2023 April 25-28, AMTRAK Trip to New Orleans, LA. from Tuscaloosa, Al (4 days)

Day 1:Travel  Tuesday, April 25, 

We dropped off our bags at the Amtrak station, parked the car in the public parking, and walked several blocks back to the Amtrak Station. 

At 2:00 p.m., we loaded onto the train and began our trip.

 We took the Amtrak in Tuscaloosa and traveled through several cities, stopping in Laurel, Hattiesburg, and Meridian, Mississippi, picking up or letting off passengers.

I did not buy any food on the trip to New Orleans. I had brought a Sprite Zero and a couple of Granola bars. 

We arrived around 10:00PM and took the local taxi to The Marque Hotel 144 ELK PL., New Orleans. Room 1910. Reservation #380VR.

Our room had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 2 balconies, and a window in my bedroom to see the City of New Orleans, located on the fourteen floors. 

It was late I took a shower and went to bed. 

Day 2: Wednesday, April 26, 

We walked down Canal Street, stopping at IHOP for breakfast. Our waiter was new, and I ordered a Belgian waffle it was cold and plain. 

We decided to buy a day pass to ride the Trollies. 

We saw the Mortuary Haunted Mansion and walked around in several Cemeteries. (St Patrick Cemetery)

We saw people loading onto the Ferry Boat and the Riverboat.

We shopped at Riverwalk Mall and ate lunch at Pei Wei Asian Restaurant. I ordered two egg rolls, shrimp, chicken, and noodles. 

Could not eat it all I took the rest with me.

We walked through the park at Riverfront, where we saw the Holocaust Memorial. 

We saw Woldenberg Riverfront Park, a dedicated memorial to Malcolm Wolodenberg, who prospered in New Orleans and left a Legacy of caring and confidence to the City of New Orleans. 

Alongside was his statue with a young boy.

On Canal Street, we saw many murals depicting the City. 

We saw the Shops and Canal Place with Mardi Gras statues in front.

Dr. John's statue in front of "The Shops and Canal Place" 

We took the Trolley up St. Charles Street, where we saw historic homes, stores, The Auduban, the Zoo, and the Loyola College.

We saw a lot of homeless people and trash everywhere, at the overpasses and sidewalks. 

We stopped at a chicken restaurant to use the restroom, and sitting outside was a homeless young man asking me to buy him some chicken, I said we'll see. I went inside to use the restroom. I remember that I had a plate full of leftover food with me, so when we went outside, I gave the homeless man the food. It also had a fork inside. 

He was thankful for the food. I was glad that I had helped one of the homeless. I had heard a man on the trolley say the government had sent money to help the homeless, but the money was not used for that.

We rode two different trollies, and most of the trolley workers were jolly and friendly.    

We headed back to the hotel. 

We had spent the day hopping off and hopping on the trolley, and we walked several miles.

Day 3: Thursday, April 27, 

We walked down to Canal Street and bought a day pass to ride the trolley. We rode to the French Quarters.

We walked to Cafe Biegnite, where we both ordered Beignets. (A square of fried dough eaten hot and sprinkled with powdered Sugar). They come with 3 Beignets, and mine was drizzled with Chocolate.

Beignets with Chocolate 

It came up a thunderstorm while we were eating, and people flooded inside. They had a large roll-up door opened, and when the rain started to blow inside, they closed it. It was blowing hard, and several of the employees got wet.

After the rain subsided but was still sprinkling, we left and walked toward the Riverfront Mall. 

We heard several Laughing Gulls, and we rode the ferry across the Mississippi.

We walked to the Riverwalk Mall and shopped. I bought a shirt and a pair of shorts at Gap. 

I returned a top I had bought the day before. It was too small and swapped for a larger size. 

The cashier/manager said all their clothes were coming in smaller. 

We walked back to Canal Street and took the trolley up St Charles Street.

Meet a family from Vermont, a journalist from Denmark, and a couple of women looking for the Military Museum. We also met a couple looking for the French Quarters, and I told them they would have to take the red trolley # 49 to get to the French Quarters.

There were a lot of people taking the trolleys today. 

We got off the trolley and walked along St. Charles Street, looking at old homes.

