My cross country train trip

[LoveTrains]

I am on my second cross country train trip right now. Unfortunately a freight derailed ahead of us on a single track and we have been stopped in Montana for 17 hours. Fun times! luckily we have a sleeper and it's comfortable and fine - have had meals in the dining car, etc.

So just think the next time you are stuck somewhere when flying - at least you don't get stuck in BFE Montana.

On the plus side I have Internet but no cell service.

[ssmjlm]

I can't wait to read about this trip!

Wow, 17 hours in Montana. I think even decent scenary would be old at that point.

[Roc A Bee]

Wow! How long til you can move again.

[LoveTrains]

They are going to bus us around the derailment and then we will board the train that is stuck there. The people on that train will be bussed to our train which will turn and head back west to Seattle. Then the train we board on the other side of the derailment will take us to Chicago.

[LoveTrains]

You can read about my trip so far at trainsacrossamerica.blogspot.com. I haven't posted anything about the derailment yet, though.

[downtoearth]

Ugggg - I took one train trip from Chicago to MT once and swore to never do it again. We were delayed a ton (over 20 hours total), the train hit a truck at an unmarked crossing and someone had to be airlifted away, I got the flu, and I didn't have a sleeper car, so I was stuck next to people I didn't want to be around.

I'm sure it's 1000-times better with a sleeper, but as a substitute for a plane ride, it's a bit miserable. Glad you're able to transfer so you're not delayed further.

[LoveTrains]

Well we are now sitting in the train on the other side of the derailment. Unfortunately we have to wait for a new conductor and engineer. The delay is now 27 hours.

[yellowbrkrd]

Oh man. We tried to go from Michigan to MT a few years ago for Christmas. We were delayed overnight in Chicago because of a snow storm. The snow storms were so bad along the way that we were going to be delayed days and weren't sure we would even make it to Montana by Christmas day so we decided to just head back to Michigan. We got on the train from Chicago to Michigan and had to stop every few miles so they could torch the frozen switches so we could continue along the way. Eventually we got stuck and were stranded for 17 hours only about 20 miles outside of our stop. CSX owned the property we were stuck on and they wouldn't let anyone off the train or let anyone, including emergency responders to come and get us to take us home. They were out of food, water and toilet paper. In total I think it took us over 24 hours to get from Chicago to Michigan, it should have only been a 4 hour train ride. It was ridiculous.

I still would love to take the train on this route but will never again try it in the winter.

[krystee]

Having experienced such a long delay, do you need to change your screen name, or do you still love trains?

[sjh722]

One of my FB friends is stuck on one of those trains, too.

Hope you get moving again soon!

[RitzyHeifer]

Oh fun! The trip, not the delay (although delays are part of training aren't they?) I can't wait until DS is old enough to do a longer/overnight trip. My mom leaves on the City of New Orleans route next week!

[Deleted]

Every single person I have ever met who has ridden Amtrak (including myself) has been stranded for a ridiculous amount of time.

I'm terrified of Amtrak and their inability to keep moving.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 18, 2012 20:21:37 GMT -5 yellowbrkrd said:

CSX owned the property we were stuck on and they wouldn't let anyone off the train or let anyone, including emergency responders to come and get us to take us home.

That's insane! Railroads have easements. I don't think the property owner has the right to deny access to the easement.

[Deleted]

Wow I can't wait to hear all about it.

[lmbml]

Ugh that sucks! We rode last summer from Fargo to Seattle. It was only delayed like 2 hours. Good luck!

[basilosaurus]

And this is why I don't ride trains in America. This lengthy type of delay is not acceptable.

[Balki.Bartokomous]

Eek! Other than the massive delay, I hope you are having a fun trip!

[LoveTrains]

We are now moving quickly through MN and WI. After we were bussed around the derailment site, our crew timed out (federal regs are max 12 hours for engineer) so we had to wait for a new one. As a sleeper passenger all meals are supposed to be included but we didn't get lunch yesterday.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we arrive in CHI in time to catch our connecting train back east. We lost our day in CHI - and we were supposed to have dinner last night at the girl and the goat.

At least we were stopped in a town/station in MT so we were allowed to wander freely throughout most of the delay. And I had a sleeper so I had a bed.

