Actually slept last night and a bit this morning. It’s a pretty rough ride, though the people are nice.

And heck, the steward just brought us mimosas. Doesnt help the people who’ll miss their connections in Chicago, but it’s pleasant to drink and watch the morning roll by.

I saw where @RuthieGledhill (UK religion journalist) was complaining about a "foul, noisy" train between Chester and Euston and pronounced herself glad that Virgin Trains had lost the rights to run an entire area of the UK’s British Rail system. Wonder what she’d make of Amtrak and BNSF?

It sure seems that a LOT of jobs and local economies are dependent on rail freight. As much as I enjoy the wonderful, precious misery of train travel, I have to wonder how much Amtrak benefits the tiny communities we blow through, horn blaring.

But now and then, I see someone stopped at a crossing, waving happily, and I think they’d be sad to lose the passenger trains.

Via: Flickr
Title: Sunflowers Somewhere in North Dakota
By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 17 Aug ’12, 10.25am CDT