All Aboard!

We waited in a long single line for the attendants to assign us to a car and give us some seat numbers.  Once they give you a seat number, you load the train.  As you step up into the car there is a place to but your luggage.  You place your luggage like in these really big compartments.  Then you go up some stairs.  These stairs are very small and very narrow.  If I put my arms down at my hips as I ascended them, I would not have fit.  So, luckily my arms were up because I was carrying our backpack and holding the rail.  Our seats were about half way to the front of the car from the stairs.  The stairs sit in the middle of the car (just for reference sake).

This picture was taken from our seat.  You can see the front of the car, the guy in front of me's head, and the seats across the way.  It looks pretty roomy from here and it was.  The orange things hanging there tell the attendants and the conductors where everyone is getting off at.  The little green lights on the floor stay lit at all times, as do the two little lights every few feet down the ceiling.  Above the seats are overhead compartments for your carry on bags.  You can actually put them up there or keep them at your feet, as long as nothing runs over into the isle.  It looks a lot like how an airplane is set up but roomier.  

Why is it that everyone I know (including myself) always wanna push new buttons that we see.  Such as the case here, above our heads:

I was hoping these were like little air vents (like I have become so accustomed too in the back of my car).  But no, they were not.  They were lights.  The little white button turns them on and off and the yellow button calls the attendant (I am guessing).  We never got brave enough to push it.

There was actually a lot more leg room than I had thought there would be.  They also had foot rests you could fold down on several different levels to fit your comfort.  As the night went on I learned that the bottom of your seat also came up like a short recliner rest for your calves.  

And of course in our very technological era each seat comes with 2 outlets to plug stuff in.  Also, a tray table that folds down and then slides as close to you as you want.  Brennens's feet are up on the foot rest in this picture.  He at this point is questioning me - "why are you taking pictures of everything?"  I informed him that we had to take them for Carla.  She even likes pictures of toilets I told him.  (HaHa)

Here is a picture of Brennen and me after we got settled in our spots.

Brennen wanted to get up and go wondering around right away, but I told him that we probably had to wait until the train started moving and stuff.  Boy was I wrong.  Once your ticket has been scanned, you never have to be in your seat again.  Start, stop, light, dark, it doesn't matter.  Once they scan your ticket you can move freely through all the cars, up and down stairs, every where. 

We sat and viewed the scenery for a while before we were off exploring the train.  (Our new playground for the next 16 hours).

I think both of these were taken somewhere up by Grants.  

Somewhere after this photograph was taken - I had to give Brennen an education.  I had to educate him on TREES.  Brennen had made the comment about look at all of the trees.  Let me tell you - I was beside myself.  I told Brennen, "THOSE are not trees; they are shrubs".  He didn't believe me.  I had to ask him, "when you draw a tree, what is the first thing you draw?"  He responded something like a trunk (I was too floored to remember his exact wording).  I said exactly.  Those do not have trunks.  The branches are on the ground - that defines a shrub.  Ha!  I could not believe that conversation.  They were big shrubs but by no means were they TREES!  

Soon, night fell and here is a picture that I snapped as we sat in Flagstaff Arizona about 11:00pm.  

At 1:00am we were going through Williams, AZ (where ever that is) and playing Skip - Bo.  If you followed me on this journey through facebook you will already know that of course, I WON!

We were in luck on this trip - we were on a train full of Boy Scouts.  Brennen stayed up in the lobby playing cards and hanging out with different kids till 3:00 in the morning!  It was really a pretty good trip.  The train was comfortable, the atmosphere was comfortable, and we had a good time.  Carla - I wish I had taken a picture of the bathroom!  Oh MY!  I will save that experience for my next post!