A Day in The Life...

This is an old one. From 1999 I believe. These were the days before the laptop. These were the days I took pen to paper

and actually wrote it all out. lol This was written to 2Lucky before I knew her name. Hence the name "Peg". lol This will

give you an idea what a trip is like. Although there all different but you'll get the idea.

“.....Woke-up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. Found my way downstairs and drank a cup, looking up I noticed I was late. Found my coat grabbed my hat, made the train in seconds flat, made my way upstairs and had a smoke, somebody spoke and I went into a dream.......”

And so it begins. Another journey into the unknown. Six days of train travel and God knows what else. lol Your first “trip” ( I think ) and my 3568th. Ha-ha-ha Right now were on the commuter train that goes between Milwaukee and Chicago. This is my ride to and from work. I haven't reported to work yet so our trip has not officially begun, but it will soon enough. First however, you need a little background. We will be traveling on train #27, The Empire Builder, from Chicago to Portland Oregon. A 2,400 mile journey, 1 way. We should arrive in Portland Monday morning, have the night off and then return to work Tuesday and head for home. Arriving back into Chicago Thursday afternoon. “Should” being the key-word here. Anything can happen out here, anything. lol

I'll be working the 2730 sleeping car this trip. I haven't worked this train in about 10 years!!! So I'm kinda' lost here too. lol I've been working to Oakland Cal. For the past 5 yrs or so. Usually working a sleeping car, sometimes a coach, depends on the time of year and my seniority. I couldn't hold a regular job ( sleeper ) on the Oakland train this winter but I could hold one to Portland, so here I am. This will be my regular run until next spring or until I get bumped of this job by someone with more seniority.

I could probably write a book describing my job and what exactly what it is I do, but I don't think I'll have the time for all that. lol You'll get a good idea of what I do as we go along.

Now as for the train, I'll be working a sleeper opposed to a coach. A sleeper is like a hotel on wheels and I'm everything from the “maid” to the “manager”. Coach is similar to airplanes, just seats.

Well were in Chicago. I need to go sign in. See you in a bit.

Well were not off to a good start here. lol We were suppose to leave at 2:10 but here we still sit. There having some kind of problem with one of the engines. Hey!!! Were moving!!!! See-Ya Chicago........

I have already loaded my people into my car. Not too many traveling. 27 in all for my car. It can hold up to 44. I've already gone through and introduced myself to everybody and explained not only the room, but the rest of the train as well. IE..Dinning Car, Smoking Car, Lounge Car..... Covered all the basics so I should be free until Milwaukee, about 1 1/2 hrs.

Were backtracking here. We are on the same track that we were on this morning coming to work. And yes, I will see my car in the parking lot where I left it this morning. And yes, I will be tempted to grab my bags and get off of here and go home. But not as tempted as I will be on the way back into Chicago 6 days from now. Yep, I'm a home body. I would rather be home than anywhere, anywhere in the world. But I guess when a person travels for a living you can not help becoming a home body!! LOL I love being home and doing “My thang”, whatever that might be this month. LOL

Were yet to reach 40mph, let alone the normal track speed of 79mph. Track repair and signal problems are the cause for this. The train operates on a set of signals much like a traffic light for cars.

We've left downtown Chicago, gone through the warehouse district and are now into the northern suburbs of Chicago. This is where all the rich and affluent live. Hey!!!! There goes my house!!! LOL I wish!!! LOL Brb Glenview, Ill.

Well so much for our first stop. I don't need to be “on the ground” at every stop working the sleeper. I have a list of where everybody's getting on and off my car. But, you see, I smoke there fore I am. LOL

I can't believe it! Wow!! You see that?? Unreal hey??? Hehehee

Smoking on the train has become like everywhere else, a pain in the ##@. There's only one place to smoke on the train, the dreaded smoking lounge. Open to all. I never....... OK, OK. I'll tell you what I saw.

