No bag weight limit, no bag check fees within reason, can carry sharp pointy things without being harassed by government smurfs. Lots of reasons to take the train. Oh and DFW airport has got to be one of the most annoying I've had the displeasure of passing through.

Sorry, but I have a hard time summoning up mirth with all the continual breathless sky is falling; the government is coming to get you; Obama's gonna take your guns and do bad things to your kids; the IRS will be set against you and your freedom and the Obamacare gonna decide if you will live or die BS that the right is always spouting.

Its just not funny and how in the world did you decifer from MS's post that it was supposed to be a joke? Sounds exactly like all his other breathless conspiracy from the left threads and posts.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The last time I rode on a train? AMTRAK (Empire Builder/Empire Service), to see, drive and then purchase the 107...from La Crosse to Croton-On-Hudson, NY. The PO of the 450SLC met the 'x' and me at the station and the three of us spent the weekend-Monday checking out the car and sites around the Peekskill area.

AMTRAK's Cost? I don't remember exactly...her ticket, I believe, was around $128 and I got 1/2 price because she was able to have me as her medi-buddy (A handicap helper, I think). I paid for her and my tickets and with the amenities, it was a great trip...sleeper car and all.

A note though. Once we got east of Chicago, the tracks were a whole different matter...much of it, I believe, is due to the fact that there are more towns, denser population and such and because of those facts, there are a ton of switches you end up going through. West of Chicago? Not as many, you travel a bit faster and there isn't as much "shifting" as you go through the switches (usually, one-into-two-into-one switches). East? Some spots we were up to maybe 55-65mph, but most times, you loped through areas and through multi-path/one/multipath swithes. My guess is that the multi-path switches (more than two rails) is probably what jars most folks and makes for a jostling ride.

I'm saving up for the Empire Builder ride to Seattle. Nothing in particular to do or visit...just heard from many folks that if your going to "bucket list" anything in particular, the Empire Builder is a "must do" to be on that list... Hard to say that about anything with the Booberment's fingers in it. I'm thinkin' I should book this baby REAL SOON before "O" figures out there's someone, somewhere, havin' fun and the prices are still reasonable. .

Weirdest part? Buffalo. DHS comes through the car...a big, ballsy babe (Looks like she raised and beat the chit out of Mike Tyson) comes down the isle, stops at EVERYONE and asks a question. You don't know what she's asking 'til she's in your face and hissing..."Where were you born?" I managed to blurt out "Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Maam'."

I'd hate to find out what would have happened if I suffered a "brain-fart" and went blank.

On her right shoulder (if I remembered correctly) was an "IMMIGRATION" patch.

I'm thinking she had a side job as a 'civilian' advisor for Seal Team 6.

Fortunely (for everyone), she didn't have to "subdue" anyone for sharting their pants so outside of that little "burp" in Buffalo, the rest of the trip was pretty uneventful.

As for spikes that weren't into the rails all the way...as long as they were still in the holes, you should be OK. The weight of the rails alone, pressing against the sides of the spikes would keep everything in alignment...but if a series of spikes were ALL out of the holes just enough to allow the rails to split further apart from one another...then you'd have some front page news.

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Ok my serious answer would be to go to the nearest office or find anyone that could direct me to who ever is in charge of maintenance and press the issue to see if it is indeed an issue that they know about and see if it is something indeed to be concerned about. You saw it, seemed concerned about it but apparently did nothing to mention it to anyone or follow through with your concerns. Ask a few questions,make a couple of calls, what's the big deal? Might learn something in the process as well.

Let it go, leave it for someone else to pass along the info. Does that work for you or will you step up and follow through with it. Maybe it's the values I was raised with, maybe the values I cherish and live my life by. If I had seen something along those I would have indeed followed up on what the hell was going on. You were going to ride those tracks, correct?

Is that good enough for you? or do you want to get into more details. How about it Tom, going to check up on it or just leave for the next guy to step up and do what's right? Or can't you be bothered? If You See Something, Say Something. Pretty darn simple concept to grasp.

I asked a serious question wondering if you mentioned it to anyone. You replied in an aloof manner and I posted back, "if that works for you". Let your conscience be the judge for you. I am truly sick of society and its members who are too self absorbed and can't be bothered to do anything where they see something that might be an issue and choose to shrug it off and/or have an attitude of there's nothing I can do about it or leave it for someone else to deal with.

How's that for an answer? Satisfied? Or do you need more?

Well, I am the type of person to do something about it.

