Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - 41
ANDY CHABOT
Travelers on Amtrak's Cardinal train enjoy sights shared
by few others. The perpetual midnight of mountain
tunnels, close-ups of tumbling New River from the
narrow bottom of New River Gorge, and the arching
underbelly of New River Gorge Bridge, for instance.
Scenery was on my mind when I chose the Clifton
Forge, Virginia to Charleston, West Virginia segment as
my first Amtrak venture. The Cardinal snakes past some
of the Virginias' prettiest, most intriguing scenery. We
see old springs resorts, the ghost-town site of the world's
longest poker game, and the opening of the legendarily
deadly Hawk's Nest Tunnel.
If you're lucky enough to ride when a Collis Huntington Railroad Historical Society volunteer narrates, lean
in. The stories are great.
When I boarded the train at 4 p.m. in Clifton Forge,
folks traveling from Washington, D.C. had already been
aboard five hours; those from Charlottesville just over
two. Traveling coach isn't exactly luxurious, but the
amenities are better than on most airlines. Leg room, for
instance. And free WiFi and electrical outlets for phones
and laptops. Also room to roam. Several of my fellow passengers strolled from car to car making small talk and
checking out the magazine offerings. Others noshed on
fudge cake in the dining car as the Jackson, the Greenbrier, the New, and then the Kanawha rivers riffled past.
This was what I wanted: a road trip with food-and
no distracting road.
On the 4.5-hour ride, I had the privilege of sitting beside volunteer historical narrator Joanna Dunlap. Volunteers usually narrate only eastbound trips from Charleston. Narrations aren't scheduled for every easterly run,
so Dunlap gave me a private running commentary about
the sites we were passing.
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The Amtrak Cardinal pulls into tiny,
historic Thurmond, West Virginia,
from where travelers can arrange an
exploration of the New River Gorge.
May/June 2018 41
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - 4
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Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - Cover4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 1
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 5
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 6
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 7
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 8
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Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 10
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 11
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Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 21
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Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 23
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2018 - BRPG 24
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