Wow, there are numerous problems with this train. It apparently left Chicago with one bad refrigerator in the Diner, the other broke along the way. So food service in the Diner Car will consist of three choices of microwave dinners, we are told. We are also informed not to go "number 2" in the upstairs toilet, since there are problems with it as well.I have pizza for lunch, it is about as good as you'd expect from microwave from pizza.
We have no power in lower-level Room 13, we are moved to less-desirable upper-level Room 9 after initial resistance from our Conductor and Attendant.
It is fricken hot as hell on this car. Apparently the heater is running in spite of the 80 degree outside temperature and the fact that we are travelling through the daytime deserts of Nevada. I am told by the attendant that he cannot switch the air on because it is not yet officially springtime, and his elderly passengers are still frigid even with the heat on. Cold old people, really.
The crew on this train has a lot of time in with Amtrak... and the UTU union. The are professional but unaccommodating. Much like the post office used to be before UPS and FedEx came around, much like the phone company used to be before cell phones and the Internet took away their customers. This is about the service quality I originally expected from Amtrak when I stepped on the Empire Builder the first time on Christmas Eve. Harrumph.
We leave Reno and it's "trench". The city and casinos paid to trench the mainline through to eliminate the many grade crossings that disrupted the flow of gamblers. It's kind of cool, and a neat engineering project to read about. Bah, should have got a pic of the trench.
Shout out to Vopal. Sorry Lisa, we were only there for 15 minutes.
The California Zephyr, #6, at Roseville, CA.
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