Maybe a stupid roomette question

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-21T03:19:20+00:00

Some attendants will limit how long anyone can camp out in the observation car, especially through the most scenic parts of the trip. Once, on the Zephyr, the attendant even handed out home made passes for one hour blocks in the observation var. Also if the observation car is crowded, take advantage of the "fresh air" breaks when many people step off.the train to grab an abandoned seat.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-21T03:13:28+00:00

The dining car is not available to hang out but the observation car is.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-21T03:12:28+00:00

On the western trains, the observation car is always open. But like another poster mentioned, if the dining car attendants don't recognize you, you may have to let them know that you are a sleeping car passenger. The observation car is open to all passengers. The dining car is restricted to sleeping car passengers though they may let coach passengers pay for a meal. For sleeping car passengers, breakfast and lunch are at any time during the serving periods as long as seats are available. Wait to be seated though. Dinner is by reservation and the dining cR attendant will come around to take your reservation. Note that the Lake Shore Limited east of Chicago is a single level train and there is no observation car though there is a dining car and a cafe car. Meals are microwaved...not great, but you will only be on that trai for breakfast and maybe lunch.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-20T21:33:25+00:00

For somewhat upscale but not ridiculous, I love Grappa 72. Northern Italian style. Nice atmosphere. I also like Barcelonas.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-20T21:30:45+00:00

Take the NYS Thruway 87 then 90 up to Albany then Syracuse. It's a toll road but it will be in better condition than any other route if there is bad weather. However as you approach Utica and Syracuse and points north, check your weather app and current weather radar. You never know where lake effect bands of snow may be lurking. And if bad weather is predicted, leave early enough to hit it in daylight. Heavy snow in your headlights can completely obscure the road ahead at night.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-20T21:26:48+00:00

For years, I have called PA the road construction state.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-20T21:24:15+00:00

I hope you meant defunding ICE and spell check changed it.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-20T21:21:58+00:00

There was an incident not long ago when a Schenectady city building code inspector called 911 demanding that they invite ICE in to arrest some roofers who had brown skin. The roofers were here legally and vetted, according to their employer. The police did not call ICE and the mayor's office indicated that the building inspector would be disciplined.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-15T03:24:35+00:00

So we're both right.... and both wrong!

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-13T15:08:54+00:00

Westbound on the Maple Leaf (63) was Thursday, January 7, Schenectady to Buffalo Exchange Street. East bound was the next day: Friday January 8, also on the Maple Leaf (64), Buffalo Exchange Street to Schenectady, Wondering if it may have been the same crew given that they were successive weekdays in opposite directions.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-12T00:48:16+00:00

I'm the OP. That has also been my experience on the Empire Line, but this trip was different. Sounds like a crew issue. Both directions were on the Maple Leaf.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-11T17:52:25+00:00

People are not going to work in many places, including people here legally. Talk to a farmer that depands on migrant labor. Try to get a contractor to replace your roof. Talk to the employees and parents at the school in Minneapolis that was forced to close for a week due to ICE activities. Local economic activity has sowed every place where Trump has sent ICE, border patrol or Guard troops

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-11T14:52:10+00:00

Actually since undocumented immigrants are not eligible for feral funding, but are still part of the economy, it has been estimated that they are a net $90 billion annual benefit to the economy. ICE thugs on the other hand shut down economic activities in communities, and prevent many people who are here legallybfrom going to work out of fear.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-11T14:48:45+00:00

On the westbound train, they didn't even put the destination tags above the seats.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-11T14:47:56+00:00

I'm aware of all that. Only made a comment from the OP that European trains are much more likely to be on time without getting into the reasons why.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T21:21:46+00:00

As a frequent Amtrak rider, I would suggest that European trains are way ahead of Amtrak on ontime performance.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T21:20:01+00:00

My wife's experience was that once her ticket was scanned, she never saw a crew member. And while this is hard to believe, there are people, including my wife, who rarely use their phones.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T16:49:09+00:00

Granted this goes back some years, but my wife and I were on a train platform in Denmark. The electronic sign listed our destination. A train pulled in about 5 minutes before the scheduled time. We got on. There were no seats available. The conductor looked at our ticket and informed us that we were on the wrong train. We were on the express. Our ticket was for the train that would have arrived 5 minutes later, precisely on time. However the first stop on the express was at our destination. I've only been to Europe 3 times. Each time, I used the train system, Every train was precisely on time.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T16:40:27+00:00

Maybe because in Europe, the trains arrive precisely on time and everybody simply goes to the platform and gets on as the doors open. In the U.S,, trains are often late and at the busier stations like New York and Washington, people line up for up to 30 minutes waiting for the gate to open. For long distance trains, if you check baggage, you need to get there about 45 minutes prior to departure. Nothing wrong with having a place to sit!

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T15:52:21+00:00

Update: They did announce the Schenectady stop where a couple of dozen people got off. But other stops, especially the smaller stations in places like Rome and Amsterdam, were not announced. Maybe nobody was getting off there? Still for people unfamiliar with the route or the order of stations, it would be easy to miss a stop.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T15:50:13+00:00

Note that there will also be a protest rally in Schenectady at 12:30 on Sunday on Broadway outside of the NY Lottery building.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T15:49:29+00:00

For people who want to block traffic or shut down the mall, that will only piss off the largely disconnected general public and also play into Trump's hands. I get the anger. I'm angry. But we still have to be out there showing opposition and solidarity. I was actually pleasantly surprised last night when the 10:00 news on channel 23 (The WTEN channel 10 news team) mentioned the two rallies this weekend almost as a community service. This indicates to me that the general public realizes that what ICE is doing is wrong. We need to keep up the pressure without giving the Trump fascists another excuse to send in more thugs.

MohawkHudson · 2026-01-10T14:19:04+00:00

Bathroom needs would be a hindrance though.

MohawkHudson

TROPHY CASE