This was a great read. What a shame our Amtrak system is headed to extinction. I feel the need for speed is overrated. Thus the reason I will not fly and 80-90 mph on the highways is just deadly stupid. I would love a nostalgic trip on a train. Call me old fashioned but there is nothing wrong with slowing down and taking the time to smell the roses. Life is short.
Sometimes we are all traveling too fast. We need to slow down a bit and breathe, stop and refresh. I really loved your story. Thank you for the good read❤️
Ii had been decades since I took a train until 2 years ago when I took the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, with a stop in Danali for 2 nights. Wonderful and beautiful trip of a lifetime with my son and his wife & kids. I’ve talked to several people who have taken cross-country train trips on Amtrak and say it’s amazing. Planned out with stops along the way with hotel and sightseeing built into the trip.
To me....this trip sounds wonderful. I have only taken the Amtrak up and down the West Coast. And I never had my own room. I also worked Amtrak at the northern border as a Customs Agent. To me they stop too much, they are generally not so clean and it's too expensive to eat. But when I was a kid we went from Fullerton to Oceanside and then back.....after a day on the beach we were terrors on the train running back and forth with friends. The Amtrak actually stopped on the beach then, so you stepped right out into the sand. It was great memory.
This was so interesting and profoundly different from the one long American journey I've taken, in 1976. My trip was 3 days before Christmas, from Grand Forks, North Dakota to St. Louis, Missouri. The train-The Empire Builder-was packed, lots of college students, lamenting they'd give their kingdom for a Big Mac. We had to take a bus to Fargo (75 miles south) because of huge snow drifts across the tracks, by this time after midnight. When the lights went into sleeping mode, the view was incredible, full moon, sparkly snow, huge gangs of deer clustered in the shelter belts. Chicago was still an awesome city then, Picasso sculptures along the shores of Lake Michigan, skyscrapers-a real sight after the prairie. On the journey home there was a large Polish family, heading to Milwaukee, and they had an exotic 'picnic' of huge sardines, pickles, sausages, black bread. Captivating. I really appreciated your descriptions of the lonely travelers you met-my journey was of groups of travelers-families, friends. We seem to be describing more than train journey.
When I lived in Maine I loved taking the train to Boston for day trips, doctor appointments, and shopping. I wish traveling by train was more accessible because we would do it often. It's relaxing and enjoyable to my husband and myself.
Great review of taking the Amtrak:) I did the same for an adventure in 2010 from, Santa Ana, CA up to WA state then across to Minnesota. I did not have a room, slept in my seat (reminiscent of a childhood trip AL to CA in 1955). The views, for the most part were wonderful, the food mediocre and the people much too liberal for my taste. The minute they would ask where I was from & I answered OC, the conversation would go downhill. But I savored the experience and will do it again at some point. 👍🇺🇸
Travel reporting suits you. Maybe a new path for you. But don't quit your day job. We like your work.
A delightful read. Thank you, Raheem 🫡
https://open.substack.com/pub/dominicfrisby?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1gs1cj
This was a great read. What a shame our Amtrak system is headed to extinction. I feel the need for speed is overrated. Thus the reason I will not fly and 80-90 mph on the highways is just deadly stupid. I would love a nostalgic trip on a train. Call me old fashioned but there is nothing wrong with slowing down and taking the time to smell the roses. Life is short.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I am pleased to hear that you arrived home safely, despite the challenges posed by our outdated rail system!
Sometimes we are all traveling too fast. We need to slow down a bit and breathe, stop and refresh. I really loved your story. Thank you for the good read❤️
Ii had been decades since I took a train until 2 years ago when I took the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, with a stop in Danali for 2 nights. Wonderful and beautiful trip of a lifetime with my son and his wife & kids. I’ve talked to several people who have taken cross-country train trips on Amtrak and say it’s amazing. Planned out with stops along the way with hotel and sightseeing built into the trip.
Oh my gosh I would love to do that trip in Alaska!
It was absolutely amazing. Beautiful state.
To me....this trip sounds wonderful. I have only taken the Amtrak up and down the West Coast. And I never had my own room. I also worked Amtrak at the northern border as a Customs Agent. To me they stop too much, they are generally not so clean and it's too expensive to eat. But when I was a kid we went from Fullerton to Oceanside and then back.....after a day on the beach we were terrors on the train running back and forth with friends. The Amtrak actually stopped on the beach then, so you stepped right out into the sand. It was great memory.
I’ve taken that train, too!
This was so interesting and profoundly different from the one long American journey I've taken, in 1976. My trip was 3 days before Christmas, from Grand Forks, North Dakota to St. Louis, Missouri. The train-The Empire Builder-was packed, lots of college students, lamenting they'd give their kingdom for a Big Mac. We had to take a bus to Fargo (75 miles south) because of huge snow drifts across the tracks, by this time after midnight. When the lights went into sleeping mode, the view was incredible, full moon, sparkly snow, huge gangs of deer clustered in the shelter belts. Chicago was still an awesome city then, Picasso sculptures along the shores of Lake Michigan, skyscrapers-a real sight after the prairie. On the journey home there was a large Polish family, heading to Milwaukee, and they had an exotic 'picnic' of huge sardines, pickles, sausages, black bread. Captivating. I really appreciated your descriptions of the lonely travelers you met-my journey was of groups of travelers-families, friends. We seem to be describing more than train journey.
What a wonderful travelogue. Thank you for this little slice of Americana.
When I lived in Maine I loved taking the train to Boston for day trips, doctor appointments, and shopping. I wish traveling by train was more accessible because we would do it often. It's relaxing and enjoyable to my husband and myself.
Loved this, Raheem!! I’m sharing with others ASAP!
Can't say you sold me on Amtrack. LOL
Great review of taking the Amtrak:) I did the same for an adventure in 2010 from, Santa Ana, CA up to WA state then across to Minnesota. I did not have a room, slept in my seat (reminiscent of a childhood trip AL to CA in 1955). The views, for the most part were wonderful, the food mediocre and the people much too liberal for my taste. The minute they would ask where I was from & I answered OC, the conversation would go downhill. But I savored the experience and will do it again at some point. 👍🇺🇸
Been a contributor from the VERY BEGINNING!
Loved reading your account...
Very entertaining and fun to read from start to finish, Raheem. I can't say I miss riding the trains.
The Auto Train is the only plus I can think of.
Wow! You always write about so many interesting things!