The trouble with doing a trip such as the one I planned via train is the nature of the rail system in the United States. Even though Western Europe, Japan, and China have elegant, efficient high speed rail systems and additional feeders that work well in concert, we’re still struggling in this country to get even one state moving in that direction. Part of the deterioration of the US rail system comes from neglect, another part comes from the populace feeling that until recently trains were largely a 19th century technology. Finally, there’s the feeling that for many types of travel, such as coast-to-coast flights, rail isn’t fast enough to compete. High speed rail in particular has a sweet spot of 400-500 miles max before it starts to lose out to planes in terms of time savings.
Even if high speed rail were to become a viable, time and cost-efficient alternative to air travel, something would be lost in the process. Right now, I’m on a 28-hour journey, half of it through West Texas. There’s no 3G coverage out here, and it’s easy to go an hour without seeing a building, let alone civilization. Yet I’m relaxed. The next stop is two hours away, where we’ll all have a chance to get off the train and stretch our legs. Onboard, there are no restrictive seat belts. The coach seats have 50 inches of leg room, so much that my short legs can barely reach the foot rest in front of me. There’s plenty of room to recline, and I can get up and move about the train as much as I like. I’ve spent much of the trip so far in the observation lounge car, where I’ve plugged all of my portable electronic devices at a booth and have gone to work. I got a snack down below and had a dining car immediately next door.
Last night, I met a gentleman who was looking at my ballpark pictures while I was working and decided to strike up a conversation. It turns out that he made it to AAA in the Cleveland organization before being called to serve in Korea, where he was in the Air Force. After his service ended, he decided against pursuing a major league career, instead choosing to start a family and settle down in Southern California. He admired how quickly I manipulated files on my machine, while I thanked him for his service and for giving a bit of his own history. I didn’t get chance to mention to him that the end of his baseball career may have coincided with the last World Series won by the Indians in 1954. Coincidence? Hmmm…
Perhaps trains are of a different age, where people weren’t in such a goddamn hurry. Riding a train certainly won’t make me turn my back on new technology. Yet it’s nice to know that there are still ways to travel in which the journey is appreciated every bit as much as the destination. That is the essence of train travel.
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ML, are you talking about the Giants? The Indians last won in 1948.
@Bryce – That was poorly phrased. What I meant to say is that had he played in ’54 the Indians could have won that WS. Not the most elegantly fashioned leading statement.
I traveled by train on a couple legs of my baseball trip this year and found it a pleasant experience. Faster than a plane for short distances, more comfortable, usually cheaper and you can use all your electronic devices. Not to mention the beautiful old stations on the east coast.
nice story ML. It’s always nice to slow things down a bit from time to time.
I love traveling by train:
1. No restrictions on moving around.
2. No TSA nonsense.
3. Rail fares are quite reasonable.
My wife and I went from Emeryville to Denver a couple of years ago on Amtrak. Since I am no longer in my 20’s (not by a long shot), we laid out $185 extra for a roomette in one of the sleeper cars, which also included 3 meals each for the two-day trip – the face value of these 12 meals was almost equal to the accommodation fare. The trip was very relaxing, and the scenery, especially going through the Rockies, was very beautiful.
I had the misfortune of publishing a diary on AN about this trip the same day as the A’s traded Rich Harden.
ML, Keep up the great posts! @Docter K, Yes the trains are great as long as you don’t have rigid schedule plans when you arrive. I’ve seen Coors and Safeco via train trips from Emeryville and Oakland. I can’t wait to read your next update!
Bryce, what lines did you use for those trips? Do you have a link?
@LoneStranger – for Seattle, take the Coast Starlight (LA – Seattle), which is a night departure from Jack London or Emeryville, and for Denver, take the California Zephyr (Emeryville to Chicago), which is a morning departure from Emeryville only.
@doctorK/Bryce – FWIW the routes I’m using are the Sunset Limited, Missouri River Runner, Texas Eagle, Empire Builder, and Coast Starlight.
Nice!!!!! ML, If you can, you should upgrade to sleeper class for the Coast Starlight. There is a separate observation lounge (Pacfic Parlour Car) with lazy-z boy recliners for sleeping car passengers only. There are also daily wine and cheese tastings at 3pm each day in that same car.
@Docter K and LS: Yes, I took the Zephyr from Emeryville to Denver in 2005 and the Coast Starlight from Oakland-JLS to Seattle (and later Canada via Cascades) last July (and came back the day of the Henderson Retirement Day).