwest Chief, so I decided to do a little sightseeing. But first, I checked in to the new Legacy Club just off the Great Hall in Chicago’s Union Station. Admission to the Club is just $20, which gives you access to the lounge with spotless restrooms, comfortable chairs, TVs, wi-fi, chargers, snacks, and soft drinks. More importantly, I had a safe place to stow my bags while I was out enjoying some fresh air. Upon returning to the Legacy Club, I discovered there was a complimentary Friday Happy Hour, so I enjoyed a beer while I checked my email and charged my phone. When it was time to board, we
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