I pretty much have settled on my itinerary projections. Remembering it is projection based on possibilities based or projected outcomes of speculative ventures. In other words, when I go, a plan to stay 1 hour may escalate to 4 or 8 hours and 4 or six hours may end up on one hour. That 8 hour projection on travel may end up 5 or 10. I might even bypass an attraction all together, when I get there.
I begin thinking about souvenirs, again. Mainly because I am looking a display factors of these old souvenirs. I pin my patches to cloths stretched on canvass stretchers, that use by artist for oil paintings. That idea came from my sister, who stretched unique fabric for use a wall hangings. I found a nice set of shelves with six in deep shelves, perfect to display my mugs, except that I need another one.
I started collecting patches for railroad excursions and railroad museums back on 1978 with the steam excursion of the Chessie Steam Special. That was a part of my vacation, that year, the second one I took after college and the first touring type (my first vacation, I visited a commune). These patches were sewn to a shirt which became my uniform for all future railfan events.
My vacation of 1981 was to visit my parents in Mississippi. As part of that visit, I took the train, via Chicago. In Vicksburg, I began collecting patches for destinations other than railroad. However, it was the only patch gotten for that vacation.
Enter 1986 and vacation to Kiwah Island in SC. In looking for a patch, no patch was found but a mug was found. This set my souvenir process, used until now. Several years ago, I realized that I did not have a mug or patch to represent all my vacations. I had overlooked a few. I looked on Ebay and online stores for the various destinations. Several questions remain concerning getting these souvenirs. 1. if I had been there before and did not get the souvenir and returned, what order would place it in my display. 2. How far back before my first vacation where I first collected, should I look?
I have tried various ways to order the patches and mugs. I recently went back to my timeline to figure out on vacation. A few years, as a part of journaling, I laid out a timeline of when I live where, who I worked for. I found out at a few patches and mugs are out of place because I placed them where their second visit was not the first. I noticed that this vacation will finish getting all patches and mugs.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Some Chase Scenerios
In looking at train chases, we start where there is limited passenger activity. I am on the east coast so I select starting point nearby. For now, I start from Southern Pines or Hamlet, NC. Going north, I need to transfer in North of Richmond or Washington. To Boston, transfer would be Richmond, Alexandria, Washington and points north to NYC. North of Baltimore are impractical due to time of departure on the second league. Both give a long layover and a few supplemental point to gain.
A second target area is Chicago, coming for the east coast. WE can extend the Chicago chase to include Memphis, TN. We can use Atlanta, GA but with few targets. Florida is perhaps better divided between Miami on one trip and Tampa along with Orlando and Jacksonville, on another. These are just a few possibilities, depending on the nature of the targets. For instance, a Chicago trip via the Horseshoe Curve.
The possibilities are great and depending on starting point.
A second target area is Chicago, coming for the east coast. WE can extend the Chicago chase to include Memphis, TN. We can use Atlanta, GA but with few targets. Florida is perhaps better divided between Miami on one trip and Tampa along with Orlando and Jacksonville, on another. These are just a few possibilities, depending on the nature of the targets. For instance, a Chicago trip via the Horseshoe Curve.
The possibilities are great and depending on starting point.
The American Train Chase Rules
A chase is simply an out and back. It may be one day or overnight out and one day or overnight back. Best to chose a starting point with only one train each way.
1.The player will leave on one scheduled train and have to be back on or by another specific train. While away, we have specific targets that must be hit, that is trains that must be ridden, photographed or video.
2.A supplemental point is given for riding, photographing or videoing targets not within the target zone. 1 point for commuter rail, 2 points for light rail (including streetcars) and 3. points for monorail. An additional point is given for riding.
3.Missing a target or arriving back at a time after the specific train means elimination.
4.Player may substitute supplemental points for targets missed to avoid elimination, at a rate of 2 supplemental points to offset one point.
5.There is not a minimum or maximum number of eliminations in any given chase. If no one is eliminated or all are eliminated that be it. However, missed targets or arriving back late may be offset by supplemental points.
6.Each person is a part of a two person team. However, each person is randomly partnered with someone other than the person's team mate.
7.If your team member is eliminated, you are eliminated. However, you or your team mate's points may be use to avoid elimination.
8. If all chasers are eliminated in any league, the team with most supplemental points will be declared winner. If in the last league, the team with most supplemental points will be declared winner.
