360 of room
The train was on time and we went aboard to our room. No Dining car yet so we got a cold sandwich and a salad, then off we to the Observation car to watch the Columbia River Gorge go by. It got dark a little after Arlington, so we go back to the room and made up our beds. Larry tried the upper bunk but it was way too hot up there. The conducter said he was about to kick the air conditioner into high gear for a bit, as he does everynight just before bedtime. That helped but we both slept on the bottom bed. Or at least tried to sleep. We didn't get much that first night, not used to the bouncing and the noise.
We arose at West Glacier, Montana and made our way to the dining car we picked up in Spokane for breakfast. When you ride in a sleeper car you get your meals for free along with the room, but the tables are for four so they always seat another couple with you. We sat with a couple that were from Peoria, Illinois and were returning home. After breakfast we sat in the observation car and watched the world go by. When it was lunch time it was back to the dining car and this time we ate with a couple from Ireland. They had been visiting some friends on Whidby Island and were heading to New York next. We then spent some more time in the Observation car and some in our room. The Observation car was usually cooler than our room and was all windows so it was easier to see all around. In the one end was tables and the other was chairs facing the windows, and the snack bar is downstairs. Depending on where you were it could empty, partially full or completely full. When dinner came around we had a table with two singles, a young gentleman from Japan and a lady that had once lived in Vancouver. Back to the Observation car until dark crossing from Montana to North Dakota just a little before dark. We went to our room and waited to get to Minot where everyone can get off the train for a bit. This time we had over an hour. Then off to bed. We slept a little better this time, but still woke up alot as the train rolled over so rough track.
We got up at St Cloud, Minnesota. This Morning we breakfasted with an older woman who was traveling with her daughter from Wilsonville. The woman's father had always wanted to make that train trip so they decided to do it in his honor on what would have been his 100th birthday. From Chicago they were renting a car and driving a meandering trip back to see things and visit friends and relatives. Back to our room, the observation car was full. When lunch time came it was back to the dining car. Did I mention that our sleeper car was the last car in the train, and we were towards the rear of the car, and the dining car was up front. We had to pass through the front of our car, a coach car, another coach car, the observation car, another coach car, and one more coach car, to get to the dining car. All on a moving train. We got our exercise. Any way at lunch we ended up with the same two ladies from breakfast. They told us of some of their travels, they have been around a lot. We finished up as we were leaving St Paul. We sat in our room and watched as the Mississippi River went by outside. We packed our stuff up and got ready to get off. We passed Milwaukie on time but got slowed down coming into Chicago and arrived 30 minutes late. We made our way out of the station and walked 3 1/2 blocks East to our hotel, crossing over the Chicago River and pass the Willis (Sears) Tower on the way. Got checked in put the bags in the room, then headed down to the bar for something to eat and drink. The two ladies we had Breakfast and lunch with on the train were at the same hotel and said hello as they passed heading out for a pizza parlor. After we ate we went out for a stroll up to the river and snapped some pictures and wandered back to the hotel and our room. Boy did we sleep good tonight.
After a good night's sleep, we pack up and wander back to the train station. Find our tour group and check in and give them our luggage. We had time before the train so we go up to the food court and grab some thing to eat. After we ate we wandered back to the Great Hall and waited with the rest of our group.