Recent Long Distance Amtrak Trip

[TomDiehl]

I recently took a trip on Amtrak, even after reading some of the horror stories on this forum. The trip was conveniently broken into three sections, which allowed me to sample three different Amtrak accommodations.

The first was the Pennsylvanian, using all Amfleet equipment. One thing I learned here, take the Business Class for a few bucks extra. Amtrak's website leads you to believe that the difference between the two is outlets at the seat for Business Class. Checking out the train, I found out the seats are MUCH larger and nicer upholstery. The club car has a small snack bar and at first glance, the prices seemed a bit high, $5.25 for a cheeseburger that would be microwaved. Once I got back to my seat and saw the size of the thing, about a half pound of meat, I didn't feel the price was out of line.

The second was the Capitol Limited, from Pittsburgh to Chicago. I reserved a Roomette on this one. If all you're going to do on the train is sleep, not bad. Anything longer, get a Bedroom (more on this later). The room is just slightly larger than the bunks when set up, no room for changing. The only meal I got on this train was breakfast, and that was great.

After spending a couple days in Chicago, I boarded the Empire Builder for Seattle. Amtrak announced newly refurbished equipment and service enhancements which really brought up the style of the service. I reserved a Bedroom on this one and had much more space for changing, as well as a private toilet, shower, and sink. Most of the enhancements were for First Class passengers (if you reserve anything in the Sleeping Car, you're considered First Class). After the first couple stops, we received a bottle of Champagne. After supper, the Car Attendant brought around fresh baked Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies (still warm and soft). On the second day there was a wine and cheese tasting in the Dining Car.

For everyone on the train, they added a few items from the old GN Empire Builder Menu, not that the standard Dining Car food wasn't great (I gained four pounds on this trip). This train is also one that has volunteers from the Rails and Trails program (see Amtrak's website), that add to the experience of traveling by being your guides. There's so much more to see at rail level that you can't see from 30,000+ feet in the air.

Having your own room where you can choose privacy (door and curtain closed) or inviting passersby in (door and curtain open), plus room to stretch out and just watch the world roll by is, to me, travel the way it should be.

The on-time thing most people referred to seems to be for the most part, up to the host railroad. Most of this trip was on BNSF rails, and after a 46 hour rail trip, we arrived in Seattle only 40 minutes late. That's even after a delay in Minot ND for some engine trouble. We left Minot about 1 hour 40 minutes late, so they made up some time.

[jchnhtfd]

Tom -- delighted to hear you had a good trip. That's always been my experience on Amtrak and it's nice to know I'm not alone!

And I'm not surprised that you were able to make up time on BNSF -- that's a first-class show.

[TomDiehl]

We were moving along at track speed most of the time, which I assume was 79 MPH. They did cut a few of the smoker stops short (nonsmoker here), and I think BNSF did some track maintenance over the summer on this stretch of track.

I noticed that most people complaining that Amtrak was grossly behind schedule seemed to be riding on other host railroads. UP seems to be the worst.

[BNSF4ever]

I recently circumnavigated North America over two weeks. I hope to finish my trip report for another website tonight. Rather than steal thunder from that, I will say that my best journey on Amtrak was the Coast Starlight--it has the Pacific Parlour car and the best dining car crews and car attendants of any Amtrak trains I have ridden.

A close second was the Cascades service from Vancouver to Seattle. The scenery was fantastic and I enjoyed the Bistro car (a dining car was also part of our train but the prices were a bit steep, even with my $3 Business Class discount card).

However, the WORST train I rode in those two weeks is without doubt Amtrak #63, the Maple Leaf. I boarded this at Depew, NY. I had a business class seat in a converted Metroliner club car.

The conductor and his assistant, while not rude, seemed stressed out. When I got into the club car, the attendant asked suspiciously if I was in business class. Short and with puffed up hair, he resembled one of the heavies in the first Die Hard movie that Bruce Willis puts a 9mm into. When I told the man I was in business class, he pointed his head to the front of the car and barked at me: "Get back there!"