1.The player will leave on one scheduled train and have to be back on or by another specific train. While away, we have specific targets that must be hit, that is trains that must be ridden, photographed or video.
3.Missing a target or arriving back at a time after the specific train means elimination.
4.Player may substitute supplemental points for targets missed to avoid elimination, at a rate of 2 supplemental points to offset one point.
5.There is not a minimum or maximum number of eliminations in any given chase. If no one is eliminated or all are eliminated that be it. However, missed targets or arriving back late may be offset by supplemental points.
6.Each person is a part of a two person team. However, each person is randomly partnered with someone other than the person's team mate.
7.If your team member is eliminated, you are eliminated. However, you or your team mate's points may be use to avoid elimination.
8. If all chasers are eliminated in any league, the team with most supplemental points will be declared winner. If in the last league, the team with most supplemental points will be declared winner.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
The Great American Train Chase and Scavenger Hunt
The real title is just the Great American Train Chase and I will explain the scavenger hunt, shortly. Back when I started riding Amtrak a lot, I would hang out at the station. That was back in the late 1970's. I picked-up on one of these nights, a national timetable for Amtrak. I thought that it would be nice, to travel from coast to coast on Amtrak. But, my mind did not stop there. How about hitting all four corners of the country? Or how about seeing how any trains I could take in the course of (let['s say) two weeks.
Wait a minute! If I tried that, all I would have to do is make it to the Northeast Corridor. I could take a train to the next stop and board the next one north and so on, riding the Corridor for two weeks. OK! Let's make is to have to hit the four corners of the country, in this travel. I gave it the railfan title of the Great American Train Chase. And make it a competition. It could become a promotion stunt for Amtrak. However, how would we verify that someone took the trains and hit the four corners? That was where the scavenger hunt came in.
As I said, that was a long time ago, before home computers and internet. The idea got shoved into the back of the mind for a few decades. A back in 2010, I was planning my trip to Boston, from Hamlet. I discovered that a through train to Boston was not possible. I had to go to Washington and connect to another train, one that went overnight to Boston. On that vacation, I decided to fly to Boston, take public transit and rent a car for a day for certain parts of the vacation.
That led me to looking at the possibilities of an out an back, train watching trip to Boston. Go to Washington, transferring to the overnight, and spend the day watching, returning on the overnight to Washington and transferring to home. Three days without getting a hotel room! I did more planning and saw that I could see the Matapan High Speed Line, ride the Green Line and get pictures, see the Blue line change from third rail to overhead at the Airport Station, watching North Station Commuter at North Station, and watching South Station Commuter. Long day but I thought is worthwhile or at least fun. I set it up and did it. I re-planned it, and found that I could change a few things and add riding commuter rail out of both South Station and North Station and hit the other targets as well. That will be a future trip.
This could be the basis of a TV game show called the American Train Chase. There would be a series of out and back trips with targets to photograph or video. The targets are railfan points such as commuter rail, light rail, or monorail. I did lay out a few, just for fun. I would love to try them someday.
OK! I did plan out around the country, making the six corners: Boston, MA, Chicago IL, Seattle WA, San Diego, CA, New Orleans, LA, and Miami, FL. It would take 15 days if timed right. There would even be a few targets hit, while hitting he corners. Just for fun, I tried hitting all six corners and seeing all targets in my list. Now that would be a trip, taking at least 51 day.
Next the American Train Chase rules:
Wait a minute! If I tried that, all I would have to do is make it to the Northeast Corridor. I could take a train to the next stop and board the next one north and so on, riding the Corridor for two weeks. OK! Let's make is to have to hit the four corners of the country, in this travel. I gave it the railfan title of the Great American Train Chase. And make it a competition. It could become a promotion stunt for Amtrak. However, how would we verify that someone took the trains and hit the four corners? That was where the scavenger hunt came in.
As I said, that was a long time ago, before home computers and internet. The idea got shoved into the back of the mind for a few decades. A back in 2010, I was planning my trip to Boston, from Hamlet. I discovered that a through train to Boston was not possible. I had to go to Washington and connect to another train, one that went overnight to Boston. On that vacation, I decided to fly to Boston, take public transit and rent a car for a day for certain parts of the vacation.
