Train from Nola to Chicago…any opinions?

I bet the Travel board knows.

This is the OT. You’re not allowed to talk about Food, Politics or Travel.

There are boards for that

That’s a nice little trip by train
I have friends that are big cubs fans that did it and a bucket list trip for them
It was actually a neat way to do it because for a long time there was no direct flights from Louisiana to Chicago

15 cars and 15 restless riders

3 conductors and 25 sacks of mail

Family member rode up for a Cubs game with a group last year. He flew home.

His comment was: "Once in a lifetime event. I could do it again but frick that. It took forever and you don't see much from the train. The biggest takeaway is I can say I did it when the subject comes up in a bar."

I did it once and once is enough. It's not very scenic you basically passing through the trailer parks and junk yards of America you spend a lot of time stopping. 18 hours 18 stops you don't get much sleep because it's not very smooth and the horn blows at every train crossing. I got liquored up which helped but the worst part is trying to take a leak imagine being in a phone booth or a porta potty that's rocking and rolling while you're trying to take a leak. By the end of the trip the bathrooms are disgusting because they don't really clean them and they actually make announcements over the PA saying that if you use the bathroom and clean up after yourself. The ride up was fun the ride back was misery because I knew 18 hours till I got home

Trains suck. You think they are cool, but they just suck. After an hour or so, you will have wished you had flown.

I took Amtrak round trip to Chicago around the LSU opener at Lambeau in 2016.

I got a sleeper cabin, which gave me enough room and all meals.

I never got used to sleeping on the train, between the movement and noise.

At least in Mississippi, the tracks always run through the worst part of every small town, so you’ll see a lot of dilapidated shacks and litter.

I’d do it again if I can take the Sunset Ltd to LA and back, but I’d want the biggest room.

Just NY to Philadelphia or DC is enough for me.

Acella trains are a bit better when I take those routes, but are more expensive.

In any event, yeah don’t do it. I was on a Crescent one time from NYC to PHL, but it goes all the way to NOLA (thus the name). I think its like 52 hours. Guy next to me said he was going NC and that was 14 hours…. I could fly to Dubai in less time…

Oh, and there is no reserved seating typically (think it was only during covid), so its kind of a Southwest like free for all whenever you board (and depending on if you’re mid route, seats may be pretty full already).

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for a long time there was no direct flights from Louisiana to Chicago

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When Whitney Lockman was the Cubs manager?

Flew to Chicago a bunch of times for a long time.