Last leg of the trip is complete! Our average speed on the Crescent was 37 mph, which narrowly beat out the Coast Starlight to take the belt for slowest train. Altogether we did about 7,200 miles give or take and we’re still speaking to each other, so I’d say this trip was a success!
-Krystian and Winston
Just pulled in to Washington’s Union Station over five hours late! The Amtrak Endurance Challenge is complete. Thanks to Nick, Greg, Eva and Sara for hosting us in their respective cities. Thank you to Amtrak for meeting most of our expectations, and even exceeding some. And thanks for following along!
-Krystian and Winston
Amtrak’s policy is to provide a complimentary hot meal when their trains are over four hours late. Our hot meal was “chicken cacciatore”! Mine was accompanied by a hamburger bun; Krystian’s came with a croissant. No vegetarian alternative was offered.
-winston
3 1/2 hours later we just got our snack! A plastic bowl covered in tin foil containing a quarter of a mini chocolate donut and a quarter of a mini glazed donut. Worth the wait!
-winston
We just stopped in Culpeper, VA. It seems that the crew has completely given up on announcements (not that there were many to begin with).
Three hours later, there is still no sign of the complimentary breakfast that was loaded on in Lynchburg.
-Winston
Since we’re running late, someone decided it was a good idea to supply the train with a complimentary breakfast. However, the breakfast was delivered around 10:30, and no one on the train or in New Orleans (where this crew is based) knew about it, especially Brandon the cafe car attendant, who had to pay for it out of the cash register ($160). Additionally, the food that was delivered is not nearly enough for the 180 coach passengers, and it includes items that are especially difficult to pass out: bulk donut holes, a variety of different types of fruit juices, etc. Four members of the crew have spent the past hour and a half complaining about the whole situation and arguing about how best to distribute it.
We’re not holding out much hope that they’ll figure it out and pass out any breakfast before we de-train in Washington.
-Winston
According to the National Safety Council, Amtrak has .03 deaths per
100 million passenger miles while the domestic airlines have .02 deaths. That means you’re 50% more likely to die on Amtrak than on an airplane!
-Krystian
