At the rural DeLand station, I chatted with another passenger as we waited for our Amtrak train to arrive. She had gotten a job promotion with a transfer to Orlando. She was anxious to go home to South Carolina to see her husband for their anniversary.
The pleasant spring weather provided the perfect send-off for my trip to Charleston, SC, to visit my friend, Jean. I looked forward to exploring historical sites with her for a few days.
In the coach section, I struggled to get my suitcase over the bar of the overhead luggage rack. Alan always used to do it for me. This was my first train travel since we went around the United States many years ago. Memories filled my mind.
After my seatmate listened to her music for a while, she turned to me, and we began talking. She had visited her sister near Orlando and was returning home to Jacksonville.
As we traveled through old Florida, I saw rows and rows of trees and shrubs at multiple nurseries. Green forests lined both sides of the tracks, and then occasional houses appeared. We crossed over the St. John’s River and stopped briefly at the small town of Palatka.
We resumed our journey, and I enjoyed the scenery from one window while noticing a four-lane highway on the other side. Then my new friend spotted a large plume of black smoke ahead.
We had just discussed less stress traveling by train compared to flying. Then our ride stopped.
Passengers looked at each other. No station. Why were we stopping by the road? We waited and waited.
Finally, a voice came over the intercom. “There’s a fire ahead on the tracks. We have to wait for clearance.”
Quiet conversations continued. Books and Kindles came out. Snacks were nibbled. An hour passed. Then another hour.
A text from Amtrak dinged on phones. Still delayed. We were told the fire was near the tracks.
Thankfully, there was cell service. Text messages went to family and friends. Phones rang, but we were not to use them without earbuds which I didn’t have for my new phone.
A huge number of people were trapped far from a town. We began searching the internet for information about the fires which was relayed to fellow prisoners. The fire was spreading and not under control. Fires had started days before.
After an extended time, a worker began passing out small bags with 3 little packets of snacks and bottles of water. Everyone started eating, and the food changed the mood. Children became restless and moved up and down the aisle. Adults asked questions and wondered how long we would be there. No answers.
A text to “Valued Guests” came thanking us for our patience. What we wanted was information and a way to get out of the predicament. Would we resume our trip? Would they supply buses? Still no answers.
After about four hours, another text said we would be backing up to Palatka, and everyone would get off. The trip was canceled, but then what were we to do?
I had been texting my son, Chris, who had offered to come and get me earlier. However, I had no idea what was going on then. We decided he would drive to my stop and pick me up. However, I had no idea when I would get there. How fast do you go backwards? How far was it to Palatka?
When I found a Jacksonville tv station online, it reported about the fires. A lady sent a comment that she was stopped on the auto train, so we knew there were two trains on the tracks.
As we were all discussing what to do, a final text came through.
“We will go backwards and take passengers to the station they left from.”
People who were going home to the north didn’t want to go back south. Did we have to go back to that station? Could we get off at the first stop?
I checked with Chris, and he said he would pick me up in Palatka. It would take him an hour and a half which was farther than DeLand. But we had no idea when they would actually get to my station. The train still had not moved.
Finally, we began to slowly back up. In a few minutes, lights showed but no station. A pause and then we moved again.
Passengers could get off but not get back on. Several travelers decided to remain onboard to get to their departing station. A long line formed down the aisles as we moved from on car to the other. One by one, we trudged off. In the dark, I couldn’t see where to walk. The building was not close to our car. While I tried to see the walkway, a lady pointed me in one direction after I went around a barrier. I prayed I wouldn’t fall in the dark. The walkway ended, so I had to pull my suitcase through the grass. Clusters of people formed around the station which was closed. We were all on our own. No one was there to assist us.
Thankfully, my seatmate and I had sons coming to rescue us. Chris was in Winter Springs, and her son was coming from Jacksonville. Both had an hour to an hour and a half drive.
The one car rental in the town was closed on Sunday. Others tried to find an Uber driver to take them to Jacksonville. None were nearby in the little town late at night.
Six police vehicles were parked near the entrance to the parking lot. That made me feel better since it was late and not a great area. However, they stayed with their cars and blocked the entrance.
While I waited for over an hour for Chris to come, I talked to various travelers. One lady had come from West Palm Beach and had to be at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville the next morning at 5:30 am for a test. Her mom was getting her an Uber for $160. Another lady had surgery scheduled for 7 am in Jacksonville for the following day. Her husband found an Uber for $300.
There were still about fifteen weary travelers waiting when I left. I was so thankful that Chris made the long drive to pick me up. When I arrived home, I had been gone twelve hours for a trip to nowhere.
Even though the situation was frustrating and I was disappointed not getting to Charleston, there were some positive moments.
I met some interesting people. I spent time with my son.
We were all safe.
Amtrak certainly could not control the fire. However, they could have handled the situation better. After our train was stopped, there should not have been three trains continuing their travels behind us. Our online sources about the fire stated that it was growing and not under control. It seems those in charge of the trains would have been able to get that information too, so that we didn’t have to remain there for so long. An hour or so is understandable but not five. Since we arrived first, we had to wait until the three other trains backed up before we could return. Hopefully, we will get the refunds for our trip like we were promised.
The situation was annoying but not horrible for me. However, for those with medical issues, jobs to get to, students going to school, and those with no transportation, the extended delay caused stress and difficulties.
For all of us, we will remember our adventure and perhaps even laugh about it in the future.