Historic Home on St Charles St

We ate lunch at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood LLC.

New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Restaurant 

I ordered Shrimp Tacos with Onion Rings. My friend ordered a shrimp Poor-Boy with fries.

We also ate a complimentary Vanilla Ice Cream in a cone.

 We rode the trolley back to Canal Street and stopped at CVS for a couple of Sprite Zeros and a bag of candy.

There were no Diet Cokes or Sprite Zeros in the cooler, so I asked the manager if they had any.

We walked to the back of the store, and the manager loaded several Sprite Zero and Diet Coke into the cooler. 

I paid for my merchandise and walked back to the hotel.

We packed our bags for tomorrow, and we will be leaving.

Day 4: Friday, April 28,  Travel Home

Finished packing and ate my last Beignet, called the Taxi, and said he would be there around 8AM.

We walked downstairs, and my friend got a cup of hot coffee, and we waited for our taxi.

Selfie Station at The Marque Hotel 

We arrived at the train terminal and waited to load the train at 9:00 AM.

It was going to be a full train, so we were told if we were traveling with someone to sit with them.

When they announced the dining car was open, we walked down. 

I ordered a bagel and drank my Sprite Zero. My friend ate her leftover Poor-boy.

We arrive at the train depot around 5PM.

Walked inside the depot to use the restroom and put everything inside our luggage.

We began our walk to the parking deck.

It was a lot harder walking uphill, pulling our luggage. We finally arrived at the parking deck.

Loaded our luggage inside and began our trip home. 

We stopped at Jack for supper, and after we finished, I bumped my right hand, and it tore the skin. 

It would not stop bleeding, so one of the workers placed a couple of bandages on my hand.

We stopped again at CVS to use the restrooms and get more bandages.

We arrived at my friend's home, and my husband picked me up.

2022 Nov 13, Clydesdae's Parade in Cullman's Wearhouse District Cullman, AL

It was a bitterly cold morning as we rode to the Warehouse District in Cullman to see the Clydesdale Nov 13, 2022

Budweiser Advertisment 

Budweiser Clydesdales  coming to Alabama Nov 10-13, 2022 

Jingle & Mingle Birmingham Nov 10 

75th Annual Nationa Veterans Day Parade Birmingham Nov 11

Lakeview District Trot Parade Birmingham Nov 12 

Christmas Market Open House Cullman Nov 13. 

since Adams 1937 

We arrived at about 1PM and got in line for the parade, where we could watch the horses being unloaded. 

Each of the eight Clydesdale was taken out of the trailer one at a time, then harnessed with solid brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread harness, which weighed over 130 pounds. 

One of the Clydesdale being hitched up with its harness 

The Red, White, and Gold beer Wagon also has to be taken out of the 50-foot tractor-trailer, and the Clydesdale hitched up one at a time. 

Once the horses were hitched to the Wagon, the drivers, riders, and Dalmatian dog climbed aboard the wagon, and the parade began.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 1PM, but it did not start until 2:20 PM.

The Budweiser wagon, 8 Clydesdale, two drivers,  Dalmatian, and three passengers rode around the Warehouse District 3 times, stopping once for pictures before heading back to the tractor trailers to be loaded up.

8 Clydesdale drivers, riders, and Dalmatians starting the parade 

Close-up of drivers and Dalmatian 

Several children were standing next to me. A family with three redheaded children. One of the little boys was very impressed with my camera and wanted me to take his picture, which I did. 

The little boy who wanted me to take his picture.

There were thousands of people waiting to see the horses. We watched the Clydesdale go around a couple of times. 

After Clydesdale's first trip around the district, many people left. At about the same time, we heard the train's whistle blow and a very long train crossed the tracks, so these people had to wait for the tracks to be clear to cross. 

We were going to leave after the first round, but since we were going to have to wait on the train, we decided to go back and watch the Clydesdale one more time. I am glad we did because I got a better video of them coming around the corner and getting my picture made near the wagon. 

After the parade, we headed home, stopping at Cracker Barrel in Athens for supper. Hubby ordered a big breakfast, and I ordered pinto beans, fried apples with cornbread, chow chow, and onion.  

