pmcn
08-12-2008, 10:59 PM
Needed to use my hotel car or loose points, so I decided to set up a weekend trip in Lancaster. Closest decent hotel was York. OK, a rail hub of sorts kind of interesting to check out. Went to find this restraunt on W. Market st. pulled into a lot next to it and found a readers paradise... a used book store (and now reading "No Way To Run a Railroad" basically a defense of Beven.) Cool start, the area had character. Nice town houses that were offices or restaraunts and next ones over we boarding houses. Basically bums hanging out on steps watching people come and go from the fancy restraunts. The Blue Moon was excellent by the way, but a tad bit pricy. Next stop<<<wine/spirt store and back to the hotel for a night of relaxing.
Next morning off to Strasburg to claim the tickets. Got to watch them hostle 90 and 81 for the days runs. Watched the first train leave (11 am) and then went riding around the country. Climed the viewing silo at the red caboose inn. Tried to make the meet at cherry grove (missed by about 5 min) the back to the station for our ride.
We await the arrival and detraining before boarding (nobody got off the president's car). It's pretty much the same car that was used a museum piece for years minus the big table. Speedomoter/odomiter work (located just below and to the left of the door), pressure guages work, barameter works but clock is perpetually 4:00 (have yet to decide if it is am or pm. We had the car to ourselves (my wife and I). First came cold drinks the a fruit plate followed by a vegitable plate. Not bad. About half way through, we received a warm plate of snacks which were good, but a little light.
My experience: If you want to travle in style this is not quite it, but it may be close. It was nice to have the car to ourselves, but it would have also been nice to share the ride with others (we were the only riders that day on any of the three trains). The car was comfortable and offered pleanty of seating opptions but we (I) chose the rear for the view. The AC worked, but I don't think the origional thermomoter switches were running the system. Nice to see how it was done back the though. The stewardess was polite, and we did not have to listen to the tour speal for the x amount of time. Overall, I can now say I have been there and done that and will probably travel dining car on out next trip.
Thanks to any SRR staff who may read this. It was a pleasant trip, you (the operating crews) get an 11 out of 10 [that coupling in the thunderstorm was a tad rough so I had to knock off a point ;)] but you got it back with the slack run in at the picnic grove to get the train rolling again. Nice move, saw all the breaking on the pressure gauge.
Paul
Next morning off to Strasburg to claim the tickets. Got to watch them hostle 90 and 81 for the days runs. Watched the first train leave (11 am) and then went riding around the country. Climed the viewing silo at the red caboose inn. Tried to make the meet at cherry grove (missed by about 5 min) the back to the station for our ride.
We await the arrival and detraining before boarding (nobody got off the president's car). It's pretty much the same car that was used a museum piece for years minus the big table. Speedomoter/odomiter work (located just below and to the left of the door), pressure guages work, barameter works but clock is perpetually 4:00 (have yet to decide if it is am or pm. We had the car to ourselves (my wife and I). First came cold drinks the a fruit plate followed by a vegitable plate. Not bad. About half way through, we received a warm plate of snacks which were good, but a little light.
My experience: If you want to travle in style this is not quite it, but it may be close. It was nice to have the car to ourselves, but it would have also been nice to share the ride with others (we were the only riders that day on any of the three trains). The car was comfortable and offered pleanty of seating opptions but we (I) chose the rear for the view. The AC worked, but I don't think the origional thermomoter switches were running the system. Nice to see how it was done back the though. The stewardess was polite, and we did not have to listen to the tour speal for the x amount of time. Overall, I can now say I have been there and done that and will probably travel dining car on out next trip.
Thanks to any SRR staff who may read this. It was a pleasant trip, you (the operating crews) get an 11 out of 10 [that coupling in the thunderstorm was a tad rough so I had to knock off a point ;)] but you got it back with the slack run in at the picnic grove to get the train rolling again. Nice move, saw all the breaking on the pressure gauge.
Paul