I went to visit my friend in Baltimore on Thursday. Instead of renting a car which I usually do since I bring my dog, I took the Amtrak regional from Penn Station to Baltimore's Penn Station. The $92 one-way ticket was a bit pricey compared to car rental(with a corporate discount), but the 2 1/2 hour stress free journey lured me into the bucket seat.
Driving I-95 between New York State and Washington D.C. sucks the big exhaust pipe due to extreme traffic, over-defensive driving, and never ending construction. My friend and I once took 8 hours to return from a Weird Al concert in D.C. The trip on a slow Saturday can take 4 hours. To spare myself another trip on the New Jersey turnpike I took the train.
What a lovely time I had. I sat in the club car, at a booth across from a nice lady already working on her laptop before the train left the station. I had kept my computer on the charger before leaving. Each seat has a power outlet. Oh. WOW. Coffee, soft seat, and electricity. Throw in wi-fi and I'll never leave the train. I'd like to go cross country just for the shits and giggles.
To go from New York, NY to San Francisco, CA it takes 62 hours and $200 for the a coach seat. Add a roomette for approx 500 dollars. It's cheaper to fly, though I think the experience of 2 1/2 days confinement plus the view make train travel a valid and interesting option.
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I think a cross country train trip would be awesome, but I'd definitely need the roomette....geez, if both Nannetteand I did that it'd be a $1,000+ just to go from ATL to San Francisco, although I would like to see San Fran again, especially the Fisherman's Wharf.
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