We stopped at Murphy's Walmart to fill up with Gas. It was dark by the time we arrived home. 

It was a cold day, but at least the sun was shining. I think it got up to 41.

🚂🚂🚂Tuscumbia Train Depot Museum Built 1888

Tuscumbia was the first railroad in Alabama and the fourth in the USA.
Located 204 West Fifth Street Tuscumbia.
Constructed in 1888 by Memphis and Charleston Railroads

Tuscumbia Train Depot  back view

Tuscumbia Railroad First Railroad west of the Alleghenies

Tuscumbia Rail Depot front view 

In 1948, a new depot was built along Shop Pike in Sheffield and the 5th Street Depot was
donated to the City of Tuscumbia for a Community Center.
My grandparents celebrated their 50th Anniversary at the 5th Street Street Depot, in 1976.

Golden Anniversary Celebrations 1976
5th Street Community Center (Old Tuscumbia Depot

The bell came from a real Tuscumbia steam engine and school children love to ring it. 

JW Kiser who had worked for the railroad convinced Southern Railroad to donate the bell to Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. It was used to signal children that it was time for Sunday School.

The church no longer used the bell so the church donated the bell to the Tuscumbia Train Depot on October 21, 2007.

Waiting for train & Long stick used for sending messages

Railroads use lights and hand signs so that train men and workers can "talk."  The signs were first used over 130 years ago before people had radios.  Railroads needed men to be able to send signals from far or near.  Many times, the signalman would be too far away to use a whistle or horn.  Colors, lights, and hand signals were all used.

Color Signals

On the railroad, different colors have to mean.  Flags are colored to send a message.  Flag color signals are:

Red - Stop

White - Go

Green - Go slowly  - caution!

Blue-blue flags are placed on a car or other object on which men are working.

STOP!  Swing lantern across tracks.

SLOW DOWN!  Hold at arm's length when the train is moving.

GO!  Raise straight up and down.

GO BACK! Swing up and down in a circle at half an arm's length across the track, when the train is moving.

TRAIN HAS PARTED! This tells the trainmen that cars have come loose.  Swing up and down in a circle at full arm's length when the train is running.

DO NOT GO!  APPLY BRAKES! Swing straight above your head when the train is standing.

GO! RELEASE BRAKES!  Hold at arm's length above your head when the train is standing.

Ticket Counter
When the ticket window opened it averaged about 30,000 tickets a year. 

WWII of the 718 R.O.B. UNIT -CIT F.T.O.

The fighting 718th Railroad Operating Battalion brought home a souvenir from Germany when they captured a railway station in Germany.

https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfThe718thRailrayOperatingBattalion

The 718th was given the territory from Folligny to Mayenne and to Rennes, a substantial section of the French railroad, to operate. Along with this came the responsibility of maintaining a single track from Pontabault to Cayenne and from Ponterson to Fougeres, and a double track from Folligny to Dol, with the supervision of French maintenance of a double track from Dol to Rennes. 

Operation of the railroad was by permissive block under blackout conditions. 

Flagging with fusee and lantern was permitted only in case of emergency during the blackout. Crews going out on a run never knew when they might get back. 

The carriage owned by Keller Family used to pick up teacher Anne Sullivan. 

This carriage owned by the Keller Family was thought to be used by Captian Arthur Keller to pick up Anne Sullivan at the Tuscumbia Train Station. 

Anne rode in the buggy with Captain Keller down the long drive that was lined with magnolias to Ivy Green. Anne spotted Helen waiting for her on the front porch, this would change the lives of both Helen and Anne forever. 

Two littles girls adventure across town

One summer morning two little girls were playing outside on the lush green grass that was covered with clover while bees buzzed all around and they said to one another let us go to town.

Downtown Sheffield was within walking distance for the two girls for they had walked to town many times with their parents, but on this special day, they felt they could do it without them.

So, the two little girls, (ages six and seven)washed their faces, combed their long curly red and yellow hair, pulling their hair back into a ponytail, dressing in their new red and white short sets and putting their shoes on their feet because the streets would be too hot for bare feet.

