I love traveling by train. Wish passenger rail had not died out. Amtrak is OK but doesn’t have all the small connections off the main routes that used to be.
In the past few years, NY’s Penna. Station has not looked the same to me two visits in a row. Confusing to a traveler like me. (I usually go to NYC by bus; the terminal is a solid eight blocks north of the trains.)
I’m betting you were a bit overwhelmed by it all. It’s a lot more of everything you’re used to if you don’t deal with it every day. :-o
I’ve always found it amusing that we (as a society) think we’re so modern and well set up today.
Going back just as far as the mid fifties in the area where we live I find a thriving economy, doctors who made house visits (and were comparatively affordable,) an excellent rail transportation system with stops in every small village and town and many more stores of all kinds available to the local.
Wow – the Empire Builder – cool.I once rode the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York City’s Grand Central Station.
It was in August of 1966 and was quite a ride. I was on my way from Army Boot camp at For Ord, California, to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where I was to attend Advanced Individual Training in Electronics.
At that time, there was a huge air strike, and virtually, no planes were flying. I was under strict orders to get to Fort Ord, and did it by taking the City Of Los Angeles from LA to Chicago, and the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York City.
Once in New York, I had a problem. The only way to make into Fort Devens on time was to fly from New York City ASAP.
So I threw caution to the wind and went to La Guardia and found a flight company that was doing flights to Boston.
I was in one corner of a huge room crammed full of people. A guy came out of a door on the other side of the room and asked if there were any folks that wanted to go to Boston. Half the people put up their hand. The guy said there was only room for 30 people, and began pointing at those closest to him. He was about to point to the last person, when he saw me across the room in my Army uniform. He asked me if I needed to go to Boston. I told him yes, and he said that I was the last to be picked. When I got over to him to go thru the door to board the plane, he took me aside and said, “I was in the Army in WWII and landed at Omaha Beach on D Day. No way am I leaving a fellow Army man stranded.”
I felt pretty good, and made it in time so that I did not disobey my orders.
John Francini over 4 years ago
Amtrak! Cool. I took Amtrak across country twice and really liked it. But then again I’m a train nut.
arolarson Premium Member over 4 years ago
I love traveling by train. Wish passenger rail had not died out. Amtrak is OK but doesn’t have all the small connections off the main routes that used to be.
katina.cooper over 4 years ago
Hope you got some sleep on that train. You probably needed it.
Perkycat over 4 years ago
What a great family. I’m sure you are glad you visited them.
Melki Premium Member over 4 years ago
I wasted many of my teenage years, and plenty of my teenage moneys, in the Harrisburg area. Ah, memories . . .
GirlGeek Premium Member over 4 years ago
Your uncle looks like an adult Bobby Hill
The Legend of Brandon Sawyer over 4 years ago
I could smell the hot dog from here! NEW YORK! N to the Y, no other!
Michael G. over 4 years ago
In the past few years, NY’s Penna. Station has not looked the same to me two visits in a row. Confusing to a traveler like me. (I usually go to NYC by bus; the terminal is a solid eight blocks north of the trains.)
I’m betting you were a bit overwhelmed by it all. It’s a lot more of everything you’re used to if you don’t deal with it every day. :-o
kd1sq Premium Member over 4 years ago
I’ve always found it amusing that we (as a society) think we’re so modern and well set up today.
Going back just as far as the mid fifties in the area where we live I find a thriving economy, doctors who made house visits (and were comparatively affordable,) an excellent rail transportation system with stops in every small village and town and many more stores of all kinds available to the local.
Today, by comparison – nothing.
Yeah, we’ve come a long way… or something…
RonBerg13 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Wow – the Empire Builder – cool.I once rode the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York City’s Grand Central Station.
It was in August of 1966 and was quite a ride. I was on my way from Army Boot camp at For Ord, California, to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where I was to attend Advanced Individual Training in Electronics.
At that time, there was a huge air strike, and virtually, no planes were flying. I was under strict orders to get to Fort Ord, and did it by taking the City Of Los Angeles from LA to Chicago, and the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York City.
Once in New York, I had a problem. The only way to make into Fort Devens on time was to fly from New York City ASAP.
So I threw caution to the wind and went to La Guardia and found a flight company that was doing flights to Boston.
I was in one corner of a huge room crammed full of people. A guy came out of a door on the other side of the room and asked if there were any folks that wanted to go to Boston. Half the people put up their hand. The guy said there was only room for 30 people, and began pointing at those closest to him. He was about to point to the last person, when he saw me across the room in my Army uniform. He asked me if I needed to go to Boston. I told him yes, and he said that I was the last to be picked. When I got over to him to go thru the door to board the plane, he took me aside and said, “I was in the Army in WWII and landed at Omaha Beach on D Day. No way am I leaving a fellow Army man stranded.”
I felt pretty good, and made it in time so that I did not disobey my orders.