We get through the tunnel heading to Whittier and as we exit the tunnel, it’s dreary and raining. Not surprisingly.

The passengers start to load. People always comment about the spiral staircase. They don’t realize they’ll be climbing stairs. This is some thing I don’t understand since it says in the advertising that’s it’s a domed rail car and you sit in the upper deck.

After climbing the stairs, bringing backpacks and carry-on luggage they won’t need but don’t want to part with, they’ll often inquire about where the bathrooms are. They are downstairs.

The luggage and backpacks? People think they’re going to put them in the overhead compartment. It’s a glass domed car. There is no overhead compartment. Even of one doesn’t read the details, it’s in the pictures.

The passengers are settling in. Already complaining about the temperature in the dome. Do we have blankets and pillows? I don’t even know how to answer that in a friendly way because I don’t know where you’re traveling that you get blankets and pillows. But we don’t.

Soon everyone is onboard and seated and we begin our journey.

Derek talks briefly about the Anderson Memorial Tunnel and invited people to go out on the platform and scream. It’s 2.5 miles long. I have done this more than once. It’s hysterical! At first you scream. Then you’re laughing so hard you can hardly scream. It’s as if you’re a child again. But no one takes Derek up on it.

As tends to be the norm, the loudest complainer is in the front row near the bar. I hear every complaint he has. The train is too slow. Why aren’t we there yet? Etc.

I think people don’t read all of the details, because they’re always surprised at the length of the trip.

I start my drink service from the front and the breakfast service starts from the back. We say this in our opening speech. It seems maybe 25% of people actually listen. People in the back don’t go to breakfast and then are angry when I don’t get to them for 1.5 hrs. There are 60-80 people on a train car so this takes awhile. I’ll get halfway back and people in the front are trying to place a second order. Today is heavy on hot chocolate drinking. Without the peppermint schnapps that makes it tastier.

The day progresses and all people have stopped drinking anything except water.

Water service is an irritating experience for me. I’m in the business to make money and if I’m only giving you ice water, I’m not going to be tipped. I don’t understand not bringing water with you. It’s what we’ve always done in the past. It’s certainly easier. If you know you’re going to get thirsty, which I do, bring water. Then you’re certain to have it.

I start out friendly with it but it turns into a nightmare with people asking specifically for ice or no ice. Lots of ice. Little ice. Lemon. I’m ready to throw water at people. Obviously I don’t. I serve it with a smile. Until I hand a lady a glass of ice water and she rudely waves it away and states, “I said no ice”. Ok. Well now you’re going to wait awhile because you’re rude. You’ll get your water no ice. But I’ve got a few other things to do first. (Note: if someone needs water for medicine or they’re coughing, I obviously don’t deny them water. This is about snarky women who think they’re better than anyone else.)

It’s a long trip up the mountain today. This crowd is sucking all of the positive energy out of the air. My face can hardly hide my annoyance. I’m a happy, high energy person. This is killing me.

We get to an hour outside Denali and I go through and cash everyone out. It doesn’t take long since there wasn’t a lot of orders.

I get a chance to talk on the microphone for a few minutes at the end of every trip when Derek goes downstairs to get the train ready for disembarkation. Usually I love this time. I’m funny and I enjoy doing a sort of stand up routine. The more people laugh the funnier I get. I feed off the laughter.

This is not a laughing group though. So I keep my comments to the necessary context. Which is good because as soon as the train stops, people start trying to exit.

I get back on the microphone and tell people they need to wait. A lady looks at me and says that she was told she could go. I remind her she’s supposed to hear it from me.

A couple more minutes and the passengers are released. (Yes. I said released. As if they were prisoners. Because they didn’t act like they were on vacation lol!)

I’m cleaning up and relieved this run is over. If every trip was like this, I’d quit. Thankfully they’re not.

I am a person who can have fun almost anywhere and make the best of almost any situation. I don’t understand people who choose misery over fun. They’re still on vacation. Even if it is towards the end.

Here’s a beautiful picture to end on a positive note!

(PS. I love my job. This was a particularly difficult group of people. Happens in every job!)