It was a beautiful bright sunny day when the two little girls began walking up SW 13th street, they crossed west Montgomery onto Shop Pike, where they could walk along the sidewalks that lined the streets.

The two girls played a game” step on a crack, break your mothers back” as they tried to avoid the lines, cracks and the humps on the sidewalk.

When the sidewalks were laid, many years before, the trees were small as they grew so did their roots causing the sidewalks to bulge and crack. 

Shop Pike ran into north Montgomery Avenue, which leads into downtown Sheffield. Before the girls could enter downtown, they had to cross the Southern railroad tracks that ran east and west of West Montgomery Avenue.

The girls looked both ways before they crossed the train tracks because the train tracks became very busy when trains carrying freight cars came barreling down the tracks.

Sometimes there would be trains coming from both east and west at the same time.

When a train came across the tracks that led into town it took at least twenty to thirty minutes.

When our family would drive into town we would wait patiently in the car for the train to pass, and when we saw the red caboose we knew it was the end of the train and we would begin to sing:

“Little Red Caboose, Little Red Caboose, behind the train, the train.

Smokestack on it’s back, going down the track. 

Little Red Caboose behind the train. 

Woo-woo-woo!”

The two little girls were excited as they walked down north Montgomery Street without their parents tagging along.

They felt all grown up as they walked into their first store, which was a furniture store.

The two girls started to look around, they even walked upstairs to the second level as they looked at the furniture, pretending they were shopping. 

A salesman came up to the two little girls and said, where are your parents and the two little girls said ever so boldly they are shopping. The salesman gave both the little girls a bright yellow pencil as they were leaving the store. 

Down the street, the little girls skipped, ever so exciting to be shopping, without their parents saying you cannot have that.

They went from store to store, and they stopped at Western Auto to look at the baby dolls wrapped in pink and blue blankets.

At Abrom’s they saw dresses hanging on racks, in shades of brown, with pleats, covered in tan lace and large sashes attached to the backs of the dresses, they saw red checked dresses that buttoned down the front, blue and white striped sailor dresses that would be ever so cute to wear to school to show off to the other students.

Oh, how they wished they had the money to buy one of those dresses, but they were penniless.

Abrom’s was THE store shop, everyone with money came here to shop.

Abrom’s had two levels with a staircase that led to the upper level, it had tub carriers, a machine much like the banks use today at their drive-through windows, where they would send their tickets up to and downstairs, which was fun to watch. 

At the five and dime, the girls spent a long time looking, because they were many bends filled full of trinkets of all shapes and sizes that you could purchase for just ten cents.

The stomachs of the two little girls began to growl so they stopped at the Liberty Super Market for an ice cream sandwich and a box of cookies.

The girls had now completely walked through every store in Sheffield, but the day was still young and they were not ready to return home. 

The two little girls continued walking up north Montgomery Avenue, they turned left onto Alabama Avenue and continued walking until they reached the Tennessee River. 

The older little girl’s family owned a boat that they had docked many times at Riverfront Park. 

The Tennessee River holds many dangerous drop-offs from the water's edge, which these two little girls knew, so they stayed close to the edge, as they waded into the water just to cool off their feet making sure that they did not get their clothes wet.

The streetlight guided the girls as they began their journey home.

On their trip into town, the girls were given yellow pencils by the salesman at the furniture.

The girls thought the yellow pencil was ugly so they swapped the yellow pencils for bright purple, pink and white pencils. 

The girls also, put small girls slip into a shoebox at the five and dime.

The sun was shining brightly that day, so they each put on a pair of sunglasses.

Before the girls reached home they buried the sunglasses, and little girls slip at the end of the street where their grandparents lived. 

They began walking to their grandparent's house, only to be greeted by two very unhappy parents.

The two little girls told a lie, they said they had spent the day at a friends house, but their parents knew different because they had made a mistake, they had stopped at an aunts house to visit before they walked to the Tennessee River. 

Both girls received a whipping and were taken home.

Weeks, later the girls claimed to discover the items they had taken at the end of the street. 

Their parents never knew the difference until years later when the older girl told her mother the story about their trip to town, their visits to the many stores, and them taking all the items that they had found at the end of the street.