It sounds like a fantastic trip. I've done some shorter ones like that, say from Kansas City to Chicago, or Chicago to Washington DC. Never regretted it. I agree that the food left something to be desired, but on the whole I have really enjoyed the few liesurely trips I've taken. This makes it all the more a pity that Americans don't seem to have access to the type of ticket that you seem to have bought. Given that lengthy summer car trips are so common here as to drive up the price of gas, I wonder if we couldn't take a few of them by train, strengthening Amtrak's position, lessening the dependence on gasoline (a little, though diesel is required for the trains) and letting folks relax and see the country vs. driving.
One thing that comes up once in awhile is the annual toll at train crossings, and although it's a known issue, it does never seem to get solved fully. What always bothers me when I run across one personally is that they don't seem designed to perfectly prevent accidents. I run across several urban crossings and almost all of them seem to allow for a driver to accidentally be left stopped somewhere in or near the middle of the crossing. Then I have to read these lectures from train industry people about how drivers aren't paying sufficient attention to the dangers of train crossings. But while doubtless many drivers are not sufficiently respecting the dangers (choosing to go around barriers, etc.) I also think they need some better design, to prevent well-intended drivers from accidentally finding themselves in a bad situation. > I didn't. Flew into LAX, caught the train in San Francisco to >Denver, Denver to El Paso, El Paso to New Orleans, New Orleans to >Chicago, Chicago to Los Angeles, flew back to Australia, all in one >week. Great way to see the country although the seats and food >leave a bit to be desired ;) > > Andrew > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. http://us.click.yahoo.com/cjB9SD/od7FAA/AG3JAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
