Hi! This is my first post here. Here is some information to set the tone for my request: I am trying to build a cross-country rail adventure for my 15 year-old son and I. We live in Alaska and need to travel to Baltimore where we will stay for two months while my son has surgery and treatment for an orthopedic condition. This will be his 18th and hopefully final surgery, and we have stayed many, many times in Baltimore, flying across the country. Now we want to see the country and have chosen to go by rail.
Plan is to fly to Seattle and board the Empire Express to Chicago, with a roomette. From there it looks like we have some choices: Capitol Limited to DC and Marc train to Baltimore, or Lake Shore Limited to NYC and Acela Express to Baltimore. Any advice on this?
We'd like to stop in NYC for two days.
I'm concerned about the Bakkan oil-trail related delays in N. Dakota.
I know we'd switch to a trail without checked baggage on either route from DC or NYC to Baltimore, but, my husband will fly out later and can bring our big bags (we will need a lot for a two-month stay).
I would greatly appreciate any advice on route, cost (I've applied for the Amtrak CC to get miles and waiting for it to arrive to buy the tickets), and how to best book this adventure.
Thanks!
Sueinjuneau
Hello Sueinjuneau
While I'm sure there are more competent people around here to offer suggestions for travelling to you , I still want to send you my best wishes for your son's operation and good healing !
Regards
Juniatha
Add an extra day in Chicago to your schedule. The EB is chronically late. Today's #8 is 12hr 35 min into STP today. It'll probably be 14hrs late by the time it gets to CHI. It's been as much as 20hrs late recently, but it is more typically 5-8hrs late.
Fly to Chicago and skip the Empire Builder. It's a great train, but the weather and a large influx of BNSF oil trains have clogged the Builder's route. It's almost in meltdown stage. Hopefully, it will clear up by the spring. I'm afraid many riders are saying,"never again."
Take the Lake Shore Limited to New York City. Daytime running in New York State is pretty scenic. The Acela is great, but Northeast Regional trains really fly as well, and are a lot cheaper. If you take the Capital Limited you'll also see some nice scenery in southern Pennsylvania and Maryland. However, you'll bypass New York City. Best of everything with the surgery, and enjoy your trip.
MarknLisa Add an extra day in Chicago to your schedule. The EB is chronically late. Today's #8 is 12hr 35 min into STP today. It'll probably be 14hrs late by the time it gets to CHI. It's been as much as 20hrs late recently, but it is more typically 5-8hrs late.
I suspect, after Winter has broken, the EB will have a signifigantly better On Time performance.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
A third option would give you one train from Chicago to Baltimore--complete with checked baggage all the way: The Cardinal leaves Chicago on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5:45 in the evening, and is due into Baltimore at 7:05 in the evening the next day. You would cross West Virginia and Virginia during the day.
Johnny
I think we will risk the EBs schedule and build a day in to the schedule in Chicago. This is a one-way rail trip, we will fly back.
Thanks for the good wishes! My sons current mobility is such that few can keep up with him in any way - foot, ski, climb, but it won't be that way coming back when it'll be crutches and wheelchair for many, many months. That said, and not to offend any Chicagoans, but I've not been thrilled with that city, except for the blues at night. Maybe too many times stuck at O'Hare...
Any tips such as which side of the train to request a roomette, when to dine, to call the station for reservations or book online? Must-haves to bring on board?
I like the Chicago to Baltimore direct route, and did not know about that - we can do a sep trip to NYC.
thanks!
THE EMPIRE BUILDER IS THE GREATEST TRAIN RIDE IN AMERICA IN THE SUMMER! We rode the Empire Builder both east and west bound in a sleeper and, contrary to those detractor posts, its has good time keeping in the summer. The Cascade mountains are wonderful and breath taking. Glacier Park is fabulous; Montana is flat but it will give you time to relax and train riding is very relaxing. Food is very good especially dinner. What is wonderful is the wonderful people that you will meet on board and the interaction you will have with them. People really do talk to each other aboard Amtrak. You are giving your child a wonderful experience to see his country which you can't see from 35,000 feet. The ride from the Twin Cities to LaCrosse Wisconsin along the Mississippi can't be missed. Enjoy your cookies at night and the newspaper and coffee in the morning. Riding the Empire Builder is something every American should do at least once in their lives.