LOL This route is the same route I've taken back and forth to work for 16yrs now. I rarely look out the window anymore. But looking out back there I saw the old garbage dump. One of many for Chicago. What they do is pile up the garbage to around 150-200 ft. then cover it with dirt and close it down. This dump has been closed for about 7yrs now. Guess what there building on top of the hill? Houses. Million dollar houses. I don't know about you, but that's the last place I'd want to live. LOL

Out in the country side now. Northern Ill. We will be crossing over the Wisconsin border soon. Wooded acres and farm fields. Soft rolling hills. Everything is golden brown now, waiting for it's winter coat of snow. Sun is setting so I won't be able to give you much of a tour of my home state. Wisconsin changes as we go west towards the Mississippi River. It will go from Flat, wooded farm land to marshes, then to rocky bluffs as we near the river. Well here we are.......welcome to Wisconsin.

And,...and, and.....there-goes-my-car. Hmmmmm........

Just left Milwaukee. Dark outside now. The Dinning car Stuart just made his first call for dinner. I only picked up one passenger at Milwaukee. A lady from England. They talk so cute. LOL I also have a handicapped person downstairs in room H. He cant walk the 5 cars to the dinner so I will have to bring his meals back to him. Walking on the train is hard enough but doing so with a tray full of food and drink is a bit of a challenge. Balance, that's another thing you will get from riding a train.

Well seeing how it's dark outside now I'll turn our attention to the train itself. I don't know if you ever been on a train before, I never asked you, but if you have you, living east of Chicago, were more than likely to ride Amfleet equipment. What were on here is Supper-Linner equipment. There as different as night and day. Amfleet is older, noisy, single level cars, where as Super-Linner cars are newer and quieter, cleaner, and double decker cars. However Super-linner cars can't go any farther than Toledo because of there height. Too tall for the overpasses and bridges. But if you ever board a long-haul train out of Chicago, you will more-than likely be on Super-linner equipment.

On my car I have 5 Deluxe Bedrooms and 10 Economy Rooms upstairs. On the lower level there 4 more Econ. Rms plus 1 Handicapped Rm and the Family Rm. The Econ. Rms have 2 beds and can hold two people per room. Same with the Handicapped Rm, 2 people, 2 beds, but the room stretches form one side of the car to the other ( about 12' ). It also has it's own sink and toilet which the Econ Rms and Family Rms do not. The Family Rm stretches across the whole car as well, and can hold up to 3 adults and 2 children. 1 double berth and 3 singles. The Deluxe Rms, like the one I'm sitting now (hey!! It was empty!! What can I say?? Lol), can handle 3 adults. It has 1 folding chair and a couch, sink, toilet, and shower. Yeah, I'm comfee. hahaha This room that I'm sitting in now goes for up to $1200., depending on where your traveling to.

The dreaded call-bell!! Lol Like Moofiee, you never know when....lol OK, I have to do some work now.

Well now I'm hungry. FOOD!!!!! Hehehee Going for dinner. What the heck, It's free.... This will acutely be my first “real” meal in over a week. Lol

All I want to do is lay down. So full. Coffee.... Maybe if I had coffee.

The Dinning Car is 5 cars away. Quite a jaunt. There's 4 coaches and the Sight-seer Lounge car between my car and the Diner. The Dinning Car serves formal, sit down meals. It has a crew of 7. 3 chefs, 3 waiters, and the money man the Stuart. They can serve 60 people at 1 sitting and be ready for the next in about 60 min or so.

The Lounge car (or bar car) serves drinks, snacks,exc... Food service on the lower level, sight-seeing on the upper level. This car is the 90's version of the old Dome Cars.

As, I'm sure you've guessed by now, I'm not that busy. Lol Evenings are my slow time. Mornings are the busiest time of the day for me. That's when I turn into the “maid” and make up all the rooms. If the car is full that's 44 beds I get to make up. But, thank God, I'm nowhere near full. All of the people in my Deluxe rooms are getting off the train in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. That will be in about 3 hrs. Yeah, go figure, spend all that money and not even stay over night!!!!!

And, as I'm sure you've noticed, I have a tendency to over explain things. Yep, I do. Just a bit........lol

Hello, I'm back. Room H wanted a blanky. So where were we? Oh yeah, writing........hehehee

God, I just realized just how tired I am. Not a good way to start a 6 day trip. I sure won't be able to catch up on my sleep out here. My down time (off-duty time) usually is from midnight to 5am. And that's only if I have nobody getting on or off my car. I'll be OK tonight, but tomorrow night dose not look good.

