Riding the rails

By The Associated Press

8:33 p.m., March 21, 2012

CHEMULT, Ore. — An Amtrak spokeswoman says a train bound from Los Angeles to Seattle hit a tree lying across the tracks in southern Oregon's stormy Cascade Mountains, triggering a mudslide that derailed the baggage car and stalled the 246 passengers for hours.



My daughter and BFF each rode the rails yesterday on behemoth double-decker trains: Ty boarded the Starlight in San Francisco headed north, due in Eugene at 13:45; Melissa in Seattle headed south, due in Eugene at 17:30, (this travel coinciding with an abnormally 25-hr long void of the moon. Just saying…)

A spring storm debilitated Eugene dumping 7 inches of snow; school and business closures, snowplows out in force, stalled vehicles closing I5 off-ramps, downed power lines. Snow day! By day’s end, a mood of frivolity prevailed throughout town; kids sledded, flurries of snowballs whizzed past, an impressive number and array of snowmen stood sentry in front yards of every neighborhood.

I arrived at the Amtrak station for my pick-up in a timely manner, the last time the word “timely” was applicable this day, although the arrival board indicated all trains on time. 13:45 came and went and eventually word trickled down to the awaiting masses that arrival of Starlight was delayed by a downed tree. Likely to be late two hours so I lunched at the one bar across the street with a view of the station, where a mood of frivolity also prevailed, this time amongst adults enjoying their snow day.

The mood back at the station darkened as delays continued with little information forthcoming, (the reader board never waivered from all arrivals and departures “on-time.”) The end result: the Starlight derailment blocked the rail and took down rail service until Monday, leaving all passengers scrambling. Melissa switched to a smaller train and came rolling into Eugene at 21:00. Well, Melissa and her steamer trunk. Good heavens. Tyler and fellow passengers were bussed from Chemult arriving at 22:00.

I spent my day tromping through the snow, followed by shopping for dry boots, waiting in general, and eating. Dinner at Bepe & Gianni’s, lively with the college crowd and area families stuck without electricity, I ate a fabulous Spaghetti alla puttanesca. Molto bene!

Comments

Janice said…
Well, it's always something, isn't it? At least you had some good eats.
Thu Mar 22, 10:27:00 PM
Catherine said…
Hmm, I was wandering around town yesterday wasting time myself due to a power outage here at home. I had already spent Wed. night in town (which coincided nicely with previous plans to attend the 'Lady Antebellum' concert). Finally got power yesterday afternoon. Thank goodness for warmth and flushable toilets. Too bad we didn't touch bases as we could have dined together. Lets get together soon.
Fri Mar 23, 07:16:00 PM
Mrs. Tuna said…
Well that bites. Hopefully it got all straightened out in the end.
Sun Apr 01, 08:35:00 PM
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