We don't have an actual office here with staff and so forth. I bought my tickets from a machine in the lobby. There is a fellow who shows up and walks around telling us how late the train is running. Since there is one departure a day I am pretty sure he just comes in for that then goes home. He looks to be maybe about 70 years old so does not need to work all day.
When I noticed the spikes we were on the other side of the tracks from him and about to board the train.

another member here posted that the spikes coming up is no big deal because the tracks are stable as long as they are located side to side. Still seems kindof dicey to me though. I am big on things being used the way they were designed to be used. That does not seem like it could possibly be good the way they are.

I was hoping you had knowledge of an actual person to call or number to call when I asked if you had a serious answer. I was not expecting a rant on personal responsibility. personal responsibility has been and is a cornerstone of my life.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

[QUOTE=t walgamuth;3158103]Well, I am the type of person to do something about it.

We don't have an actual office here with staff and so forth. I bought my tickets from a machine in the lobby. There is a fellow who shows up and walks around telling us how late the train is running. Since there is one departure a day I am pretty sure he just comes in for that then goes home. He looks to be maybe about 70 years old so does not need to work all day.
When I noticed the spikes we were on the other side of the tracks from him and about to board the train.

another member here posted that the spikes coming up is no big deal because the tracks are stable as long as they are located side to side. Still seems kindof dicey to me though. I am big on things being used the way they were designed to be used. That does not seem like it could possibly be good the way they are.

I was hoping you had knowledge of an actual person to call or number to call when I asked if you had a serious answer. I was not expecting a rant on personal responsibility. personal responsibility has been and is a cornerstone of my life.[


Here is a good site that should lead to the right people......

https://pass.amtrak.com/

[QUOTE=neumann;3158120]You could also contact the Department of Transportation. They are the ultimate overseer of railway safety.

When I arrived here in 2000 I took the Amtrack from NY, to Flagstaff via Chicago and Las Vegas New Mexico. Got off about 20:00 in Flag to catch a bus to Phoenix. I remember the trip well. Some great views along the Hudson River valley in NY, and pleasant green rolling countryside in Nebraksa with almost as many stars and stripes on houses as trees in the landscape. Had to change trains in Chicago. Apparently they can't use the two story cars on eastern trains because the tunnels are too small (or so I was told). I well remember the utterly obscene humidity in Chicago walking along the platform to find my new coach. The scenery thru NM was very nice too. The seats were great. Far better than being squashed into a plane seat like a sardine and it rode really nicely as well. The cars were all air conditioned which was pure heaven for me as I remember the disgusting journeys we used to take when I was a child in South Africa across the interior deserts in trains with no a/c. Absolute hell. I like train travel. I wish there was a lot more of it in this country.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

On canadian long distance trains there usually is a dome car with a table or tables for seating downstairs. I have spent several times over the years meeting an interesting cross section of society in those semi lounges to pass the time. This does not in general occur on buses and planes.

There was one time when there was a long lineup of cars at the crossing we were approaching. I noticed a guy in a Cadillac pulled out around them and accelerated towards the crossing.

He hit one of the engines trucks and bounced off or was thrown into a field. The train stopped and someone at the scene checked and he was dead.

They held the train for a couple of hours to investigate because he was a major politician. Although there was no real need to hold the train as the facts where exactly what the were.

The guy was drunk as well we heard. So he probably had no ideal even of what he hit. Strange to directly watch the event unfold. You pretty well know very well what is going to occur. Then it does. There is no way to prevent it..

A few seconds earlier and he just might have cleared the engines. As I watched it unfold I intuitly knew he did not have enough time. I had enough time to think about was derailing a train possible this way before the hit? He had to be in the 60-90 mph speed range on impact. My guess is he was at the higher end of speed. The train was doing about seventy miles per hour.

How much do I pay to subsidize passenger trains that do not pass through my region?

Probably less than it cost to subsidize the initial construction of railroads across the country. I believe (from memory) that the railroad companies (at least in the West) were given every other section across which they built the tracks. Those sections are now the locations of many oil and gas wells which produce many $$$ for those companies.

That is passenger service in LA.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

A hell of a lot less than you should be paying (if we would have a functional network that included your region as well )

I've never ridden Amtrak. The terminal in St Louis was a mobile office trailer on a parking lot, adjacent to the tracks...worse than the Greyhound station.

My parents swear by the Megabus...cheap ride from Cincinnati to Chicago for weekends sightseeing and killing time.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

[QUOTE=neumann;3158120]Thanks very much! I'll check that out when I get home from vacation and don't have to use the computer in the library.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Knowing in advance I am going to regret this, no where near what you are paying to subsidize foreign governments whose ultimate aim is domination of their people or multi-billion dollar petroleum conglomerates.

I'd rather the money was spent here. I'm tired of being railroaded by the special interest groups who have a one track mind.

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now