Skip to Content
Opinion

Let’s Talk Trains on This Friday Open Thread

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers

8:49 AM CDT on May 24, 2024

Wikimedia Commons

Choo choo, my friends. Choo. Choo.

Later this morning, I embark on the newly launched Borealis out of St. Paul. For fun? No, for journalism! Though I couldn't make the maiden voyage (do we still use that term, seems kinda sexist?) and all the attendant festivities earlier this week, I figure a leisurely Memorial Day weekend trip to Chicago, with stops at The Dells and Milwaukee along the way, will give me something to muse over. (When did I turn into the old guy who writes about libraries and trains?)

So, for today's open thread, let's talk about your train experiences. Mine are not particularly romantic—mostly taking New Jersey Transit into the bowels of Penn Station. I've always wanted to travel on the Empire Builder (that name!) to the west. Got train experiences from other countries? Opinions about high speed rail? All that is welcome here.

Or, of course, you can talk about whatever else you want. This is your Open Thread, after all.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

What Did the Local TV News Look Like 25 Years Ago Today?

Plus Latino businesses still struggle, AI food still looks gross, and the breakout star of the State Fair Jam/Lewis showcase in today's Flyover news roundup.

September 11, 2026

‘Workers Are Seen as an Afterthought’: Who Was Really Served at Dinner du Nord? 

Minneapolis restaurant and hospitality workers say they don’t have a seat at ‘America’s largest dinner table,’ an industry PR stunt intended to hype downtown.

September 11, 2026

It’s a Very Special Back to School Open Thread

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

September 11, 2026

A Fishmonger/Forager Just Launched MN’s First Food Truck Dedicated to Fresh Lake Superior Fish

Out of the Blue is Tom Hutchinson's third attempt at the food truck biz. He thinks he has something special this go-'round.

September 11, 2026

Freeloader Friday: 124 Free Things To Do This Weekend

Make the most of these last days of summer, gang.

September 11, 2026

Data Centers: Hot Topic or Hot Potato?

Plus a Tangletown BBQ spot closes after 35 years, the Mesabi Trail is finally finished, and listen to Jay on the radio in today's Flyover news roundup.