Amtrak Vacation

[Anonymous]

Yes, believe it or not, I really have lost my mind, an d I really am thinking about doing exactly as I mention. Spending my vacation riding Amtrak.

Sightseeing!!

It all started innocently enough, I bought a book at B Dalton's titled "The Art of the Streamliner" mostly to satisfy a lifelong curiousity as to why the old E-7 And F-7 type locomotives of days yore look so much more modernistic than even today's monster engines, let alone the SD-40's and stuff of my early adulthood. (When I see my first Acela, I will consider retracting that statement, not until)


And in the process, got bitten. (you know what i mean)

The Hiawatha's, the El Capitains, the Superchiefs, The Cities XXXXXX. All gone!!


Amtrak seems to have some of the cool routes still to this day.

I live in Los Angeles. The cost Amtrack charges for a Round trip sleeper to Chicago is not outrageous, considering meals are included (and lodging of course)


I'm even considering payin a tad extra, and shooting up the coast to Frisco on the coast starlight, then taking the Zephyr to Galesburg Ill then catching the Southwest Chief straight back to LA, since Chicago really is not my destination anyway, Everything out my window is actually the destination, if you get my drift


Opinions from those who have rode please:

(A) Is the scenery on the Califirnia Zeyphr route worth the extra trouble it will be to see?

(B) Would the "EMPIRE BUILDER" be even better than the "Zephyr" for my east bound trip

(C) or, is "IT" all over already, and the scenic routes been long ago abandoned?

(D) will I be confined to a sleeper room, or can i fan out into (gasp, might look foolish here) OBSERVATION cars/Coachcars during the route?

(E) Are the meals generous, skimpy, or in between? And are ala cart add on's pricey the way youd expect for a captive audience?


(F) Is the entire idea totally nuts? I rode a train once as a Kid back east, and i'll have to admit, the current idea is kinda based in "Use it before you loose it" logic

Any other pointers?

[Anonymous]

i have had the same idea as you. what i want to do is drive from here to Oklahoma city, there catch the train from OKC to dallad/Ft Worth. from there i would get on the sunset lmited to Los Angeles. from there...i just dont know...i was thinking of running up the coast to San Francisco, then getting the train over donner pass (i have always wanted to see that by train). from there i would have to figure out how to get back to either kansas City, or St Louis. where someone can come pick me up and take me back home.
the only time i ever got to ride an amtrak was from Los Angeles to San Diego when i was a little kid. i have always wanted to go cross country and see what i can see.

[Anonymous]

indeed the "zephyr" route is beautiful eastbound.donner pass and the sierras are the first highlight, then the next day the rockies. the "empire" and "chief" also have beautiful scenery but are best seen westbound on #3 & #7.breakfast is best, followed by dinner. not that pricey. strip steak is great. stick to the basics and take along fruit and a couple of sandwiches. amtrak used to have an "all across america" fare that for one price you get unlimited travel across all three amtrak regions with three stops built in. you can also book the same fare wihin two regions. once onboard in sleeper or coach you are free to move about the train. in fact once onboard in coach you may purchase a sleeper from the conductor as availibility permits. it is worth the scenery but can be tiring after two weeks.

[Anonymous]

when you mention a particular route as being "best viewed" east bound, vs west bound, is this due to the facing direction of travel (riding into the mountains) or due to the timing of the particular trains being in the most scenic part of the routes during daylight hours? Or some other quality even more subtle?

Is there any provision made for passengers who smoke, or have the rr's gone the way of the Airlines?

Who you consider the overall cleanliness of the trains facilities to be "below average" "adequate" or "superior"?

[Anonymous]

timing is the key on sightseeing the western trains.i.e.#3 passes over cajon pass in darkness by schedule unless it is late.glacier park is passed through early a.m. eastbound on # 8. smoking is permitted only in 1/2 of the lounge/dome car or at least it was.the cleanliness of the trains is adequate.

[Anonymous]

the Zephyr is definately worth doing, the scenery is amazing, and it makes you wonder how in the world did they ever put a railroad there, especially as long ago as it was built. yes you will be allowed to wander the train, when going through the mountains get you a spot in the lounge car, it has windows that curve up over your head, great place to watch the mountains, and you can get a drink there too. enjoy your trip!!

[Anonymous]

If you really want good service, food and cleanliness - go Via, at half the price (Canadian exchange is now about 50% vis-a-vis US)
Of course it won't take you on the routes you describe, as the trans-con runs from Vancouver, BC to Toronto...but it's a beautiful trip and Amtrak cannot begin to compare with VIA in any way, in my opinion - not just price!

[Anonymous]

Thanks!!

You've given me good info, that I could have not gotten, any other way. Much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Then, by gosh, I'll DO IT!!

Years ago, I lived in Denver, and on a couple sightseeing tours I made, ended up at Denver's Union Station.

Despite the dellapidation and neglect, it was hard not to want to buy onto a train, for the railside expeeiance, and the lure of "points unknown".

Guess it's time for me to do something about that. =)

[Anonymous]

If I may, roughly at what points of the east bound Zephyr will night fall and day break occur?

I realize this is subject to "on schedule/off schedule" variables, but assuming "on schedule", Id like to preview on maps the areas I'll be able to see in daylight. to preplan a photo-itinerary. ;-)

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick,

From the times I have ridden the Zeyphr, daybreak happens usually in the eastern NE area (or western Iowa depending if you are on-time or not). Nor sure about the night fall. Believe it's over on the west side of Colorado though.

I've taken a few trips on the Zephyr and have some trip reports on my web site if you want to read them. Go to http://john.p.richardson.home.att.net and click on the Amtrak link on the left.

Reverend Linux

[Anonymous]

John, thanks for the useful info, both here and at your site.

I lived in Denver for awhile (yes Union station there is way cool) and as I recall, the mountainous terrain pretty much flattens out at Denver & eastward, so If the Zephyr hits nightfall in colorado, good siteseeing during daylight sounds certain (how odd somthing works out right for a change)

Question: Did the Sleepers provide a reasonable vantage point for good site seeing, or should I plan to be buying cheesburger after cheesburger in the lounge car, for any decent siteseeing?

(yes, I confess, I'm a "pre-plan freak")

Regarding your Jag restoration, I knew a guy who had an XKE with a chevy 327 engine hacked in. Because of the front profile of the car, heat was a big problem...or rather "over" heat...

Til, that is he started circulating the radiator water through the tubular chassis, which helped alot...