I rode the Chief from ABQ to CHI last August. My only complaint was that the train was late. Ironically, it was the first time in months the train was more than 15 minutes late departing ABQ; normally - and I know because I recorded arrival/departure times there for about 10 weeks before my trip - #4 gets into ABQ early and leaves on time. I rode coach, which was pretty full, and I got the impression the sleepers were full. The food was great; this was the one train where I ate lunch and dinner both days.
The scenery is also worth viewing; the Sandia Mountains as you leave ABQ, some pretty interesting rural landscape on the way to Raton, crossing the Mississippi at Ft. Madison. I was able to get quite a few interesting photos on the way.
Your alternative trip, via Colorado, also has some fantastic scenery. I have to admit, however, that the service on the Chief is notably better.
I rode the Chief with my brother and two sisters and our spouses to Williams Jct. and back this week. We rode the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon and stayed at the El Tovar canyonview rooms at Kachina.
The entire vacation was flawless and an unforgettable experience. Service on both the 3 and 4 was spectacular. The food was good enough. The sleepers (and I hope they never go away) were wonderful and quiet. It was only sections of rougher track that made the ride jolting. I know some like the clickety-clack and there isn't much left, but, continuous welded rail and a perfect roadbed are hard to beat when you're sleeping. Trains were within 15 minutes of arrival time everywhere.
Someone earlier said the Chief is the classiest train in the Amtrak system; it is.
Have taken the Southwest Chief on several occasions, the last one being Train 3 out of Chicago on Feb, 23, 2008.
Had a wonderful experience with an outstanding dining car crew, the LSA and Chef being former Santa Fe employees who have both served on the Super Chief and El Capitan. The Chef really knew how to cook the steaks. A good sense of humor always goes a long way, which this crew certainly had.
Had a so, so car attendant for the sleeper, a lack of wanting to do their job and complaining about having to put the beds down and up in the morning does not go over well with myself. My thought being, that is the primary part of them being there, if they make the beds, and come around once and a while during the day just to see if you need anything, now that to me, is what they are supposed to do, and if that is done, a decent tip will be given, if you have to make up your own bed because the car attendant is sleeping and no one can wake them up, then no tip should be given, just my own thought. The toilet in my room gave up working when we hit Kansas City, so that was not a great thing to have happen, but the occasional reset allowed use, just with careful timing. (As a side note, when I returned to Chicago to head out on the Lakeshore Limited, the Capitol Limited was delayed as the train I had on the Chief on the way out had made it back, and the toilets were still acting up, so they had to fix them)
Arrived into Williams Jct. only a half hour late, so that was nice. Had a great time with the whole Grand Canyon Railway experience, stayed in Williams then took the train to the canyon the next day, highly recommend the Luxury class as having the open observation platform was really nice. Had a great time at the canyon with an over night stay. Three outstanding meals were had at the El Tovar as well. A good return trip to Williams, and then got on the Southwest Chief again to continue to Los Angeles.
A less than exciting breakfast, but for me I like the french toast, with either bacon or pork sausage, coffee and an orange juice, so having to settle for a no choice breakfast of cereal, yogurt, a biscuit and fruit wasn't that great, but also understand why it is done that way, so I won't complain too much.
Overall an outstanding trip on the Southwest Chief as usual, and on the overall trip HOM-CHI, CHI-NOL, NOL-NYP (Changed thanks to the NS to flight from MSY to ATL, then train ATL-NYP), NYP-CHI via the Cardinal for a change, CHI-WMA, Grand canyon railway experience, WMA-LAUPT, er LAX, still LAUPT to me, LAX-CHI via the Texas Eagle, CHI-BBY, BOS-WAS via Accela Express, WAS-CHI via Capitol Limited, CHI-HOM, with a flight back to Wisconsin the following day.
As for your question on the connection, would recommend staying over night, always best to plan for the missed connection ahead of time so your whole trip doesn't get out of sync, or perhaps you would like the adventure of seeing how they would get you back on track, though I myself do not enjoy 30 people being cramped into a 15 passenger van plus luggage and am not a bus fan. I paid to take the train for a reason, again, just my thought.
