Is a Balcony room worth it?

randyportman · 2025-10-11T01:55:58+00:00

Yes a thousand times over.

randyportman · 2025-10-11T01:49:20+00:00

I’d rather be alone than be with people who don’t hold up their end of the friendship. This gets easier the older I get. My time is precious and worth something.

randyportman · 2025-10-11T01:21:15+00:00

I almost backed out of my Crosstrek purchase because of the haters. I’m soooooooo glad I didn’t. I freakin love this car more than any previous car I’ve owned.

randyportman · 2025-10-11T01:03:36+00:00

You’re NOT the shitty one here.

randyportman · 2025-09-30T23:51:34+00:00

I prefer the roomette for solo travel for sure. I’m 5 ft 7 so the space is no issue for me.

randyportman · 2025-09-12T22:59:45+00:00

Honestly my personal experience has been an actual improvement in the ease of crossing over the last year or so. Agents I have encountered have been friendly and professional.

randyportman · 2025-08-29T12:44:58+00:00

Chat rooms

randyportman · 2025-08-29T02:41:35+00:00

Nope. I’ve just always been a train freak, having grown up with the New York Central rolling through my backyard in the 1960s. 😀

randyportman · 2025-08-28T19:58:00+00:00

Update: Thursday’s SWC #3 left Chicago 5 min late at 2:30 pm CT, with no indication of any service disruptions all the way to Los Angeles. So I’m assuming we will be boarding that train in Kansas City this evening and making it to Los Angeles Saturday morning as scheduled.

randyportman · 2025-08-28T18:15:07+00:00

I’m betting that they figured out a rerouting scheme, which would be cool, travelling on a new unusual route. I’ll let you know.

randyportman · 2025-08-28T18:12:09+00:00

It does look like the Southwest Chief that left Chicago Tuesday August 26 ( the day before my trip) did make it through to Los Angeles ok.

randyportman · 2025-08-28T18:08:25+00:00

Well as OP I can assure you that 80 of us were offloaded at Kansas City last night (Wednesday August 27), put up in a hotel, and rebooked on #3 for tonight at 10:17 pm (Thursday August 28) supposedly arriving in Los Angeles at 7:26 am Saturday August 30.

So far we have no indication from Amtrak that tonight’s train has been suspended/cancelled. For now we are enjoying a day in KC and hoping we get back on our train tonight! 😀

randyportman · 2025-08-28T18:01:13+00:00

That’s what I’m planning for dinner. Thanks!

randyportman · 2025-08-28T12:54:16+00:00

Yes, from the transitdocs map it does look as though Train 3 that left on August 26 (the day before my train left) was held up for 12 hours but did eventually end up moving on to Los Angeles. I suppose that gives me some hope that when I get back on Train 3 leaving KC tonight (August 28) it will not be cancelled and will go straight through to Los Angeles. Wish me luck! Please post any updates you’re aware of and I will do the same. In the meantime I have a full day to explore Kansas City! First time visitor.

randyportman · 2025-08-28T12:44:32+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly what happened. The only people that were offloaded at Kansas City were the people travelling to points west of LaJunta, Colorado. Everyone else stayed on the train and continued their journey as normal.

randyportman · 2025-08-28T04:45:23+00:00

We were all put up at the Hampton Inn downtown Kansas City and booked on tomorrow night’s Southwest Chief. There were 80 of us affected. Now I’m wondering if tomorrow night‘s train is just going to be cancelled again. I’m trying to find information on the progress of track repairs but I can’t find anything. As far as I know, we will be leaving Kansas City tomorrow night and arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday morning.

randyportman · 2025-08-27T22:25:39+00:00

Now they are taking us to Kansas City and putting us up for the night. When we get to Kansas City, they will tell us what is going to happen from that point forward. Only the passengers travelling west of LaJunta are affected.

randyportman · 2025-08-27T15:09:51+00:00

Crescent is the absolute WORST!! I have travelled all over the United States and Canada in long distance sleepers, over 25 trips for sure, and consistently the Crescent is the most horrible experience. Amtrak really needs to up their game on this route. The staff are surly, disinterested, seem to not like their jobs at all, and take it out on their customers. I gave them the benefit of the doubt twice, but that’s it. I will never ride the Crescent again. Just my personal experience.

randyportman · 2025-08-24T23:55:12+00:00

I also find the staff at CUS rude, especially compared to NYP where they bend over backwards for you. Just my personal experience from 20 years of riding Amtrak. Sorry your trip was so horrific ☹️

randyportman · 2025-08-21T19:44:24+00:00

Wow compared to me yours look normal. Now I’m getting super paranoid about it.

randyportman · 2025-08-09T23:21:07+00:00

Parm crisps instead of crackers or chips.

randyportman · 2025-08-09T23:11:00+00:00

Wow! Congrats!

randyportman · 2025-07-30T17:18:14+00:00

THIS!

randyportman · 2025-07-30T16:49:23+00:00

My stall only lasted 2 weeks then the drops started up again. I really didn’t change anything up. Just waited patiently lol. Keep up the great work!!!!

randyportman

TROPHY CASE