On a clear day, the train ride from Seattle to Portland, Ore., features breathtaking scenery: Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, rivers, leafy hills.
Our ride today also included an unbilled bonus: The locomotive breaking down an hour outside of Portland, followed by a wait of 75 minutes while a freight company sent one of its engines to help Amtrak complete the journey.
Ah, subsidized rail travel: Getting what you pay for since 1971.
I'm sick of hearing these stories.
"My train broke down amongst the breathtaking scenery." Just once I'd like to hear about that flat tire you got outside Framingham.
Eric replies: Truth be told, the scenery was pretty mundane where the train broke down. Interstate 5 was to the left and a row of tract houses lined a local road to the right.
Posted by: ChrisB. | May 30, 2007 at 01:43 PM
You take too many trips to sweet locales. I am jealous.
Posted by: Derek Warren | May 30, 2007 at 08:55 AM