Hope you have a wonderful trip and share the details when you return.
Four days till departure on the Southwest Chief. Headed for Grand Canyon.
I picked up a friend the day before yesterday who took a short ride from central Kansas to the State Capitol. The Chief was on time. She said the train was full.
My brother and two sisters are getting real exited about this trip. I picked up the tickets yesterday. Once again, I marveled at Kansas City's Union Station. As big stations go, it is pretty monumental. It is restored to standard that most people never really got to appreciate many years beyond when it was built in 1914. Visually stunning.
There is also, I hear, a growing effort in Kansas to add expansion on the BNSF system. Some 10 Kansas communities, their mayor's and their councils and chambers have banded together and are issuing resolutions to put daylight service between Kansas City and Okalhoma City. The state Senate is talking with Amtrak and has held several meetings with the state DOT, BNSF, and constiutent groups. Estimates for development are very low because the train would run over some of BNSF's finest track, making possible 79mph operation. The state senator leading this has 2009 as a target for legislation.
The SW Chief is a great trip in either direction; I've done it several times. It is probably the classiest train on Amtrak.
Do not, I repeat, do not try a two hour connect from the Coast Starlight. It is a chronically late train and the chances are that you will miss your number 4. Instead spend a night and day in LA. It's a great city and there are fantastic train watching opportunities. You could probably get in a round trip on the Surf Line to San Diego. LAUPT besides being a classic train station, is now a very busy train station. I was astounded when I was there a few years ago and exprerienced it at rush hour. And I'm a New Yorker!!! They have done an amazing job of building a commuter network from the ground up, and the Amtrak/State of California partnership has paid off with frequent service up and down the coast with good ridership.
Tigerholm @Yahoo.com
Video http://www.youtube.com/user/lakesuperiorvideos#p/p
tigerholm2 wrote: I had a great trip on the SW Chief last Nov. But I went LAX to CHI. I was not able to get a sleeper even 2 weeks ahead, but I was happy they put me in the last seat in last car, for a different experience. Here's my page of photos and video. http://www.doe.mtu.edu/~ehgroth/website/texas2007-2/SW_Chief.html
I had a great trip on the SW Chief last Nov. But I went LAX to CHI. I was not able to get a sleeper even 2 weeks ahead, but I was happy they put me in the last seat in last car, for a different experience. Here's my page of photos and video.
http://www.doe.mtu.edu/~ehgroth/website/texas2007-2/SW_Chief.html
Yo, these picture are the greatest man!! it's just like how I remember it. (cry) I gotta do that trip again real soon
I am heading for Grand Canyon from Kansas City next week. It's a family trip, my brother and two sisters and our spouses. Everyone, especially me is exited, although I am just a little worried about some of the little things, i.e., that maybe one of the sleepers will have something broken, or, there will be some incredibile delay (can always happen), or any oher negative experience that might ruin it for my family. For me, just being on the train will be good enough-if I we happen to be stuck in place for an hour or two I would "read the book" so to speak. I would rather do that between Trinidad and Raton Pass than sitting in Reagan airport looking out a window at a scene I've seen to many times.
I'll let y'all know how the trip goes, the good, the bad, and the rest. I plan to take pictures and will post one or two of the best.
I've been on the Chief once before, to Santa Fe. It was a spectacular trip.
scgallion wrote:I'm trying to put everthing togeather to spend a few days in Chicago around Memorial Day returning to San Francisco on the Southwest Chief and the Starlight. I've never ridden the Chief and wonder if some of you could post your experiences on it. Specifically, is the connection from the Chief to the Starlight in LA doable? There is a two hour gap between the scheduled arrival of the Chief and the departure of the Starlight. A look back at the actual arrival times over the previous five days on Amtrak's website suggests it will work.
I suggest you post your inquiry here (under Amtrak)
http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/category/6.html
The group in the Amtrak forum are active riders with very current information.
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