Train ride
 

Hi everyone!

Gonna take the train next week and was wonderin if anyone has taken the train with their electric wheelchair?

The people at amtrak have been real helpful, and tell me everything will be fine, but I still wonder if that is totally the truth. They did give me a great fare price round trip.

The wife and I are gonna go to Oregon and visit all the relatives for a couple weeks. Travel around and take in as much of the sights as possible before riding the train back home. Im kinda nervous about the whole thing since I havent gone anywhere in several years.

I am lookin forward to getting out of the house though LOL.

TOOT TOOT!

don't have a clue. but what about copying this post to social chat? many of our ms and spinal members post there.

:hug:sounds like a fun trip. have a good time.

Great idea!

Thanks Curious!

Hi Allen,
 

Sounds like a great ideal to me. For awhile maybe you can forget some of the pain and just relax and enjoy the scenery.

Bill and I lived in Redmond for a couple of years and it is beautiful in Oregon and a lot to see. Lots of rain though where we were at.

Hopefully the ride won't be too bad. I would rather do the train the the plane.
Not as hectic as dealing with airports.

I hope it goes well for you.

Ada

Allen,

I have not done it in several years, but I LOVE train travel. Much more spacious than a bus or plane. You get to enjoy scenery, and not from 20,000 feet.

I am not in a wheelchair, but here is something to ask Amtrak about. I know that, generally, west of the Mississippi, they use "double-decker" trains. In the east, they need to use "one-story" trains because of the size of tunnels. The main part of the train is on the top such as the dining car, observation car, club car, etc. There are accomodations on the lower level and I believe they are accessible. But, I believe you cannot pass from car to car on the bottom. All between-car doorways are on top. There are no elevators, at least the last time I traveled. You may be stuck to the one car where your seat/stateroom is located. Ask about bathrooms and how they handle meals, so you will be prepared.

Sounds like a great time. Hope you enjoy. :)

Mike

Thanks everyone!

The backpay from SSDI snuck into my account last nite!!! That will make things much better :)

Will be back later got to head out to Jury Duty :(

Hi Allen,

I have never taken an electric wheelchair on the train but I have been on the train in a normal wheelchair and the people at the amtrack were very helpful and gentle whilst getting me off and on the train etc.

I'm sure you will be fine and I hope you have a great time in Oregan visiting your relatives and that you get to do some good sightseeing.

TOOT TOOT!!

Best wishes
Alison

UGH!!

Got selected for a jury that is supposed to finish the day before I leave. :(


I didnt think they were gonna put me in a jury because the tickets are already paid for, but they got me. I am so lookin forward to the trip, cant hardly wait to get goin.

The SSDI backpay came in the same night I found out they were calling me in. Wait 9 mos then cant go shopping when it finally gets here LOL. Just my luck.

At least we wont be broke for the trip, which was gonna be the case :D

Im leaving thursday no matter what is thrown at me.....well..... as long as the judge agrees hahaha!

Toot Toot!!

Have fun Allen!!!

I've been thinking of taking the train west sometime later this summer or early fall....please let us know how things go for you!?!?!?!


Enjoy your trip!!! You deserve it!!!
:hug:
Abbie

Visiting Portland Area?
 

Hey Allen,
If you get to the Portland area, I would love to meet you.
Stephen

Hi Stephen!!

Im not sure how far north we are gonna get, but I did hear some talk of Hood river area. I think that gets up around your neck of the woods.

I am bringing a laptop, if we are goin up there I will send ya a message on the myspace and a pm here. Im gonna try to get the inlaws to go up there and get us all a room so they can go somewhere they dont usually go.

I went out and found a minivan this afternoon, and bought it cash.

:yahoo:Man that felt good LOL.

It is a 2000 sienna, fully loaded with leather, moon roof, power doors, 6 cd changer. Only has 55k miles on it. Wont get to enjoy it too much until we get back.

The judge tossed me out of jury duty because I have a sister that is in MADD. I wanted to tell them I belonged to DAMM.....drunks against mad mothers, but thought joking around was out :ROTFLMAO:.

Cant wait to get on that train!

Toot Toot!!!

Made it to Oregon!
 

The train is grrrreat!!! All the employees were exceptionally curteous and helpful. The area we were assigned to on the way here was very nice and clean, and extra roomy.

I highly recommend train travel for the disabled. We brought our own snacks and drinks, but the staff was there for anything we could ever want or need. The transfer went without a hitch with the staf directing us to where we needed to be. The first train we were on had a lift the put me on board, and the second one had a ramp that I drove right up and into the train.

So far am totally enjoying Oregon to the max.....especially the no sales tax part LOL. Will be back in a few days with more.

Hope everyones pain is managable to non existent.

:grouphug:

Allen,
Sounds like you are having a really good time. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

Love ya,
DebbyV

Well we are almost to the end of our trip, and I never made it past Crater Lake going north. I am having a great time, and decided to post up some pics.

The train is a blast and here is some pics of it pulling in, the wheelchair lift, and our seats. Plus threw in some pics of Crater Lake for all to enjoy.

Will be posting up some more info about the ride back in a few days.

Toot Toot!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4364.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4365.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4366.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4367.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4368.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4451.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...r/100_4488.jpg


:grouphug: