We recently returned from a trip to New Orleans; we traveled by train! We picked up The City of New Orleans from Chicago in Centralia, IL at 12:25 am. Of course I or the online booking thing screwed up the tickets and they were dated the day before, so our "Family Bedroom" sleeping car was occupied and we were stuck in a "Deluxe" room instead. It could have been much worse; luckily the sleeping cars were pretty empty and there was no problem finding us a room. The deluxe room had a bathroom but was still pretty tight; L refused to sleep on the upper bunk when we boarded the train and settled down for the night but loved playing up there the next morning.
We had two meals on the way down and one on the way back. The dining car was pretty cool and the food was actually not too bad. Plenty of pickles to go 'round.
The quarters were cramped, but there weren't so many passengers, so Vivi and Lilah could roam around in the halls. Clearly, someone was ready for a nap by early afternoon.
Success!
Here is the bayou or something as photographed at moderate speed. No gators were spotted.
The family bedroom on the ride back was much better. It didn't take long for Vivi to crash that afternoon, and the girls both slept from about 9-4:30, when we arrived in Centralia, IL.
Success!
Here is the bayou or something as photographed at moderate speed. No gators were spotted.
We arrived at 3:30 the next afternoon and spent the following four days in New Orleans (details forthcoming).
The return home. The station in New Orleans was lost in time. Because we were first class passengers, we were welcome in the Magnolia Room, which boasted coffee, entertainment, etc. Well, we walked in and then walked straight out and into the neighboring Subway because the Magnolia Room was REALLY lost in time - it looked a 70s rumpus room, minus the smoke (but not the smell) and full of people with a TV blasting and coffee simmering in a pot. The murals in the spacious station were really nice.
Mark, our steward on both trips, photographed our happy family about to board the northbound train.
The family bedroom on the ride back was much better. It didn't take long for Vivi to crash that afternoon, and the girls both slept from about 9-4:30, when we arrived in Centralia, IL.
Overall, I recommend it. The sleeping car is an absolute must if there are kids involved, though.
2 comments:
Awesome! I really really really want to take the kids on a train trip sometime in the next few years.
yall are SO brave!! thanks for all the tips...i'd love to try it sometime.
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