Made it

[ickaimp]

Okay... didja know that Prez Bush is planning on cutting funding for Amtrak all together? No more passenger rail transportation across the States. Bastard.

Was somewhat right about my prediction of arrival. Train arrived at 1am instead of midnight, then was three hours behind scheduale when I woke up around 6am, so was going to arrive around 1pm instead of 10am.
Which is fine. No problem.
Except for some assmuncher who decided it would be funny to pull the Emergency Brake on the stop before Union Station. (36 miles to go! 36!!)
Two. Hour. Delay. If they had found whomever did it, that person would have been facing a Lynch Mob. Especially since they had to cut power while inspecting the wheels and brakes for damage omn 90 degree heat. (the brakes on one wheel locked up, rendering the train unable to move. currently, 90 degrees feels nice and cool.)
Sooooooo not funny jerkface.
Arrival time at LA: 5:30pm. Geh.

However, what was funny was the group of travelling seniors from New Zealand. They kept the observation lounge pretty light hearted abouteverything. So was actually a pretty good ride.

*Train stops*
Lady #1: Are we out of petrol?
Lady #2: Everybody get out and push!!!

Also had interesting conversations with two train buffs, one of whom had a radio that allowed him to hear the train/control tower communications, which he'd pass on to us.

Later, on the train to Lancaster:

Conductor: Last stop, Landcaster in nine minutes. *click*
Guy: Bet we can do it in six!!!

Also got Conan vol 48 & 49. Ran carries Conan in her lap in the car a lot. Also, nice photo of Ran that Shin'ichi got. Sonoko keeps sending him pics of her various bodyparts. *snickers* thinking the lady on the motorcycle is Yukiko for some reason...
And FMA #10. Duuuuuuude. Roy's stockier in the manga. Still buff. And Gluttony falls on Envy from a way high place. Bonus. >D

Heading to AX tomorrow.

Comments

[jeva-chan.livejournal.com]

Getting rid of the train systems? BUT I'VE NEVER RIDDEN ON A TRAIN EXCEPT TWICE AND THOSE WERE WITHIN THE CITY, YOU STUPID PRESIDENT! T______________________T

Heh...loved the "Everyone, let's get out and push!" At least you guys kept yourselves amused rather than trying to seek out the idiot who put on the emergency break and making a DC scene out of it. ^_^'

Hope you'll have a good time on the rest of your trip! ^_~!

[hoshi-ryo.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not all that bothered by Amtrack's probable demise. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that, well, I have tried using them.

They were willing to get me where I wanted to go, for a very reasonable price, but absolutely refused to sell me a return ticket. This was particularly baffling, since I knew that the train that'd get me almost all the way there most definitely was not one-way...meaning that the shuttle bus that'd get me the rest of the way there was.

My theory is that its next stop would a few miles more to the east, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

[ytak.livejournal.com]

There's also the fact that passenger train travel has never made money in the US since it began.

Icka, sounds like you had a lot of fun. Brought back memories of leaving NYC and the power cutting out on the train twice and stopping once.
Hopefully you will have had all your problems on the trip there so the return trip is uneventful.

[hoshi-ryo.livejournal.com]

Well, of course Amtrack'd not be making a profit -- what with regularly driving buses into the ocean and such.

( Last I heard, Amtrack was considered viable...if they'd drop the routes which couldn't break even, or at least seriously consider the possibility that some could have better scheludes... )

[ladyorla.livejournal.com]

*g* Yep, those ladies had a very NZ sense of humour all right. ;)

[iori-baine.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of a routine done by Dennis Miller about not wanting to ride in a system of transportation where the public has access to the brake, not relishing the thought of derailing at 200 MPH because 'Gus thought he spotted a woodchuck'.

*huggles*

[poe-nui.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you made it, eventually. Sorry I can't make the trip down to AX. *pouts* Spousie is panicking at the thought of me going on a two-hour car trip, let alone one all the way to AX. *rolls eyes and pouts* There goes my day at the beach. Although, I believe I agree with him on the longer trip, the Brat would be a right pain. Literally.

Re: *huggles*

[ickaimp.livejournal.com]

*laughs*
Or with our luck, you'd have the Brat at AX!!! *laughs*
((GLOMPS!))

Re: *huggles*

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

Yes she would and you feeling like Hell won't help either.

And you have a beach...it is just colder water up there.

heyoo!

[btailweaver.livejournal.com]

^_^ Can I bug you? I have possibly good news--if the price of hotels nearby doesn't shock me, I might talk myself into staying at AX Sunday *and* Monday. (Not to disappoint the Aunties and Grandma with not showing up to the "let's sit in our lawn chairs and watch everyone else's fireworks" party.) Unfortunately it's Disneyland-land, so everything's pricey. -_- $100 a night, ow. Well, I'm off to call hotels and see what's what, wish me luck!

^_^ Hope you're having a blast! *huggles* See you Sunday, regardless!

Re: heyoo!

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

BECKY!!!! Have fun and toment Icka for me will ya? Can't do it from here.
Hehehe.

Wishing bucket fulls of luck.

Should I or shouldn't I?

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

Should I or shouldn't I? Guess ya win, I am talking to ya....lucky you. *sniffs in Ca and heading to AX while we....(drumroll)work our fingers to the bone in the stifling heat.

*cheesey grin*

The problem with the rails is that 1. they aren't taken care of well, and if your rail is kaput can't take a different route.
2.trucks use what? gas......as do the engines but I guess not at the rate of the auto industry and trucking 3. If someone cared enough to make sure things runs on time...both freight and passenger

used to ya know, run on time.

*squints at FMA book, is it bent?

whoop