The Phil-list Aug_2006: [Philmont] Travel by Amtrak

From: <Michael_J_Conkey@nbc.gov>
Date: Tue Aug 15 2006 - 13:48:26 CDT

What is all this talk about trains? For our treks, we gather at about 6
AM, drive an hour, have a leisurely breakfast, drive another couple of
hours and are at Philmont by 11 AM. Transportation issues just don't
compute for those of us that can almost smell those Indian tacos cooking at
Abreu if the wind is just right <g>! Now the two and 1/2 day haul to
Boundary Waters is a whole 'nother story....<g> YIS. Mike Conkey ('76,
'02, '04 and '07).

|---------+----------------------------->
| | "Pete Swiggum" |
| | <Peter.Swiggum@sbc|
| | global.net> |
| | Sent by: |
| | Philmont@troop47.c|
| | om |
| | |
| | |
| | 08/15/2006 12:20 |
| | PM |
| | Please respond to |
| | philmont |
| | |
|---------+----------------------------->
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
  | |
  | To: "Philmont List Member" <Philmont@troop47.com> |
  | cc: |
  | Subject: [Philmont] Travel by Amtrak |
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Jimmy,

Sounds like you had the Amtrak trip from you-know-where. It's unfortunate
that you had that experience.

We took the train from Chicago to Raton with no problems. We were probably

no more than five or ten minutes off the scheduled arrival times coming or
going.

We didn't eat in the dining car, but we did utilize the snack bar.
Although
a bit overpriced, at least the stuff was decent.

On the way home, we asked our Philmont bus driver to stop at a grocery
store
in Raton where we stocked up on chicken from the deli, Gatorade, soda,
chips, apples and other miscellaneous goodies so we wouldn't have to rely
on
the snack bar. It worked out beautifully.

Next time we go, I'll suggest the same for the trip out.

Pete Swiggum
Green Bay, WI
Philmont 2005

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jimmy Workman" <workman@email.unc.edu>
To: "Philmont List Member" <Philmont@troop47.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 12:53 PM
Subject: [Philmont] Travel by Amtrak

> Greetings,
>
> We traveled by train to Philmont this year. I am a big proponent of
train
> travel, but I would not recommend Amtrak for any travel at this time.
>
> The train started out 6 1/2 hours late and went down hill from there. The

> dining car on the Cardinal was not as promised and the snack car
attendant
> was rude and worse. We were several hours late getting into Chicago.
> They did hold the train in Chicago for an hour so we could make our
> connection.
>
> The return trip was a disaster. There was a freight train derailment and

> Amtrak was busing passengers from Santa Fe, N. M. to La Junta, Co. They
> did not provide enough buses to pickup the about 100 scouts at Raton. We

> waited for about 4 hours for the final bus. The rest of the passengers
on
> the train were talking that we were waiting on the "Boy Scouts", not that

> we were waiting on Amtrak to provide the buses.
>
> The train did not get into Chicago in time to make the connection to
> Washington. The conductor told us, as we were getting into Chicago, that

> he did not have any information on the connecting train. We already knew

> the train to Washington had left, but he claimed "no knowledge". They
> offered to put us up in a hotel and on a train the next day. We would
> have been 24 hours late getting home. I requested that they fly us
> instead. It took them 3 1/2 hours to make the arrangements, but they
> finally put us up in a hotel and flew us home the next day.
>
> At this time I would not recommend anyone travel by Amtrak.
>
> Disappointed,
> Jimmy
>
>
>
> Donald S. Roberts wrote:
>
>> *From:* Steve B.
>> > I agree that Amtrack is a great way to travel...
>> > if you are not on a tight time table. */Melinda Elmore
>> <mkelmore@mac.com>/* wrote:
>>> There was some discussion on this list about using Amtrak to
>> > Philmont. I just got back from a personal trip from Missouri to >
>> California and back on Amtrak.
>> When we were looking at Amtrak for our 2003 trek in 2001, the joke at
>> Philmont was that if the train arrived on time they would throw a party.

>> In one direction, the 2003 train was one hour late, in the other two
>> hours. This on a trip from Fullerton Calif. to Raton NM.
>> For our 2005 trek, the train was 30 minutes late leaving Fullerton, on
>> time in Raton, on time leaving Raton coming back and on time in
FUllerton
>> on the return.
>> It appears they may have gotten far better on their timing.
>> You can look at train arrival times on www.amtrak.com
>> <http://www.amtrak.com> (I believe the Philtrains are 3 and 4) and see
>> how they are doing and guage for yourself if they are mostly on time.
>> Regards
>> Don Roberts
>> Fullerton, CA -------------------------------------------------------
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> loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
> cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Tue Aug 15 13:56:08 2006

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