Mail Bag, 09/02/1996

Date: Monday, September 2, 1996  4:55pm                       Electronic Mail
From: INT:ruthb@fremont.vegasnet.org                            Msg#: 1055838
  To: Steveg
  Re: Amtrak Pages

Thanks for publishing your Amtrak pages. They are very helpful and
informative. These pages are a great alternative to the Amtrak Homepage
in that it directly quotes the Amtrak magazine. You have given wonderful
opinions and facts.  My name is David Betowski. I am 16 years old and
enjoy traveling by train.  It is the only way to travel these days due
to an increased number of seats in airplane fuselages, terrible airplane
air quality, and makeshift meals, or should I say non nourishable
matter.  And automobile travel is also uncivilized.  You are cramped up
in the backseat of a car. The air conditioning is only effective in the
front seats.  And the only eating establishments are either greasy fast
food restaurants(which I am not fond of), hole-in-the-ground restaurants
that use the traditional American way of advertising by displaying a
large, seen better days, neon sign saying the slang word "EATS," or just
the soggy sandwiches, greasy potato chips, and boring apples from the
cooler.  Although many say trains are slower than automobiles nad
definately slower than airplanes, I find that travel is significantly
faster in a train rather than an automobile.  Actually, I have noticed
significant time differences when traveling in a bus or even a van. I
guess the feeling of space is a key psychological factor.
        Ever since kindergarten I have always wanted to take a train trip. The
only trains I had traveled on were narrow gauge trains with a miniature
steam engine--which was actually a gasoline engine which transported
visitors to and from the parking lot of a replica of a stereotypical
western town located outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.  When I was about
eight years old, a train opened in Boulder City, the town of Hover Dam.
It used abandon Union Pacific Railroad tracks--the ones which trains
traveled anywhere in the country to Hoover Dam when it was under
construction.  The engine was a full sized replica of a steam engine,
however, I question whether it was powered by steam. It had a coach and
a caboose (everyone thinks that all trains have a caboose, when in fact
cabooses were never used on passenger trains--only on freight). The
train traveled for about less than a mile and then went back(not very
exciting but kids love it). My dad and I had to stand in line for over
an hour to board the train. We never did board the train. We figured
that by the time we would board the train it would close for the day. I
left in disappointment, but my dad promised me that we would take a
train trip someday.  That train ran parrallel to the freeway. We passed
it when driving home. The cars were not even authentic. The center of
the caboose was a big window surrounded by bars. It looked more like a
prison train than a passenger train.
        Two years later we took the Skunk Train in northern California--which
was enjoyable. We decided to take the afternoon train instead. However,
for the afternoon train the steam engine(a true one)was replaced by a
diesel.  My parents were somewhat disappointed.  They said that a steam
engine is fun. I did not think so. Steam engines let off black smoke and
the whistle is annoying, as well as the "chugga-chugga."
        Two years after that we vacationed in the east coast.  As part of our
itineary we were to take the Metroliner from Washington D.C. to New York
City.  My dad had taken the Metroliner three years earlier.  However, we
took the Virginian instead.  I, myself, was greatly amazed by the
glamour of Union Station--the gold leaf, the natural light, the marble,
the shopping and eating establishments.  There were probably more shops
than in the largest shopping mall in Nevada. Traveling the Virginian was
fun as it cut its way through the many megalopolises of the East Coast.
The trip lasted about 3 1/2 hours.  Upon arriving in Penn Station I felt
disgusted by its crowds, filthiness, and an extensive renovation
resembling a soap opera.  Four days later we took the Maple Leaf to
Syracuse. It cut through natural beauty and passed West Point as well.
The trip lasted five hours.  Ironically, the tickets for the Maple Leaf
were cheaper than the Viriginian.
        The next year I took my first overnight train trip.  We took the Desert
Wind from Las Vegas to Denver. The train passed along the muddy river in
Overton, NV--a landscape that I would never see by car.  I remember
waking up in Salt Lake City awaiting the arrival of the California
Zephyr. The Desert Wind was earlier than usuaul.
I remember seeing crewmen carrying battery operated lanterns and air
hoses walking around at night.  I also remember feeling several bumps as
the trains were being coupled. We were sitting at the front of the car.
We could not sleep because a strange man was walking between cars all
through the night.
        This year we took the Desert Wind from Las Vegas to Salt Lake and then
took the bus to Ogden.  That night the Pioneer was running extremely
late. That night was the night of a massive power outage along the
central and Western United States.  The train had to stop at every
signal and crossing.  The station manager was nice enough to buy
everyone donuts as we waited for the train. The scenery was spectacular
as we passed along the Columbia.  We were supposed to arrive in Portland
at 2:30, however, we arrived around six.  We traveled back via the
California Zephyr. We enjoyed the new cars as well as the onboard
entertainment, however, the view is overrated.  Most of the view in
California is primarily flat plains and garlic farms.  When we finally
reached the coast we only traveled along the coast for half an hour.
However, it is a better alternative to the desolate plains of I-5. We
traveled home by way of the L.A. Las Vegas portion of the Desert Wind.
The Desert Wind now carries the Sightseer  Lounge and Dining car for the
consolidated train. However, it and the Pioneer will be done away with
November 10 of this year, leaving Las Vegas without passenger rail
service.
  I would like to write about the L.A. to Salt Lake portion of the Desert
Wind for your pages.  I have the brochure for that train as well as a
head full of opinions. If so, please e-mail me.  I do not know HTML but
I can send it to you in ASCII form.

                                                        Happy Tracks to You,
                                                        David Betowski