Because you are traveling in a sleeper you will have use of the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago which is a huge plus. We found that the Capital Limited will leave Chicago on time during the summer and offers interesting scenery east of Pittsburgh. You should be able to ride Amtrak all the way into Baltimore. Westbound the Capital Limited may have delays getting into Chicago in the morning but it will not cause any problem connecting to the Empire Builder. Again, be sure to use the Metropolitan Lounge.
I would contact Amtrak in person who can advise you on the type of sleeper space that will work best for you. I would book as soon as you know when to travel. I would strongly recommend a family sleeper. Amtrak's sleeping car attendents were wonderful both east and westbound, I hope you get Patrick, he was wonderful and made our west bound trip on the Empire Builder most enjoyable. May you have a wonderful trip and God bless.
Your good time on The Empire Builder will be diminishing the closer you get to Chicago because you will constantly be wondering, Will we make our connection?
To avoid this awful, stomach-wrenching time I advise two courses of action to consider for continuing your journey east:
If at all possible, spend a night in Chicago. That way you don't have to care or worry at all about your train (#6) being on time. Or, at least take the late train out of Chicago (#48, The Lake Shore Limited) east (to New York).
This time of year the railroads blame bad weather and congestion for delayed Amtrak trains. In the summer they blame construction and heavy rail traffic. There's always a reason. In any event, the result is the same: plan on being several hours late into Chicago. Depend on it.
So, get a hotel room in Chicago for overnight and enjoy continuing your journey on either The Capitol Limited or The Lake Shore Limited the following day. You and your son have enough to think about and face without all the problems resulting from a missed connection. Best luck to you both.
Since when was the Empire Builder operated with the California Zephyr's number?
Good advice from NKPGuy. Stay at the Palmer House, which is elegant but not that expensive and only about a 10-block cab ride from Union. Historic Macy's (former Marshall Field's) is just up the street.
And get cracking on those First Class reservations! The space is limited, and gets more expensive (if still available) the closer you get to departure time.
If it is possible book your sleeper on the left side of the train eastbound. You will be able to see Puget Sound from Seattle to Everett and especially be able to see the Mississippi River leaving the Twin Cities. While you will have access to your luggage on the train; sleepers, especially economy sleepers are small and have enough room for you and your son to be comfortable, but not your luggage. You will only have room for a carry-on type of bag and will enjoy your trip more the less you bring into the sleeper with you, otherwise your luggage is stored in the sleeping car but not in your room. Be sure to have it locked. Try to eat breakfast before arriving into the Twin Cities; the dining car will usually be quite busy leaving St Paul
Chicago offers many attractions. The Chicago Museum of Art, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier are some of the attractions reasonably close to Union Station. You could see what plays are in Chicago too. Chicago is one of America's great cities. Cabs are the best way to get around Chicago for two people. Amtrak can also help with hotel reservations too.
Here is an alternative routing:
1. The CANADIAN Vancouver-Toronto. Overnite in Toronto
2. The MAPLE LEAF Toronto-NYC. Overnite in NYC
3. NYC-Baltimore on an NE Regional train.
Sorry to hear about the delays with the Builder, because that is a very scenic route going through Glacier Park. When I rode it east to west in 2003, I planned an overnight stay in Portland to connect with Starlight, thinking a 4-hour window was pushing it between trains. But we pulled in exactly on time at 10 am, but I enjoyed my stay in Portland -happened to be Rose Fest weekend.
Sounds like it has a lot of problems now with all the oil being hauled.
Also, I hope all goes well with your son's surgery and hope you have a wonderful trip, getting to see the country. I've been to AK and it's beautiful up there too.
Part of the planning is the return airfare: is it cheaper from BWI or one of the New York airports? (Liberty/Newark now has its own direct light-rail access stop off the NEC)
Consider staying at the Beekman Tower Hotel when in NYC. It's in a classic Art Deco building (the Panhellenic Tower), adjacent to the UN and reasonably close to plenty of attractions.
Gooid wishes f or both you, your son, and your son's operation. And enjoy the train tirp!
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