When I checked in at the Cleveland station the Amtrak attendant asked if I was familiar with the Metropolitan Lounge at Chicago’s Union Station. I told him that I was (although I’d never been in).
“Good”, he said. “If you can arrive early there is a wine and cheese reception for our sleeper-car passengers. It’s quite nice, so do your best to get there early”.
I arrived at Union Station at 7:30p and entered the lounge. Not unlike an airline club room, the Metropolitan Lounge is outfitted with numerous groupings of sofas and chairs as well as several tables. A variety of hot and cold drinks are available at no additional cost as are light snacks. The lounge also has complimentary Wi-Fi service.
At 8p those of us booked on the 48/448 Lake Shore Limited were invited to board the train. We were escorted onto the platform, then to our appropriate car. This time my attendant was Mike. Not as pressed and proper as my previous attendant, but just as nice. He suggested I leave my things in my room and head to the dining car for the reception.
The dining car tables had been lined with white tablecloths and set with blue cloth napkins. There I was met by a impeccably groomed staff who offered a choice of wines, Shiraz or Chardonnay. Moments later an assortment of cheese and crackers were offered. There was never any need to ask for another glass of wine – each time the gentleman passed he filled the glass.
A woman joined me. She was about my age and traveling from San Antonio to Pittsburgh, stating that she was meeting her husband who preferred to fly. She told me that she takes the train whenever possible.
“This is an entire community on wheels”, she explained. “We’re in here watching the world go by with no cares and no worries”, she said. “And the people that watch us pass by have no idea about the world inside of this train”. She continued by telling me that she’d always lived near a rail line and enjoyed the sound and sight of passing trains. When I lived in Salt Lake City the sounds of passing trains just a block away would lull me to sleep.
Mike prepared my room and turned in for the night ride back to Cleveland. While I dozed off for a couple of hours here and there, the fact is that even at night, I was intrigued by the landscape and I often propped myself up to gaze out the window. Through rural Indiana and Ohio, passing through so many small communities, one can see that there are lives taking place right along the tracks. The stop at the Toledo train station always reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting.
When I was young our neighbor across the alley was a model railroader. Half of his basement was devoted to miniature landscapes through which his N-gauge railroad traveled. It felt as if I were inside that model railroad looking out at the landscape that was so meticulously created. Even during the night and even during the rain – I was captivated by what is just outside the window.
Including the tank of gas to and from Cleveland, my travel costs amounted to $380 round trip. That’s a $226 savings over a comparably purchased time-sensitive airline ticket. And for the $226 savings, I received sleeping accommodations, personal attention, a full breakfast (en-route to Chicago) as well as a well-planned social prior to departing Chicago. There were no lines, no security hassles, no stressed out passengers and plenty of space to stretch out or go for a walk and free parking at the Cleveland Amtrak station.
I’ll say it again – there is no more civilized form of transportation than that of travel by train.
Jeff – thanks for keeping train travel on the radar.