TXGunNut said

Rick Hill said

Well, I stand corrected.  Since I left the Board of WACA, I am only partially connected to what is going on with our Association and have just been informed that there definitely will be a WACA (Winchester) display at the NRA.  Sorry to have intruded.

  

That’s good news, Rick and Brad.  Always welcome. I’m developing an interest in Mason so it appears I’ll be headed into Indian Territory later this week.

 

Mike

  

Mike, is that prototype one of those Mr. Bennett asked Colt’s general manager to critique? At the meeting where they agreed :not to interfere in each other’s markets [per Pugsley.]

clarence said

Zebulon said

Denton train has skimpy service at night and on Saturday, no service on Sunday. But weekday commuter times are reasonable. 

The wonder is, in Texas, there IS a passenger train!

  

Dallas. Fort Worth. Denton are developing commuter rail systems that interconnect. DART is the most extensive and uses light rail with overhead electric power. Denton County Transit Authority uses diesel powered equipment, as does Ft Worth Metro. Trinity River Express is shared service, running fast heavy rail diesel electric consists between Dallas and Fort Worth, through the intervening suburbs and DFW Airport. It’s not as seamless as Portland, Oregon but it works reasonably well, unlike Amtrak. 

clarence said

As a high-milage lover of the rails whose hometown was a station on the Katy line, I’m seriously impressed.  But don’t curse Amtrack until you traversed the Hudson Valley, past Bannerman’s Island, Storm King Mountain, the Palisades, & that destination I’ve so far avoided, Sing Sing Prison. 

  

Amtrak service is very limited in Texas. The Eagle still runs from San Antonio through Austin, Waco, Fort Worth., Dallas, and Texarkana, to Chicago.  The Sunset Limited starts from NOLA and runs Westbound through Houston, SA, and along the old Southern route to Tucson, Yuma, and Los Angeles. I think the Flyer runs from Dallas and FTW to Oklahoma City with some funding from Oklahoma. That’s it for long haul service. Equipment is mediocre and old. Long delays, bad food.

We took the Eagle from Dalllas to Springfield, full bedroom service. Worn out equipment and microwaved food. No sleep and I couldn’t get into the tiny bathroom enclosure. 

We were told the premier East West train was the California Zephyr, Chicago to San Francisco.  We rode it from Galesburg. IL to Sacramento, Roomette service. Food was better than on the Eagle but sanitation was poor. I don’t think the trackage was up to the speeds they ran in the desert — well over 100mph by my GPS. Loud nights. 

Last leg was Sacramento to Seattle on the Coast Starlight, Roomette service. The worst of everything. The toilets in the coach sections failed from overuse and diapers and we had to take an extended stop in Oregon City for the day riders to relieve themselves in a one holer facility. Fortunately, the Pullman cars were inaccessible to the coach passengers, so our toilets still worked. The delay was so long that, in order to make schedule, we rocketed through downtown Portland at night, taking some short radius curves at speeds that heeled the whole consist over and spooked me. Once across the Willamette over the old Iron drawbridge, the engineer really opened the throttle up and ran flat out for Seattle. Nothing to see at night.

We arrived six hours late, worn out after 4 nights on 3 trains and a case of Montezuma’s Revenge from the food and no exercise. Close to three grand for the one way privilege. NEVER #@%^&* AGAIN.

We flew home SeaTac – DFW non-stop on a nice, clean, half-empty Alaska 737-800 for about $300 each, all up. 4 hours and a bag of peanuts. I kissed the ground after checking for coyote scat. 

The worst thing about the Pullman cars were the upper bunks my wife suffered in for 4 nights. If we were forced at gunpoint to do it again, two Roomettes cost about the same as one bedroom. The far better but very expensive option for a couple would be a double bedroom, which has two lower beds. I think there are only two of those rooms per Pullman car, at opposite ends of the lower deck. But the price is daylight robbery.  And none of the beds are long enough for anybody 6’1″ or taller. I’m an inch taller than that. 

I’m told equipment and service is much better in the East, where Amtrak’s bread is buttered. I hope so but don’t expect to find out for myself.

Michael, who owns the Colt Lightning display lives in Utah.  He had to rent a van and buy his own tables just to take his display for the show.  Way more than I could handle.

TXGunNut said
Bill-

Good tip, DCTA train leaves Denton every half hour, connects with Green line in Carrollton, Red takes me to the Convention Center. $12 regional pass gets it done both ways. Last I heard parking was $20-25. Times are similar when allowing for walking from the parking lot. Numbers like that make it an easy call, may even start going to the DSC Show again if I can figure it out. 

Thanks!

 

Mike

  

Despite DART’s limitations and mistakes, it works most of the time.  I’ve found it’s a lot easier to use than the same agency’s bus system, which has its own culture and secret customs. 

The trick is (1) avoiding rush hours for comfort and relaxation, (2) being prepared for the weather, and (3) making use of your time while riding.  

Here in the Metrocrest, DART station parking can be an issue.  The agency tried to finesse that expense by recommending “drop offs,” which was stupid but cheaper than building parking garages.  

I drove South on Stemmons Fwy for decades to make blood pressure wrecking docket calls at the Allen Courts building et al. But you couldn’t get me to do that now at gunpoint. On the few occasions I’ve had jury duty, I ride the Green Line and have a nice walk to Commerce from the closest stop.

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP: there’s a bus from the transit center to Ray’s Hardware across the river. 

Riding Northbound at 5 or 6 PM on the Green Line,  reading the news while, out your window, all lanes of I-35E are stalled in both directions, is comforting. 

DART AT NIGHT: I do recommend carrying unless your destination renders that impractical.  Then CN and a blade. I’ve never had a problem but the possessed do sometimes come to mingle after dark. 

TXGunNut said
Didn’t get to ride the trains today, monsoon moving thru here now and I’m not doing well with insurance claims lately. Was planning on going to Bedford for the RIA sale tomorrow.

 

Mike

  

Jealous….I still haven’t been although I tell them monthly they could hold preview day past 6 PM for us working folks. I’ll keep trying.

I might go to NRA Sunday…not really decided yet. If I don’t maybe I’ll go by RIA finally.

clarence said
While some of you with the convention in your own backyard deliberate whether an easy ride by rail or bus is really worth your time & trouble, hundreds of others are traveling many miles to get there, with many of them paying the cost of overnight accommodation.

  

And I’ll bet Jeremiah is your favorite Prophet. Lo, woe [once again] to the children of Israel [insert diatribe.] 

I’m going to the Convention Saturday to ask for my partial rebate of dues that were dedicated by Wayne’s World to his wardrobe, which I think should include an orange jump suit. 

If you can avoid drowning on your way to the AMTRAK station and can figure out the route and schedules from there to Dallas Union Station, I will pick you up. You can have our spare bedroom.