I was asleep when we arrived in San Antonio and never left my room. We departed at 3:48am, 2 hr 48 m late. Houston depot had a Pepsi machine but closer examination revealed it held Coca-Cola products. Bought three cans at fifty cents a piece. Hooray.
Departed Houston at 8:53, 2 hr 38 m late. Departed Beaumont "depot" around 1:00 pm but soon stopped at the approach for the Neches River drawbridge and sat for over an hour and a half. My room sat right on top of the convergence of Park and Orleans streets where they share an underpass.
We finally crossed the river at 2:45 making us about 6 1/2 hrs late. Left the State of Texas at 3:25. Almost 14 hours getting across the state. Lake Charles, Louisiana ... departed 4:02, 6 1/2 hrs late so were not losing any more time but we still have 219 miles to go. It appears Lafayette has chosen to preserve their old train station by making it a central transportation hub as many others have done. Looks very nice. Departed Lafayette at 5:45, 6 hrs and 25 m late, we gained 5 minutes. Well, I guess we didn't have anybody getting on or off in New Iberia, 'cus we just cruised right past the station. In and out at 6:10 ... 6 hrs 24 minutes late, gained 1 minute! One more station before New Orleans but still 127 miles to go. Another delay ... waiting in a siding at Bayou Sale for a freight to meet us ... another 42 minutes behind. Another roll by at Schriever. We slowed to 6 mph then went right on through at 8:23. So by the timetable, this puts us 7 1/4 hours behind. BUT ... the timetable also shows 2 hours and 52 minutes to get fron Schriever to New Orleans and only 1 1/2 hours to get from New Orleans to Schriever. Looks like a bit of padding built into the end of east bound schedule. We will soon see. Arrived New Orleans Union Station at 10:28. 6 hours and 28 Minutes late. Hotel by 10:45, WIFI works good if you are reading this.
El Paso to New Orleans, 1177 rail miles.
