From: Jonas Jon Contractor USTC (Jon.Jonas@hq.transcom.mil)
Date: Fri Aug 16 2002 - 07:59:34 CDT
Paul, Okaw Valley Council contingent (728J1-4) caught Amtrak Southwest Chief
this year in Kansas City, departing about 11:30p July 27 (we originated in
St. Louis, connecting with Southwest Chief in KC). We arrived in Raton
about 3:45p July 28, arriving at Philmont about 5:00p, barely in time to get
tents and eat supper. Needless to say, almost all check-in (registration,
logistics, med checks, crew photo, equipment draw, etc.) was done before
lunch July 29, our ranger did shakedown immediately after lunch, and we got
on the bus to Lover's Leap Turnaround at 2:30p. We barely had time to hit
the trading post for local area charts. Everything was very rushed. If you
can swing it, I recommend planning to arrive a full day early if you're
traveling Amtrak, especially if you have a first time crew. An experienced
Philmont crew could more easily get through check-in same day as departure
for the trail, since they know what they're doing and shouldn't take too
long for ranger shakedown.
We were about 1 hour late departing KC westbound. We had a 2.5 hour delay
in La Junta CO, awaiting a new locomotive with working brake and power
system. Amtrak runs at the whim of the freight train companies that own the
track. Don't ever count on Amtrak being on time. On our return, we began
45 minutes late departing Raton. We arrived in KC about 1.5 hours late due
to severe weather delay on our route. Our connection left KC 45 minutes
late and we lost another hour between KC and STL. No malfunctions, just got
behind freight trains.
All that being said, our Scouts and leaders enjoyed the train ride. We were
all in one coach car, loaded our packs and baggage in the baggage car before
boarding. Scouts brought cards, chess, books, etc., to kill the time. We
worked on Backpacking MB enroute, too. Sleeping across Kansas overnight is
the way to see (or at least cross) Kansas--it's really flat. Take earplugs
and something to cover your eyes with. Some Scouts were able to stretch out
on the floor under the seats. Coach seats are like wider airline seats with
extendable legrests, so it's possible to snooze (I wouldn't really say
sleep). Dining car food was generally too pricy for our Scouts but many
adults ate there--I didn't think prices too unreasonable, considering low
volume and labor intensiveness. Most carried food aboard or ate at the
snack bar.
With all this, it sure beats driving.
If you have any more questions, just holler.
Jon Jonas
Sealoon
"A mind stretched by a new idea never regains its former dimensions."
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 04:06:46 +0000
From: mnep@att.net
Subject: Philmont by Soutwest Chief
I am looking at transportation options to Philmont in
2003, one of which is taking Amtrak's Soutwest Chief
from Chicago. It's scheduled arrival time in Raton is
11:38 AM. Could anyone that has taken this train in the
past comment on their experience; specifically, should I
schedule to arrive in Raton on the same day as the trek
arrival date at Philmont, or should we plan to arrive in
Raton the day before, and spend an extra night?
Thanks,
Paul Nepermann
advisor, Trek 621G
------------------------------
End of philmont Digest V01 #343
*******************************
-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Thu Mar 13 2003 - 10:37:27 CST