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Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Good morning! Last night I learned three important things: 1) My flight today from Toronto to NYC to give a talk in the Planetarium at AMNH tomorrow was cancelled due to the snow 2) The best alternative Air Canada could offer me was Wednesday morning: too late! 3) But there is a TRAIN 🚂

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Downsides of the train include that it is a 13-hour+ journey and that it is already 2.5 hours late just departing. Also, unlike airplanes, passengers can have phone calls and Zoom calls on trains, and many of my neighbors are currently doing so. But it is running! And it’s reasonably comfy.

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Just crossed to the U.S. at the Niagara Falls train border. Off train for passport checks. Two women who’d been sitting across from me were apparently planning to get off at the CANADA-side Niagara station & missed the announcement. But they have crossed over now; fate unclear. #KatieTrainDay

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Back on the train and moving again! By using the clever technique of walking a little farther from the door and passing through the vestibule between cars I have ended up with an entire train car to myself! It is wonderfully quiet and peaceful. Time for a snack and some laptop work. #KatieTrainDay

8 reposts1K likes

Jake Wright
@bcnjake.bsky.social

I could have spent $35 to upgrade to Comfort Plus on my flight from SFO to MSP but instead, I tried this One Weird Trick where I booked a seat in the middle of six unoccupied rows. It was lovely.

valerie ✶ distant moons
@distantmoons.bsky.social

i took the train from vancouver to toronto last year - highly recommend a sleeper train journey if the opportunity arises! much more comfortable than flying, the food is surprisingly good, and it just feels like an adventure instead of the constant psychic damage of airlines

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Two unfortunate developments: other passengers have discovered my train car, and we are currently stopped due to “some mechanical issues.” They are going to troubleshoot. Meanwhile, apparently we get free water and snack packs in the cafe car. #KatieTrainDay

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

We are on the move again! 🚂 Just after we started, Amtrak guy walked through car talking to other employee saying, in an exasperated tone, "He said it's probably gonna happen again. Every time, we just have to keep on resetting it." Meanwhile, scenery is… very white. #KatieTrainDay

Ed
@edballister.bsky.social

The clouds have broken in NYC, so maybe you’ll get a good sunset wherever you are. Have a great trip and hope you make it to your talk on time! 🚂 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 ❤️

Branden “Wax” Hall / W3XON
@waxpraxis.org

I, too, am taking Amtrak today. The 10:30am from D.C. to NYC and... we're not there yet. 🫠 Multiple delays including downed trees. But, the heat and power are on, the wifi is plentiful, and the views are beautiful. I'll take a 3 hour train delay over a 3 hour airline delay any day of the week!

Daniel Martin
@fizbin.bsky.social

Oh you got one of the renovated Amtrak cars. I spent a very weird 23 hours in a combination of those getting home once. (My MSP->PHL flight was canceled by snow and had to divert to Detroit, so I did Detroit->Philly on Amtrak) Had to change trains at ~2AM in Pittsburgh.

Jim Finnis
@jfinnis.bsky.social

My dad was a carriage and wagon examiner ("wheeltapper") for many, many years; and I was a nascent computer nerd. I remember him coming home to tell me that he'd been learning about new commuter trains where the solution to every problem (e.g. stuck toilet door) was "reboot the unit" (the carriage).

shana 😋 (andreia gaita)
@shana.spoiledcat.com

Last time I did Amtrak Chicago-SF, we arrived a day late, the train ran out of food and alcohol on the last evening, and the whole back car lost power half way through the (theoretically) two day trip. We are all still on that train, I do believe.

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

Somewhere between Rochester & Syracuse. Sky has cleared and is now wonderfully blue and pink, but as we travel the snow kicked up by the front of the train still lends the view some vague Snowpiercer vibes. My car is now half full but everyone is quiet. We’re all in this together. #KatieTrainDay

Allison DeVoe
@devoeas.bsky.social

I am somehow only just seeing your saga but I know that train route very, very well (syr <-> nyc at least) and these mechanical issues are all too familiar, but I'm also amazed you made it through Niagara unscathed, almost every winter train I've taken was late bc of ice near there.

Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com

The sun has set and with that the view has shifted from all white to all black. Several passengers are snoring. I have been working - there’s plenty of room for my laptop and notebook and the wifi is solid. Took a dinner break for the cafe car’s vegan bbq burger, which was… fine. #KatieTrainDay

Deborah
@deborann.bsky.social

I am enjoying this thread so much…I love the beautiful snowy scenes but there is also the lingering sense of dread that the mechanical fault is going make the snow very unappealing if it all goes awry! It’s bedtime here in the UK so looking forward to picking up the story tomorrow.

Fraize
@fraize.com

My shame when I boarded the Acela from DC to NYC and took a business call for a good half-hour before I realized I was in the "Quiet Car." I WANTED to walk down the entire car and personally apologize to everyone, but figured that, too, would be NOT QUIET. So I moved to another car instead.