Noted the article "Stagnant Hospitality" , Trains April 2008 and wanted to offer some comment .
My wife and I took the California Zephyr from Denver to San Francisco Feb 12-13 , 2008 . We had a delightful trip- the equipment seemed to be in very good condition , clean and comfortable . Amtrak train staff was excellent and always helpful . Dining Car was a very positive experience and a great opportunity to get to know some fellow passengers . While we had a roomette most of our daylight time was spent in the Parlour Car and Dining car enjoying the great views and sharing the experience with fellow travelers . The thought of such specialty Parlour cars being deleted from certain LD trains ( Coast Starlight ?) seems to fly in the face of allowing , much less encouraging , these wonderful routes to succeed . Hopefully that decision will be revisited .
It's good to hear that someone else has found travel on the California Zephyr pleasant. I have ridden it many times between Salt Lake CIty and Chicago, and also a few times between Salt Lake City and Sacramento, and have always enjoyed the trip--even the time that we left Chicago a little over two hours late and arrived in Salt Lake City about eight hours late.
I do question your mention of a Parlour car on this train; perhaps you were riding in a Sightseer Lounge, with windows that curve part way overhead? So far as I know, Amtrak has carried cars which it called "Parlour" on the Coast Starlight only, except when it was ferrying these reworked Santa Fe cars between Indianapolis and the West Coast. (I think they would have traveled on either the Southwest Chief or Empire Builder, and not on the Zephyr.)
I do regret that Amtrak is retiring these ancient cars, for I enjoyed riding in them when going up or down the coast.
I trust that you enjoyed the climb to Moffat Tunnel, and running along the Colorado River as you descended to Glenwood Springs.
Johnny
20thCenturyLtd Noted the article "Stagnant Hospitality" , Trains April 2008 and wanted to offer some comment . My wife and I took the California Zephyr from Denver to San Francisco Feb 12-13 , 2008 . We had a delightful trip- the equipment seemed to be in very good condition , clean and comfortable . Amtrak train staff was excellent and always helpful . Dining Car was a very positive experience and a great opportunity to get to know some fellow passengers . While we had a roomette most of our daylight time was spent in the Parlour Car and Dining car enjoying the great views and sharing the experience with fellow travelers . The thought of such specialty Parlour cars being deleted from certain LD trains ( Coast Starlight ?) seems to fly in the face of allowing , much less encouraging , these wonderful routes to succeed . Hopefully that decision will be revisited .
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip on the California Zephyr two weeks ago. The scenery going through the Rocky mountains and the Sierra Nevada mountains is spectacular. The food in the diner was very good and I always enjoy meeting the people we are seated with. In this case we met a couple from Germany and a couple from the UK -- with whom we enjoyed many long conversations. The crew was very friendly and helpful. We were on time or ahead of schedule the whole way.
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