[darnkatz]

We did a train trip from Chicago to Sacramento a few years ago, right before we got married. We didn't get a sleeper (yes, we were insane). We were stuck in Wyoming for an entire day. Montana sounds like paradise

[LoveTrains]

Delays are absolutely part of training. I was prepared for delays, which is why I booked our connection with a 29.5 hour layover in Chicago. I was prepared for a delay in the realm of 8-10 hours. 24+ hours is pretty crazy.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 19, 2012 16:46:07 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Delays are absolutely part of training.

But WHY? I traveled by train all over Europe and never heard of delays like that. WTF is our problem?

[biscoffcookies]

Jul 19, 2012 17:26:16 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jul 19, 2012 16:46:07 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Delays are absolutely part of training.

But WHY? I traveled by train all over Europe and never heard of delays like that. WTF is our problem?

I was told one major reason for the delays Amtrak has is that Amtrak doesn't own the tracks it uses -- the freight lines own them, Amtrak just gets to borrow them. So, if I understand correctly, the freight lines get first priority, which can cause issues.

[bliss]

Oh I loved MT. It was beautiful. I've never been on a train, but I'm def checking out your blog when I get home.

At least you have internet and food.

[Roc A Bee]

You have successfully talked me out if a cross country train trip!

[LoveTrains]

Jul 19, 2012 17:26:16 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jul 19, 2012 16:46:07 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Delays are absolutely part of training.

But WHY? I traveled by train all over Europe and never heard of delays like that. WTF is our problem?

Bc Amtrak doesn't own the tracks. The freight companies do. Amtrak has no control over the freight derailment that set me back 29 hours.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 19, 2012 23:18:12 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jul 19, 2012 17:26:16 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

But WHY? I traveled by train all over Europe and never heard of delays like that. WTF is our problem?

Bc Amtrak doesn't own the tracks. The freight companies do. Amtrak has no control over the freight derailment that set me back 29 hours.

The freight companies? Like Union Pacific? Why doesn't the government own them?

[InBetweenDays]

Ahh the Empire Builder I've ridden that a number of times between Seattle and St. Paul. My dad is a HUGE train buff and he and my mom just took it from SEA to BOS. In September they are going from Boston to somewhere in Texas, then to LA, then taking the Coast Starlight back up to Seattle.

As you said, delays are part of train travel. I don't think they would ever deter him from future train rides.

[chia]

Jul 19, 2012 23:36:39 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jul 19, 2012 23:18:12 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Bc Amtrak doesn't own the tracks. The freight companies do. Amtrak has no control over the freight derailment that set me back 29 hours.

The freight companies? Like Union Pacific? Why doesn't the government own them?

Some are also owned and/or operated by states, local gov't, or metro authorities.

Amtrak doesn't own them because they were there long before Amtrak. Amtrak has only existed since the early 70's. Why would the gov't go through reinventing the wheel, when there were already freight rail tracks laid?

I totally agree with pp's, though... I think the level of delays is totally over the top. I don't care if the tracks are shared, there should be better ways to manage and prioritize the traffic. And, sure... Amtak was delayed b/c of a derailment... but why? Was it because of poor maintenance or some other thing that was the fault of the freight rail?

But, alas, the world of train laws and regulations is a weird place.

[basilosaurus]

When I lived in Japan, they were literally apologizing for 2 minute delays, bowing and scraping on the platforms for your basic commuter trains. The concept of 12+ hours delays makes no sense to me.

At one point, I did have a 2 hour delay. To the Japanese, this was a major deal. Apparently it was due to a suicide on the tracks. Abject apologies and refusal to sell tickets were what I encountered, not a dismissive "oh, well, this is what train travel is like".

When H traveled to see me by train in the States, when we were dating, he had a 12 hour delay on a 6 hour trip. That's just absolutely ridiculous. I don't care the explanations; there is no excuse for that kind of bullshit. I don't care who owns the tracks. Pretty much everyone else in the world can do this better than us. So, why do we suck so much?

[grosnl19]

Jul 19, 2012 16:46:07 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Delays are absolutely part of training. I was prepared for delays, which is why I booked our connection with a 29.5 hour layover in Chicago. I was prepared for a delay in the realm of 8-10 hours. 24+ hours is pretty crazy.

Yeah here in Europe that would not fly. I don't mind trains here as they are very efficient and comfy.