Just completed an enjoyable trip on the California Zephyr from Osceola, IA to Emeryville, CA and back. Some of the highlights:
1) Station Caretaker Pat in Osceola is a great help answering questions, getting folks ready for the train, keeping order in a parking lot that surrounds the Depot. Too bad Amtrak or the city cannot spend a little money to have this (most popular depot in Iowa) station properly equipped.
2) Crew west bound was outstanding and the trip through the Rockies and Sierras was spectacular. Arrived in California within a few minutes of on-time. Kudos to car attendant Paul in the 31 car and the entire diner crew
3) Arrived in Emeryville on Saturday to head home. The agents there explained that one of the Donner Pass tracks was blocked by snow (it had snowed off and on since Monday). UP finally cleared #6 to head east about 4 hours late. With the other trains at Emeryville, they can't spot the CZ there so we waited. The depot is very nice, but becoming busy with all the trains to San Jose, Sacramento and the Coast Starlight.
4) UP let #6 head east until we got stopped in Colfax. Waited there for a freight and #5 to clear Colfax and headed up. By that time it was dark so not much to see, but we were 6 hours late.
5) From then on we kept going and stayed about 6 hours late. This meant we missed the mountains in daylight but had great views of the Great Salt Lake Basin and the Wasach Range.
6) Sunset as we left Glenwood Springs so we missed the Rockies and woke up somewhere in eastern CO.
7) The Lincoln, NE depot has been repurposed to a lighting sales company but its exterior is well maintained. Don't miss the mural on the east side of the old depot
8) The Omaha, NE station is derelict and hangs over the Amtrak station like a ghost. Come on Omaha, how much money do you make off of UP. Clean up the depot and have a little pride in your city. For you CZ riders, close your curtains in Omaha and spare yourself some real disappointment.
9) Again the crew was first rate and kudos to Dennis in the 32 car.
10) Met the designer of the Washington Metro and many other interesting people.
11) Ride the CZ people it is a great ride and the people are great (both crew and passengers).
petitnj 8) The Omaha, NE station is derelict and hangs over the Amtrak station like a ghost. Come on Omaha, how much money do you make off of UP. Clean up the depot and have a little pride in your city. For you CZ riders, close your curtains in Omaha and spare yourself some real disappointment.
That building is the old Burlington station. A couple of years ago, a developer announced plans to turn it into upscale condos. Other than the production of a glossy brochure, I'm not aware that any progress has been made.
Across the tracks from that is the Union Station building. It housed the UP, Milwaukee, C&NW, MP and the IC. It is a 1920's art deco structure that has been very nicely restored as a western heritage museum. It's worth a visit if you are in the area.
Like the photo of the station. Have you any from the other sides? When I'm riding the CZ it's too dark (and we're usually running too late) to poke around.
Sorry, Mr. Smith, have lots of Union Station in Omaha, but I've never taken the time to get more of that building. My bad!
California Zephyr is no longer running to California. It is terminating in Reno and the road is so bad that there is no alternative transportation. This would be frustrating for those who are trying to get to California.
The Northstar Ski resort has reported 97" of snow in the last 7 days and the UP has called out the rotary snow plows.
Hopefully someone will get video of the rotaries in action.
I'm glad you had a good trip on the CZ. I think the depot you referred to as being repurposed by a lighting sales company was at Hastings, Nebraska. Dutton-Lainson Co. bought the former Burlington depot there and remodeled it into a showroom for its Showcase fixtures line, lighting, plumbing, kitchens, etc. Amtrak has space in the west end.
The Lincoln depot was redeveloped some 20 years ago as Lincoln Station. The big waiting room is now a rental hall and there is also a restaurant, an antiques mall and the city visitor center on first floor, plus Amtrak at far north end. BNSF still leases some office space on upper floors. But big changes are coming. Amtrak plans to build a new depot 500 feet to the west, along the freight corridor, by mid-2012. The depot area is being redeveloped in conjunction with a new arena to be built to the northwest. Already they have cleaned out an old diesel fuel spill and are doing grading for sewer and track changes. The old depot will remain, redeveloped for other purposes.
At least three full-blown conversions for the Omaha Burlington Station have been announced and partially attempted. At first it was to be a restaurant, then headquarters for an oil distribution company, then upscale condos. All it takes is money! At least the current Omaha Amtrak depot is a big improvement from what they used in 1974-1984--"temporary" trailers. In 1977 Amtrak seemed ready to move to Union Station, using the west wing. But there were too many complications--the UP double track main line for one. The Burlington depot was also the inspiration for Walthers' HO and N "Union Station."
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