Well enough for now. My hand is getting tired, and my eyes are getting heavy (even after 4 cups!! Lol) and my car is quite. So missy.....hmmmm.. ...That's not going to work. missy just doesn't seem to feel right here. Hmmmmm........ Now you never told me your name so I'll just have to remember what it is you look like and put a name to your face. Hmmmmm.... OK, got it. Margaret. But nobody calls you by that name except your Mother and then only when she's mad at you. Soooo....Peggy!!!! Yep, that's it!!! Peggy. Peg for short. Your going to hate me arnt Ya????? Lol

Anyway Peggy, time for me to take a little teeny-weeny cat nap. Hehehee While nobody's lookin'. See you in a bit.

Well so much for my little nap. We came into La Crosse, WI. just as I was getting comfortable. The next stop will be Winona MN. I have 5 people getting off there so no time for a cat nap....oh well.

Crossing the Mississippi River. Welcome to Minnesota.

Just finished “setting up” my car. I kinda' skipped this part this afternoon. What I do after I check in is go find my car and go over it all. Everything from the mechanical reports to the linen supplies. This car will have to get me through the next 6 days with little or no help in between so everything has to be working and supplies have to be here. If there not I will have to contact the proper dept. and have them bring me what I need. Also need to “set-up” all the rooms, put pillows out, towels and so forth, make them look presentable. Also need to find a home for all my supplies. Can't have all the stuff taking up space, like an empty room, they might sell the room and then I'm behind.

Coming into Minneapolis-St. Paul. Were running about 30 min late. Not too bad. I've seen worst. Shall we look up Fantas?? Lol Were going to be here for about 45 min so we have the time. Lol Should we go and wake him up?? Lol Do you think he'd know who we are?

Well were coming into the station. I better go get the people ready and make sure they're awake.

Well it looks like I'll be staying up for awhile yet. I have someone boarding in St. Cloud, MN. We'll be there in about an hour. Oh well, another short night. But this one might be worth the loss of sleep.

Now you can see why these “trip reports” are so long. I mean look at this!!!! Day 1 has not even ended and I have written 14 paper pages of babbling already!!!! Lol,lol At this pace Peg, you will receive by far the longest trip report I have ever done. But you need to know that this job is where I do most of my thinking, and I believe these letters are an extension of those thoughts.

So, day 1 is over, 5 more to go. Sweet dreams Peggy. See you in the morning.

Good morning Peggy. Welcome to North Dakota. Running late here. Both the train and myself.lol Both about an hour behind. I'll talk to you in awhile. I'm going to get something to eat while I have the time.

Just left Minot, ND. Not very scenic. A lot of farm land and one huge air base. And very few trees. A whole lot of nothingness. The scenery won't change much until we arrive into western Montana. That's where we will begin to see the Rocky Mountains.

Leaving Williston, ND. We enter the North Dakota bad lands. Everything has that orange tinge to it. What would you call them? Large hills or small mountains?? After we leave this area it's back to the “I can see forever” fields. LOL Just give me a gallon of water, my mountain bike and 2 days. I'd be a happy camper. LOL

Man, it just turned cloudy outside. Real quick like. Overcast and foggy. Everything has a layer of frost covering it. Don't kid yourself, it's cold out there. It was 18 deg. in Minot and now it looks like it might start snowing at any min. Welcome to Montana Peggy. All flat and with little or no trees. Big Sky Country. Well it's sunny again, go figure. They do have strange weather here. Not only do they get the extreme temperatures, but the also get what is called “Chinook Winds”. These winds come off the ocean and blow straight across the region. Sometimes up to 50mph. But there warm winds. Talk about a thaw. LOL

I've been seeing quite a few deer outside this morning. But then again, where do they have to hide. LOL

Operating on Mountain Time now. Turn your clock back 1 hour.

Next stop Havre MT. Havre......strange name, hey? LOL This is how it came about. Back in the 1800's two guys got into a fight over a woman. One lost and was heard to say; “You can have her”. Get it? Have-her = Havre. Not a joke. This is true. They have a huge sign it town commemorating this too. Like there proud of this or something. LOL Only in Montana......where the sheep out number the people 2-1, where the cattle outnumber them 5-1, and where pick-up trucks out number people 15-1. Lol and, oh yeah, it's cloudy again and there's snow on the ground.

Well were coming into the station. Were going to be here for about 45min so if you want to come outside and freeze you tail off with me, well I wouldn't mind. LOL

You know what I just thought of? Being winter it gets dark earlier. I don't think were going to see any of the Rockies today. By the time we get there it will be dark. Also it's foggy again. Can't see any farther then maybe 500'. Not good for sight-seeing. 5:20pm

Ju-ju-ju......Just left Shelby, Montana. GOOD GOD!!!!!! Is it COLD!!!!!! It's only about 10 degrees outside, if that. God do I hate this weather. Completely dark outside too. I guess were going to have to wait until the return trip to see any of the mountains. Were only about 25 miles from the Canadian border. The small mountains you see to the left are inside Canada.

I've got 2 people getting off my car at the next stop of Cutbank, MT. So I'll freeze again. Then after that I need to run some meals to room H, then do some work. I've got some people getting on at Whitefish, MT. Later tonight and I need to get the room ready.

My job is either slow or chaos. LOL I've been going non-stop since I put this paper down. Everything from running meals to chasing coach people out of my car. Making up rooms, trying to coordinate a wheel-chair and luggage assistance for the people that are leaving at Spokane,WA. At 11:30pm.

There's no one at the station to help them and they can't walk far, so I'll be taking them into the station. But I have people boarding there as well, so I'll need to be in two places at once. This should be fun. And it's not over yet. We're coming into Whitefish, MT. And I have people getting off and then people getting back on the same room. This is starting to feel like a commuter train with all these people getting on and off my car. It's usually not like this. LOL

OK. I've got everybody on, all beds are down, and all work is done. At least until the next stop. LOL

Sorry about the lack of scenery reports. I totally forgot how early it gets dark out now. Coming home should be better.

Tomorrow will be scenic but I'll be running around getting all the supplies and the people ready to get off the train in Portland. I also need to make up all the beds. And all this has to be done before we arrive at 9:30am. This is like a 5 hr. job that needs to be done in 3. So I'll really going to need to fly. And on top of this, I'll only get 3 hours sleep tonight.

Good morning Peg......It's time to ROCK !!!! LOL Got to get your a-game on-line. Today is going to be a race with the clock. Portland coming up in 3 hours. But for now, everybody's still sleeping so I have a sec or 2. LOL

Well I survived the night. I got more people on my car in Spokane, WA. Who were not on my list. Last min ticket buyers. So I have a pretty full car to deal with this morning. People will start to get up soon and then I'll be getting this car together all the way into Portland.

Welcome to Portland Peggy. I got through the morning, barely!! LOL Just waiting at the hotel right now waiting for the Packer game to start.

Never go to the grocery store hungry. LOL I have enough food here to last me all week!!!!! But then, there is a Packer game on. Ha-ha-ha

I'll acutely get some real sleep tonight. My layover here is about 30 hours. First time in over 15 days that I'll get more than 6 hours sleep.

I love this area of the country. Seattle being my favorite place. Portland being #2. I have national seniority working for Amtrak so I could live and work anywhere in the US of A. I think that if I was not married, I'd live all over the country and end up settling down out here. But being married with kids, family and friends all in Wisconsin, I'll stay where I'm at.

Well I'll talk to you tomorrow. Report time is 2pm. See you tomorrow, don't be late.

