May 16, 2007: From Kenneth J. Wynne

The purpose of this trip was to join my wife in Norfolk (on Friday, 11 May) so that we could drive back together on Sunday, avoiding the use of two cars.

Passenger Error: passenger naively assumed that train transport to Norfolk existed. After investigating the train schedule for awhile, it became apparent that the train only goes as far as Newport News. There is no tunnel for the train between Newport News (or elsewhere) and Norfolk.

The train was about an hour late departing Staples Mill Road.

Passenger Error: passenger had only taken the train in the northerly direction previously. Passenger was unaware that it would have been better to leave from the Richmond Main Street Station.

It took nearly one-half hour (5:45 to 6:13) to go from the Staples Mill Station to the Richmond Main Street Station. The distance, according to MapQuest is 8 miles.

We almost got away from the Main St station quickly except one woman …got up while we were leaving and ran back to the conductor and complained “Where we goin’ I gotta get off here.”

“We announced the station”.

“I did not hear it”

It was a good thing for another young person, who followed her off.

We left at 6:17, so technically, it did take over one half hour to depart Staples Mill until departing Main Street.

As we approached Williamsburg, an announcement was made. The problem was that this announcement was made about 8 or 9 min (not the “few” mentioned) before arrival. Thus, at least 10 or more older travelers, no doubt weary from a long, tiring journey stood up anxious to de-train. But these individuals wound up being jostled about on the uneven tracks, finally grabbing seats near the exit.

Somehow I was reminded of the comment of Mark Twain that “news of my death is greatly exaggerated.”

As we approached Newport News, we paralleled interstate 64 and I observed cars zipping along past my train.  

We stood in a fairly long line to debark. It took about 10 min before I reached the door. Although there were two doors, only one was open. It obviously would have taken half the time to debark if both doors were open. Somehow, this is “against the rules” (?)

I said to the young lady ahead of me that I might report my experience to “Virginians for High Speed Rail”. She was interested in this but at the same time, I heard uproarious laughter in back of me. I turned to find two elderly ladies convulsed in laughter. I guess they took me for the Johnny Carson of Amtrak. I chuckled along with them a moment and then explained that there really WAS such an organization. They still gave me and each other incredulous looks.

I guess there is good reason for that.