The Texas Eagle

 

The Texas Eagle travels from Los Angeles to Chicago. 
Leaving Tucson, aboard the 'Texas Eagle', I found myself in a crowded coach
car, with few seats available.  I took a seat on the upper level, as
directed by the conductor, and because there was not enough overhead room to
put my one suitcase, I chose a seat close to the steps, where I could stash it
behind  me.  Unfortunately, my seat-mate was a very large young
woman, with back problems, who got up and down many times during the night,
interrupting my sleep as well.  I'm sure she didn't want to share the
space, as anytime I left, when I came back she was sprawled across both
seats. 



The conductors take your ticket and mark your destination at your seat, so they
can tell who has boarded, and who needs to get of at which station.  They
DO NOT like it if you move to another seat!  So the discomfort lasted
through most of the night. 



For the leg of the journey that goes to San Antonio, the Texas Eagle is linked
with the Sunset Limited, that goes to New Orleans. The Texas Eagle stops in San
Antonio and is disconnected from the Sunset Limited, and connected with a new
locomotive, for the ride to Chicago.



Sometime in the night, my seat-mate left the coach for several hours.  I
was asleep when we arrived in San Antonio, but was awakened by the announcement
that we were there, and we would be side-tracked for awhile, until the way was
safe to travel.  Apparently San Antonio had become flooded from the
tropical storm that had recently passed through, and the Texas Eagle would not
be leaving until sometime later in the morning.

I continued to sleep until daylight, and when I awoke, I learned that several
people had left the train and gone into San Antonio for a bite to eat, and that
included my seat-mate.  As the sun continued to rise, the train didn't
leave, and the passengers were told that despite their best efforts the
locomotive that was to take us to Chicago had developed some problems, which
could not be rectified.



The conductors notified everyone that they had to leave the train, and that
busses would be coming to take all of us to Ft. Worth to catch the next
train.  Now, the San Antonio station is open at night, not in the daytime,
so it was not open for restrooms, for snacks, or coffee.  No one was able to
get breakfast.  Station staff were called back to open the station so
people could wait there, and use the facilities. 



After about an hour of waiting outside in the humidity of Texas in summer, we
boarded busses according to our eventual destinations.  Five hours later,
and with a short stop for food, we arrived in Ft. Worth.