Ya know??? It's been one of them days. Now I really remember what I dislike about this run. After this afternoon, it all came back to me. Like a bad dream. This car can be a pain in the rear leaving Portland, and it has nothing to do with the passengers. For starters, no linen on this car. The one we brought in yesterday left the same day back to Chicago. So now we get somebody else's mess. I have no sheets, towels, wash cloths, nothing. One of the Deluxe Bedrooms is missing a chair and it's sold all the way to Chicago. And the dinning car went to Seattle so we have no dinner, just the snack car. The people in the sleepers receive their meals free in the dinner and with no diner car, no meals there. We'll join up with the Seattle section in Spokane at 1 am. So for dinner tonight I get to hand out these box meals. I don't mind the meals but you'd think they could supply me with the basics??? Is that too much to ask?? These people, some of them have paid up to $1300 for the rooms and I don't even have a towel to give them. Going inside the station to get this stuff is like asking them for there first born, or so they act. I just want to smack them. And the person who brought this car in needs to learn how to make it up. I want to smack them too. And on top of all this, they changed the departure time so we will be going through the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mts. in the dark. I want to smack them too. AAAAaaarrrrrrr..........!!!!!!!

So as you can see, I'm not having the best of a day.

I do have some old pictures of the Cascade Mts./Columbia river area. I'll send them with the rest. Anyway, Day 4.

Going back and re-reading this letter, ummmmm..... I don't know. It's not what I thought it would be. To me it reads more like a diary than a scenic ride. Sorry, I hope I'm not boring you to death.

Well it's about 10pm. Spokane, WA. coming up in 2 hours. That's where we meet up with the other part of the train. Hopefully it's on time. Everybody's sleeping in my car, so I'll best do the same. I'll talk to you in the morning Peggy. Goodnight.

Good morning Peggy. Well there they are, Mountains in broad daylight. LOL Just left Whitefish, MT. Were still on time. It's been a long time since I've been here that I forget how short a time we spend here in the Rockies.

For the next 4 hours we'll be slowly making our way through them. You get the feeling that your looking at unspoiled land. Land the way it's supposed to look. Not very many people up here so the countryside pretty much does what it wants. Were following the Flathead river. It's so clean I can see the river bed. Like looking through tap water.

Were traveling through Glacier National Park. Were on the southern border of the park. It goes all the way up and into Canada. Allot of people come here in the summer months for camping, fishing, hiking, exc... There's real active glaciers in the mountains up here. I'd love to spend a week or two here. Hell, I could live up here, but the commute would be a killer. LOL

We're coming out of the mountains now. I can see the Great Plains. Talk about extremes!!! We go from mountains to flat prairie grassed plains in a blink of an eye. Coming out of the Mts. we travel onto and through the Blackfoot Indian reservation. First stop out will be Browing, MT.

The car's all quiet now so I'm going to see if I can take a small cat nap. Talk to you in a bit.

Just left Shelby, MT. Not as cold as it was coming out. Above freezing anyway. LOL

Day 5 is by far the longest day of any 6 day trip. This is the day that I start thinking of home. This is also a 21 hour day for me. It just keeps going and going. You'd think tomorrow would be the longest day of the trip, but no. Tomorrow I'll be moving all day trying to get the car together for Chicago so the day will go by fast. Today's the killer.

Looking out the window, I see a whole lot of nothing. LOL This land is like one huge field, not a tree in sight. What do people do out here??

It's been a real quiet day. Everybody's just been riding along and keeping to themselves. I called home from Havre. My wife says that our ISP has been down for 2 days now. That's not good. She's not too happy. She can't get through on the phone to them either. She calls and just gets a recording telling her that their experiencing tech trouble. And will be back on-line soon. This job sure does come in handy sometimes. LOL I would not want to be at my house today!! LOL I've been meaning to D/Lone of the free ISP's.. It would of come in handy for her today.

It's going to be a late night tonight. I have people getting off my car in Fargo, ND at 2am, and again at St. Cloud at 5am. Oh well, I guess I can sleep tomorrow night.

Hmmmmm..... Tomorrow night.....home. I haven't seen my wife or the kids in two weeks now. I miss them. I'll be home tomorrow night.

Just left Minot, ND. Still running on time. Had the chance to call home again. ISP is back up and running so there's joy and happiness there again. LOL

I'm glad I'm not working the coaches this night. We've got some real winners there. Pot-bellied, beer drinkin', scuzz-ball cowboy and friends. They've been drinking all day and are now acting stupid. They've been cut off at the bar car but it seems at every one of our long stops they have......

gone and found a liquor store and brought there own on the train. Big no-no. Not allowed to bring your own personal liquor into the coaches.

