Zephyr

[truebrit]

I recently came back from visiting the US and was booked on the Californian Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville. Despite the train being delayed it eventually arrived in Emeryville 16.5 hours late.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else  has also ridden the Zephyr and what they thought of it and would they travel again on it.

 

[Dragoman]

Welcome to these forums, truebrit!

This particular forum is focused on "Classic Trains", which generally seems to focus on historical  railway discussions.  You might be more likely to get meaningful responses on a related forum which deals with current railroading subjects, over under the "Trains" magazine banner.  There you will find a Passenger-specific forum, at

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/743.aspx

Hope you enjoyed your train trip, and your visit to the US generally.

[K4sPRR]

Dragoman

Welcome to these forums, truebrit!

This particular forum is focused on "Classic Trains", which generally seems to focus on historical  railway discussions.  You might be more likely to get meaningful responses on a related forum which deals with current railroading subjects, over under the "Trains" magazine banner.  There you will find a Passenger-specific forum, at

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/743.aspx

Hope you enjoyed your train trip, and your visit to the US generally.

 

There is a posting on that particular forum titled "Amtrak OT..." that specifically addresses his question.

[Deggesty]

Truebrit, I am sorry that your introduction to travel on the California Zephyr had such a miserable result. I can assure you that such timekeeping is extraordinary.

My wife and I have traveled on this train for several years in a row. The first two or three years we traveled, the UP was performing extensive trackwork as the roadbed was upgraded, and this necessitated slow orders and delays, though we were never delayed more than three hours or so, if that much. the two trips previous to this years trip, we arrived at our destination on time, if not early. This year, our departure was delayed close to three hours because someone allowed his vehicle to be hit after the train left Denver--and you can be certain that Amtrak did not plan that.

Also, Amtrak has to work around delays due to flooding, which necessitates slow orders or rerouting if not canceling the operation altogether through the affected area.

Please come back when you can, and try again--and even try other routes between Chicago and the West Coast.

[truebrit]

We are already thinking of another trip over to the US and travel by train next year. Maybe the Southwest Chief (to LA is it?) 

The Zephyr trip this year, although badly delayed by the  weather, trees on the line and the  drivers hours  and waiting for freight trains to pass etc, was unfortunate, but to see the US scenery roll by was just awesome and it was something you certainly don't see in a plane!

We travelled a couple days after that terrible incident near Galesburg where some passengers and train crew were tragically killed after a lorry went over a crossing and was hit by the train. It left us thinking 'It could have been us'. So tragic.

Also, can you tell me where the Zephyr locos are maintained and does the freight trains have priority over the passenger trains?