Steve Carter Wrote:
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> I wonder if Key Route Ken will be joining the
> train. As I recall, Ken, you had an interesting
> experience once.

Steve--
"Interesting" isn't the half of it. It was pure HELL for many of Alki's riders
and NOT just ME !!! The story takes too long to tell. But I will say this:
1. An older gentleman came thru the train on the EASTBOUND run and announced
that on the trip home, he would be coming thru the train again, selling the
Leavenworth souvenir book ($ 25.00)...
Well, HE never showed his face again, because he probably would have been
"Mugged" by angry passengers if he had done so !!!

2. I wrote a very detailed FIVE-page letter about all the problems that day that
other passengers and myself experienced or observed. This letter was sent
to Alki Tours in West Seattle as well as "Gil Mallery" at AMTRAK in Los Angeles.

3. This all happened regarding the December train to the annual "Lighting" ceremony
in Leavenworth. Next thing my wife and I knew, after those letters were sent was,
that "AMTRAK" contacted us and offered us a "FREE" trip in January to the
town's "Icicle Festival". We accepted and had a pretty good time!

4. HOWEVER, on the WESTBOUND trip, I was personally "summoned" to the "head car"
by the Director of Amtrak Services who was on the train, for a "meeting"..
Yeah, right!! Are you ready, Mr. Steve: I was "interviewed" ('grilled') by
AMTRAK employees about "MY" knowledge of railroads (They picked on the WRONG
person for THAT subject.. (grin).. and kind of wanted to know why "I" had it in
for AMTRAK. I explained my side of the overall story and they seemed to accept
that. Although the "Director" wanted to know if I knew what the "GAUGE" of the
TRACK was.. Seriously-- he really DID !! I explained the answer and how it
relates to narrow-gauges and the WIDER "BART" gauge. REALLY a very wierd experience
don't you think ??? They were dealing with an old SP FAMILY guy and they sure
as well were not going to "trip me up" on their line of questioning.

5. About a month or two later, the AMTRAK "Director" invited me to his office
in Seattle. Gave me a guided tour of the bowels of King Street Station--
then took me to LUNCH at a nice restaurant in Seattle's Pioneer Square..
(How 'bout THAT !!) It was at THAT meeting that I was asked if I was interested
in being an "Interpretive Guide" (Docent) on the "Coast Starlight".. I accepted and
he told me who to contact... Maybe I should have REFUSED his offer and stated
that I would rather be the ENGINEER of the "Coast Starlight" and see how far
THAT would have gotten me. (grin)

6. In conclusion-- I do NOT "hate" AMTRAK.. Never did. I do, however, detest
ALKI TOURS and the gal that is their leader and thinks she knows everything.
She doesn't !! She needs to know more about PASSENGER SERVICES and not worry about
her wonderful $ 109 fee per person she's charging everybody. (probably more now)..
I also do NOT think that AMTRAK had the "right" to "interview" me the way
they did and leaving my wife sitting in a car some eight or ten lengths back, by
herself !! So there you have it, Steve Carter-- make your own opinions.
Cheers.

KRK