That led me to looking at the possibilities of an out an back, train watching trip to Boston. Go to Washington, transferring to the overnight, and spend the day watching, returning on the overnight to Washington and transferring to home. Three days without getting a hotel room! I did more planning and saw that I could see the Matapan High Speed Line, ride the Green Line and get pictures, see the Blue line change from third rail to overhead at the Airport Station, watching North Station Commuter at North Station, and watching South Station Commuter. Long day but I thought is worthwhile or at least fun. I set it up and did it. I re-planned it, and found that I could change a few things and add riding commuter rail out of both South Station and North Station and hit the other targets as well. That will be a future trip.
This could be the basis of a TV game show called the American Train Chase. There would be a series of out and back trips with targets to photograph or video. The targets are railfan points such as commuter rail, light rail, or monorail. I did lay out a few, just for fun. I would love to try them someday.
OK! I did plan out around the country, making the six corners: Boston, MA, Chicago IL, Seattle WA, San Diego, CA, New Orleans, LA, and Miami, FL. It would take 15 days if timed right. There would even be a few targets hit, while hitting he corners. Just for fun, I tried hitting all six corners and seeing all targets in my list. Now that would be a trip, taking at least 51 day.
Next the American Train Chase rules:
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Comfortable Train Travel
What should you take and what should you do on a comfortable train trip? Four devises carried, will add comfort to the trip. Of course, the phone. This keeps you in contact with friends, family, and business. If the train is running late, you can call ahead to let your hotel reservation know or family that will meet you. The smart phone will give you other information. If you use Google Maps, you can see where the train is at, as it locates you on the map through GPS. Downloading the Amtrak App, will allow you to chart the ontimeness of your train.
The tablet will give you these same advantages, except for the call. The wider screen will make map watching more comfortable. With WiFi, we can watch videos, either downloaded or hosted on our devise. Earbuds and Noise Cancelling headphones are required for this. Many Amtrak trains have free WiFi but a WiFi card that uses 4G will be nice to have. Unfortunately, most cable and satellite apps will not be as useful on these trips as they have limits on what can be watched while away from home network. You can still stream from Blockbuster and other rental apps, including Netflix. However, Amazon is limited. Amazon streaming video is not supported on Android devises, even if you go though the website. You still can stream music, however.
Your laptop computer is your best friend. Here you can stream video from all the major carriers including Amazon video. This gives you a place to work if that is wanted.
Beyond this media, other things will make the trip comfortable. A blanket if the trip is long along with a pillow. Of course taking a sweater or using your jacket or coat, during colder time, can be substituted for either blanket of pillow.
Cameras and camcorders will make trip interesting as you record what goes by. On many trips the scenery is as interesting as any video you could have, particular through historic areas, mountain vistas and waterways.
On many trips outside the NE, train trips are friendly, much friendlier than flying, You can even talk with the next person, without seeming odd. In the lounge and cafe car you can sit with fellow riders that you haven't met before. Many diners use community seating, where they will seat you with someone you just or not yet met. On my first trip on train, I went to the diner. The host said "two" and I said "I am not with him." The host said "do you have anything against him?" and we set together and we talked. On another trip, I had a roomette, alone. Even before leaving the station I began a conversation with someone in the next room. We ended up have our dinner together and some time in the lounge.
So you board the train, take a seat, and the conductor views you ticket (in the old days he would punch a hole in it). If it is an early train you can now go to the cafe car or the diner and get breakfast. In the cafe it is most frozen and then microwaved, but still acceptable, they do have fresh good coffee. You can now go back and sight see from your seat or stay in the lounge. Before you know it you have been traveling more than an hour. If it is later you can have dinner instead. Overnight would mean sleeping. So when you board, how long the trip, will make all the difference in what you do.
The tablet will give you these same advantages, except for the call. The wider screen will make map watching more comfortable. With WiFi, we can watch videos, either downloaded or hosted on our devise. Earbuds and Noise Cancelling headphones are required for this. Many Amtrak trains have free WiFi but a WiFi card that uses 4G will be nice to have. Unfortunately, most cable and satellite apps will not be as useful on these trips as they have limits on what can be watched while away from home network. You can still stream from Blockbuster and other rental apps, including Netflix. However, Amazon is limited. Amazon streaming video is not supported on Android devises, even if you go though the website. You still can stream music, however.
Your laptop computer is your best friend. Here you can stream video from all the major carriers including Amazon video. This gives you a place to work if that is wanted.
Beyond this media, other things will make the trip comfortable. A blanket if the trip is long along with a pillow. Of course taking a sweater or using your jacket or coat, during colder time, can be substituted for either blanket of pillow.
Cameras and camcorders will make trip interesting as you record what goes by. On many trips the scenery is as interesting as any video you could have, particular through historic areas, mountain vistas and waterways.
On many trips outside the NE, train trips are friendly, much friendlier than flying, You can even talk with the next person, without seeming odd. In the lounge and cafe car you can sit with fellow riders that you haven't met before. Many diners use community seating, where they will seat you with someone you just or not yet met. On my first trip on train, I went to the diner. The host said "two" and I said "I am not with him." The host said "do you have anything against him?" and we set together and we talked. On another trip, I had a roomette, alone. Even before leaving the station I began a conversation with someone in the next room. We ended up have our dinner together and some time in the lounge.
So you board the train, take a seat, and the conductor views you ticket (in the old days he would punch a hole in it). If it is an early train you can now go to the cafe car or the diner and get breakfast. In the cafe it is most frozen and then microwaved, but still acceptable, they do have fresh good coffee. You can now go back and sight see from your seat or stay in the lounge. Before you know it you have been traveling more than an hour. If it is later you can have dinner instead. Overnight would mean sleeping. So when you board, how long the trip, will make all the difference in what you do.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Riding the Train, cont.
That excursion to Atlanta included a trip to Washington on Amtrak. This was done to compare the experience. At the time there was on round trip from my home in Williamsburg and Boston. That was the old Colonial. I then started taking Amtrak when I could.
When I started this discussion, I intended to begin with a discussion of train verses any other transit form. It was summarized as that each should not be compete with other but complement and support the others. We should be looking to a balanced and useful system. This discussion would move to where do we take trains and planes. Than I would move to what makes up a good train trip.
As railfan, I am more prone to train travel that the average person. To be honest, I find train travel to be more comfortable for a longer ride than airlines, by about 3:1. However, this is not absolute. The thing about train travel is that there is more leg room per passenger. Besides that, movement, or train walking is not discouraged. But the main element that determines the length of a comfortable are other factors than length.
An overnighter for a train, is nice. You sleep on the train and arrive in the morning. Much of the trip is while sleeping. I don't sleep well while traveling but it is still better.
When I started this discussion, I intended to begin with a discussion of train verses any other transit form. It was summarized as that each should not be compete with other but complement and support the others. We should be looking to a balanced and useful system. This discussion would move to where do we take trains and planes. Than I would move to what makes up a good train trip.
As railfan, I am more prone to train travel that the average person. To be honest, I find train travel to be more comfortable for a longer ride than airlines, by about 3:1. However, this is not absolute. The thing about train travel is that there is more leg room per passenger. Besides that, movement, or train walking is not discouraged. But the main element that determines the length of a comfortable are other factors than length.
An overnighter for a train, is nice. You sleep on the train and arrive in the morning. Much of the trip is while sleeping. I don't sleep well while traveling but it is still better.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Riding the Train.
My first ride on a train was when I was in preschool. Our church took a excursion to the beach, Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA. We left from Broad Street Station in Richmond. I learned later that C&O RR would do these special trains and take the car up the trolley tracks to the beach and leave it for the day. In the 1970's, while in college, I began model railroading and, as a offshoot, train watching. After college I took my first steam excursion. I went from there to New England and took my first ride on Amtrak. In the south, my riding experience were for weekend trips to parents but not much more (the occasional weekend trip by rail was done). When I move to Boston, MA in the mid 1980's I became experienced in commuter rail. I was the first station stop on the purple line (called that because on T maps it was designated by the purple lines.)
Before and since that trip, I had chances to watch, including the Piedmont that was the daylight version of Crescent, running between Washington and Atlanta. They also ran locals, between division points. The local would leave Washington and take on a container or piggyback in Alexandria before heading south to Lynchburg, dropping the freight at Monroe.
While in college, my parents lived in northern Virginia. One evening, while traveling home from school (Va Tech) I had cut over the mountain and was heading north of Charlottesvlle. To my surprise I saw the Southern Crescent, heading south to Atlanta. I finished school in 1975 and rumor began that Southern would not longer be running the Crescent but turning the operation over to Amtrak. In 1978, I decided to ride the Cescent from Washington to Atlanta. This was my first chase, out and back.
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Before and since that trip, I had chances to watch, including the Piedmont that was the daylight version of Crescent, running between Washington and Atlanta. They also ran locals, between division points. The local would leave Washington and take on a container or piggyback in Alexandria before heading south to Lynchburg, dropping the freight at Monroe.
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Piedmont in Alexandria, VA
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Local in Alexandria
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