Comments on: Amtrak: From Chicago to NYC

By: Tim Musselman

Tim Musselman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:23:23 +0000

Oh, and did that ‘cavernous room of stone and marble’ at Chicago Union Station look at all familiar?? It’s been in lots of movies, but the one that everybody knows is the scene in the awesome movie ‘The Untouchables’ where there is the big shootout between Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and the gangsters, with the baby carraige rolling down the stairs and what not. I used to go into Union Sation on regional METRA trains occasionally. You are correct it is a homeless hangout. Go into any of the bathrooms and there are homeless people practically bathing in the sinks. The joys of life in the big city…

By: Tim Musselman

Tim Musselman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:08:56 +0000

I love trains. I rode a cummuter train every day in DC to work (a REAL choo choo train, not some little light rail thingy).

BUT… I think you are crazy. If you are going to travel alot a train is NOT going to be practical most of the time, with the exception of the upper east coast from DC to Boston, which has awesome rail travel (in rail lingo this region is referred to as the ‘northeast corridor’). I’ve made the Chicago – NYC trip several times by air. It’s about 1 hour. Up and down. Of course trains are more scenic and romantic. I don’t mean romantic in a lovey dovey type way, I just mean it’s more ‘special’. But from a practical view point the schedules just won’t work most of the time (unless travelling in the afore mentioned northeast corridor).

Long story short, You should conquer you fear of flying. I know it seems like it can’t be done, but it really can!! Fly enough and you will get over it eventually. It’s one thing if you are taking the train because you love trains. But if your primary motivation is to avoid flying, you might be better served facing your fear. Just my thoughts. Best regards, Tim M..

By: Kevin Moon

Kevin Moon — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:30:40 +0000

The first and only time I’d ever ridden Amtrak was just last year, in February 2009, a day trip from Macomb to Chicago. Before that, I’d ridden many trains in different countries: Ukraine, Korea, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The trains I rode in Ukraine were sleeper trains, which I’ve taken four times. Each compartment, or coupÃ© (not exactly sure of the spelling, but it’s pronounced “cou-PAY”) would hold four people, two on each side in a bunk bed. They weren’t terribly big but were bigger than the one in your pictures. Actually, if you watch “From Russia With Love” you’ll get the general idea. I know exactly where you’re coming from on the sleep issue (sans CPAP, of course)… I couldn’t sleep a wink. But I was riding with friends and we just had a BLAST, it’s one of my fondest memories ever.

By: Zeno

Zeno — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:51:03 +0000

Even in spite of all the little discomforts you described I think there’s a certain appeal to traveling by train which most people in the modern age will regrettably never experience. Back in the mid-90’s I did a good bit of travel through eastern Europe by rail: Frankfurt, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Berlin. Two or three times a year the family and I make excuses to ride the commuter train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and back. I have yet to take a long trip across America by train, but it’s on the To Do list.