I was leaving Fort Worth Texas. So, my buddy Ronny, who was a resident of Ft Worth, drops me off at the station around 2PM. The Train, Amtrak’s Texas Eagle was slated to arrive at 3PM. So, I waited and 3PM came around and no train. Around quarter after, I asked the attendant when she thought the train would arrive and she said, that it would be along soon. So, 3:30 came and went. Then 4PM and finally Amtrak made an announcement saying there would be a delay. Around 5:45, the announcer stated that the train was a few miles out. So, I got myself ready and gathered my bags. Within a few minutes, the announcer called for the train. I walked out onto the hot platform and looked for a train. None. After a few minutes, a heard a rumbling sound of a diesel locomotive. I looked west and what I saw next, absolutely made me re think about going home by train. Here, an SD40-2 Sante Fe locomotive was lashed up to the Texas Eagle and pulling her through. Apparently, the whole train broke down right in the desert and the air wasn’t working and the temps at the time were well over 100 degrees. So, A nearby Sante Fe locomotive was dispatched to bring the whole affair to Ft Worth where an engine change could be accomplished. I boarded the train and asked the conductor what gives and all he said was Amtrak was experiencing technical difficulties and that they were working hard to resolves the issue. So, a F40 was brought in to head the train North East to Chicago. After several more delays, we finally got to high balling. We were not even a few miles out of Texas and into Arkansas before the train stopped and not at a train station. Guess what? The engine ran out of fuel. LOL I was beside myself on this one. LOL So, they brought a fuel truck in and after about an hour and half, off we went again.
We made a few regular stops and some were cancelled. I knew when they called each and every passenger on the train into a prepared dining car to discuss our individual itineraries, it did not look good. Here, many people had missed their connecting flights to Europe as well as domestically. I had no such issues, but said I was okay. For that effort, I received a free steak dinner and a free nights stay at a five star hotel in downtown Chicago. I stayed at the Sheraton and when I arrived at my room and opened the door, I thought, wait a minute, I am not getting married! LOL, What the heck. I went to the window and opened the curtains and the view was simply spectacular. Really beautiful. I was so far up, the people looked like ants. LOL
So, I went around Chicago with this mans family that lived there and they befriended me. We ate at a pizza place called Graffities located in the underground part of the city. I went to the top of the Sears Tower. I saw all kinds of things. When we boarded the train for the rest of our trip, we rolled right by the warehouse they burned for the movie “Backdraft”. Needless to say, I was impressed, but I wasn’t going to Europe.LOL
The high light of my trip was Horseshoe Curve. I always wanted to see it from a train and this was simply beautiful. Truly beautiful. When we arrived, several Norfolk Southern trains were rounding the curve in the opposite direction. Which only heightened the sensation. From there to Washington’s Union Station was only a few more hours and home at last.
Needless to say, Amtrak needed some serious work. One women passed out on the Texas Eagle when it became stuck in the desert. They airlifted her out because she was 80 something years old and her life was in peril. I never thought to inquire about her condition, but hoped she was okay. As for the SD40 that pulled the Amtrak train into Ft Worth…PRICELESS!!!. This was the Blue and Yellow paint scheme version, but kudos to SF for having come to Amtrak’s rescue that day. The steak meal was actually first rate. Really good. The friends I made…PRICELESS!!! Like the couple that were sitting behind me and thought that my knowledge of trains was really good. The man served during WWII and flew B17 bombers. He and his wife were on vacation. LOL
Yes, Amtrak sure hasn’t come a long way, but they do get the job done and as near as I can tell, they make up for any lost time in steak meals!!! LOL
What’s your story???
Stacy