2011 Trip – Here Comes the Train

So, I finally got everything thrown into the bags for the trip. At the last minute, I decided to skip using the duffle bag, at least for the trip to Mythcon. The idea of wrangling the wheelie, the duffle, the computer and my messenger bag was a bit much. Besides, I didn’t really need all the stuff I was thinking of packing. It did make the computer bag stuffed, and I worried about the Creature (who was to travel well wrapped in bubble wrap in the messenger bag). But mostly I was ready to go.

I’d ordered a shuttle service to take me to Union Station, and it was a breeze. I got there in plenty of time, which was reassuring to me. Whenever I’m doing something new, I prefer to leave plenty of time for glitches, and this was my first long distance train trip. Upon entering Union Station, I had to take a picture of the closed off section. It’s a beautiful space.

Los Angeles Union Station

It’s not really necessary for current usage. But they keep it in good shape. And it does get used for locations for film and television. When they do use it as a location, they move in waiting area seating.

This is the restaurant eatery in the station. In the distance is where all the ticketing and check-ins occur, and where the real waiting area is.

Los Angeles Union Station

I sat in the waiting area, staring at the status sign, and eves-dropped on the Red Caps. The incoming train for the Southwest Chief was late. In the end, about a half hour late. Which mean our boarding was late. But, eventually, they called the passengers, and I hopped on one of the trolleys for a lift out to the platform.

Of course, when we got to the platform, the train still had not been backed into place for boarding. Two Surfliner trains, but no sign yet of our Southwest Chief.

Los Angeles train platform

But… eventually it rolled into place and we boarded.

Corridors and stairs on trains are narrow, narrow, narrow. And difficult to manouver if you are wrangling baggage. My roomette berth was on the upper level. I initially would have preferred to have a lower level, but later realized that you enter the dining car on the upper level, plus you have better views.

“Roomette” is an interesting term, I discovered. Only a bit wider than a large armchair, with the space of two seats facing each other. I’ve seen walk-in closets that are larger.

Roomette on the train

I had scrunched myself as far back in the opposite corner to take this picture, so you can imagine the size limits. Still, I’m not complaining. The pillows were sufficient, and there was plenty of leg room.

The train pulled out 45 minutes after our scheduled departure, and off we went. It was odd seeing the LA area from a different point of view. I really had no idea where the Amtrak tracks ran. Apparently they head to Fullerton for a pick up stop, then to Corona and on to Riverside.

There are odd things to see from the train. At one point, as we went under a bridge, smack dab in the center, at the top of the bank, right under the bridge itself, there was a lawn chair planted. I wondered who it was that spent so much time under the bridge that they kept a chair there. As we approached Corona, there was one sort of grassy area, and a guy had spread out a blanket as if for a picnic and he waved at the train as it passed. I wondered if he did that a lot.

My dinner time was scheduled for 8, and the sky was still dusky warm colors as I sat down for it. I had a pleasant chat with my table mates. I had noted earlier that the full moon was rising over, although it seemed pale in the early dusk. But it grew brighter as the rest of the sky darkened. It was full dark by the time the train stopped in Riverside to take on more passengers. I was a little disappointed by this, as I’d hoped to see the landscape as we climbed the Cajon Pass. Oh well.

I did some work on the computer for a bit after dinner, but life on the train tends to fold up after 10. I wrangled the seats for the “bed” configureation (sort of – enough to suit me), and stuck my bags on the upper bed.

Once the sliding door was closed and the drapes drawn, you become very conscious of how small the space is. And with nothing to distract me, there was the vibration of the rails and the swaying of the train. Every time the train approached a crossing, there would be the tri-tone “Tooot-tooot-toot-toooot”, which always translated in my mind as “Here Comes the Train!”. But there wasn’t much to see in the darkness outside.

Once we did get to the High Desert, the bright moon gave the landscape a grey cast, enough to see the edges of landforms. I discovered I couldn’t really sleep, at least not for a long time. I was resting, and perhaps cat napping, but not really sleeping.

The train rolled into Needles, and I pulled back the curtain a bit to see the place. I’ve driven the I-40 several times and have passed the Needles exit, but not much of the town can be seen from the Interstate. I was surprised to see how much “town” there was. Next time I drive that way, I may check it out. After Needles, there was the long climb to Kingman. The train slowed considerably as it made that climb. We reached the Williams stop by about 3 a.m., I think. I took note of that, because at Williams, you can get a special train up to the Grand Canyon. But now I know, if you’re coming by Amtrak from LA for that excursion, you arrive in Williams in the dead of night. Not so much fun, transfering for a short bus ride and then to another train. Then we rolled onward. We reached Flagstaff as dawn was coming up, a bit after 5 am. The dining car doesn’t open until 6:30 for breakfast, though. So I got dressed, had a cup of coffee (the car porter makes a good one), and relaxed.

I do have to say that the food on the train was actually good. I’d had flank steak for dinner and french toast for breakfast.

I realized that my lack of real sleep through the night was making me tired. Hopefully, on the return trip, I actually will get some sleep in. Though I must have fallen asleep for sure at one point, because I have an image that must have been a dream – that I’d stepped out into the corridor, and looked down the passage way toward the rest room. And someone was using the shower, but for some reason there was a window in the door to the shower room, and I could see the person – or at least part of their back. Had to be a dream, because there are no shared showers on the upper level of the car, and certainly none with windows in the corridor doors.

We actually arrived in Albuquerque early, 45 minutes ahead of schedule, so not only had the engineer made up the delay from the start, he picked up speed somewhere along the way.

I did have one odd moment as we had been crossing northern Arizona. I was idly looking out the window at the landscape during breakfast, and I started to recognize the formations. At this point, the tracks ran fairly near the I-40. And I went “Hey, I know that!” I glanced to the south, and sure enough, there was the southward bound two-lane highway that travels down to Taylor, where my friend James Owen and his family live. I waved in their direction as we passed, and thought about how we’d miss seeing him and Cindy and their delightful children at Mythcon. But the train didn’t linger with my thoughts.

So here I am, ensconced in my hotel room for Mythcon, finally feeling less of the train vibrations. A little more lounging and I might even have the energy to venture downstairs for dinner, and seeing if I can spot any other Thursday-arriving Mythies.

For Mythcon is about to begin.