They've been warned so one more screw up and there gone, off the train. But what's yet to be determined is with or with out a police escort. LOL They never believe us when we tell them they have to get their bags together because they're being put off the train. They think were joking. LOL it's only when they see the cops that they know it's for real. They will be put in jail overnight and let them out the next morning. And here the kicker, Amtrak will let them back on the next train.

Finally, day 5 has ended Peggy. I ready for bed. Got the am-jammies on and everything. LOL Just trying to figure out what time I need to get up. The Conductors will take care of my people getting off in Fargo so I will not need to be up there. But I still have people leaving in ST Cloud, MN so I will need to be up around 4:30am. Tomorrow will as busy day for me but we will be home when it's over.

Goodnight Peggy, see Ya in the AM.

Good morning Peg. I'm working on my 4th cup of jo and I've already got 10 of my 20 rooms done. This morning I Rock!!!!! I don't know what came over me. I'm not a morning person at all!!!! LOL

Coming into Minneapolis-St. Paul. Yooooooooo Hooooooooooo....Fantas... where's are welcome??? Hehehe Were going to be here for about an hour. Were ahead of schedule.

I've got 2 rooms getting off here. My two druggies are leaving too. I'm sure they're carrying drugs. Even the bar tender picked up on it the first night out. Young couple, cell phones, Tommy Hilfinger bags, big roll of money, partiers, night owls who keep to there selves. Working with the public for 16 years I have grown a 6th sense that tells me what people are about. You know there “story”. You've seen it before and will see it again. LOL There lucky the dog are not with the border patrol guys. Ever see a drug dog find drugs?? They get REAL happy. LOL

Crossing the Mississippi River again. Boy, I'd like to know how many times I've crossed this river in my life. LOL

Typical November-December day. Cloudy and gloomy. But at least it's warm. 50 deg or so.

Welcome to Wisconsin. Were coming into Lacrosse, WI. Lacrosse....hmmmmm.......hehehee. The things I have done in this town. LOL October fest. A few of my friends went to school here.

Western Wisconsin is almost mountain terrain compared to the rest of the state. The glaciers and the Mississippi river are the reason for this. The farther we get away from the river, the flatter the land we become. At least their are trees. LOL

Red barns with white houses surrounded by mass areas of wooded land, yep I'm home. And God bless the Green Bay Packers. LOL Living here, you have to say that every day or else they will kick you out of the state. LOL Hey!!! Birch trees!! There's something I haven't seen in 5 days.

Well this is the end Peggy. Nothing left to do but wait for the station and unload all. We should...........and-and-and......there-goes-my-car. Grrrrrr........

Were going to get in early. But the only problem with that is the station master has nowhere to put us, no room. So were just crawling along killing time. Doesn't matter, I have until 5:08 to catch my train home. I should have time to get something to eat.

Man, what a fiasco !!!!!!!! Once we stooped in the station in Chicago I couldn't get out my door!!!! There having work done to the ceiling of the platforms in the station and there's all this scaffolding. And wouldn't Ya know it? They stop the train so my door is blocked!!!!!! Can't unload my people. By the time they realize this, the other cars are unloading. So now I'm supposed to wait until everybody else is off the train before they will move it. And it's only 30 feet. Man-o-man. This will take 15-20 min at least.

None of my passengers are happy at this point. So I send them all back up stairs and forward 1 car. That way they can get off the train. I tell them to come back and I will hand there bags through the scaffolding. Man, what an outfit!!!!! LOL

“This is the end, my only friend, the end”..........The Doors.

I hope you enjoyed your “trip” Peggy. I just wish the scenery was a little better. Maybe come spring I'll take you to California with me. That's a route I know well and it has tons more to see too. Well if nothing else, you now have a pretty good idea of what it is I do for work. LOL

I'll do my best to get this typed out but It might take awhile. LOL Enjoy your layover Peggy. See you in chat.