With only 30 minutes to the border, and with a customs declaration to find and fill out, there was no time for any food from the club car. Riding business class meant little than having a better seat. Unlike the Central Coast Pacific I rode from San Luis Obispo to LA, there was no car attendant and no free drink or snacks.

I went to the lavatory in the club car and it was filthy--towels all over the floor and water (from where, I did not want to know) sloshing about on one side.

When we reached Niagara Falls, Ontario, we were treated to a two hour delay while Canadian Customs officials inspected the train. My questioning took five minutes and I am not sure what took so long as a half dozen Canadian officers boarded and there were only three coaches. I nodded off at one point and woke up only to find us still in station.

The only good news about arriving in Niagara Falls was that our Amtrak crew left to be replaced by one from Via Rail Canada. The downside of this was that the club car snack bar totally changed--the menu board was taken down and all the American food removed! Via did not offer a wide choice of warm meals and I had to settle for pasta salad, that while good, was overpriced. At least the new club car attendant was a gentleman.

A week or so later, I was dining aboard The Canadian on our last night before our arrival in Vancouver the next morning. I was seated with an American who had ridden the Maple Leaf to Toronto a few days after I had. He complained of exactly the same things: rude crew: dirty train,: and a long border crossing delay (consider that our US ICE inspection on the Cascades lasted 30 minutes at most).

I have read that Amtrak is not enamored of its joint routes with Via. If I did not know better, Amtrak was running shoddy trains in the hopes of dissuading passengers (my train, however, was full). Shades of Southern Pacific?

Anyway, I had a great time overall but I am sad that Amtrak is not carrying up its end of the Maple Leaf.

[AntonioFP45]

BNSF4ever,

Even if it seems futile, write a letter or contact Amtrak. David Gunn has actually been taking a role in handling a number of pasenger complaints. The last thing he wants to hear from John McCain and Norm Mineta are reports of shoddy, sub standard service! These two gentleman have had Amtrak in their target sites for a while now. Why do some employees want to give them more ammunition?

I know what it's like to work in stressful conditions, but those few rude Amtrak employees need to wake up! If a train bathroom is a mess, then a service attendent or conductor can put on latex gloves, grab a couple of plastic trash bags and do some basic cleaning up so pasengers wouldn't have to see stuff like what you described. A little job pride, even with a horrid bueracracy can go a long way. ( I worked at a transit agency and have cleaned up behind slobs before even though it wasn't my job. )

I've ridden Amtrak here on the east coast. Did encounter one rude lounge car attendent who got irked when I asked for water instead of buying a soda. . Other than that, my trips were all enjoyable.

[BNSF4ever]

AntonioFP45

The rest of my Amtrak journeys were fine and I know about Amtrak's enemies so I was not really inclined to write Mr. Gunn and complain about this one trip. But your point is well taken.

I saw David Gunn up close. His business car, Beech Grove, was tacked onto the Lake Shore Limited I rode to Depew. I was told he was returning from the dedication of the refurbished Empire Builder in Minnesotat. He came into the dining car as I was eating and talked to a rail historian that sat across the aisle from me. I had hoped he would return so I might talk to him but he did not. As the train left Depew, I saw him and another gentelman standing on the veranda waving at us.

[TomDiehl]

I'm also writing a detailed trip log, but it's WAY too long to post here.

In case it wasn't obvious, this was my first long distance trip by train.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Guys, I know I have been rather negative about Amtrak here on the forum lately. That negativity has been primarily about the practicality of rail travel vs other modes, but never about the actual service passengers receive.

It sounds like Tom had a wonderful trip, but I would have been more surprised if he hadn't.

Tom, please correct me if I'm wrong, but is sounds as if you made your travel plans specificly to ride the train. You weren't in a hurry to reach your destination, and enjoying the scenery along the way was one of your primary goals. I have ridden Amtrak many times for those same reasons.

Out of curiosity, did you make the return trip on Amtrak, or did you fly? Most of my long distance Amtrak trips have been one way.

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

It sounds like Tom had a wonderful trip, but I would have been more surprised if he hadn't.

Tom, please correct me if I'm wrong, but is sounds as if you made your travel plans specificly to ride the train. You weren't in a hurry to reach your destination, and enjoying the scenery along the way was one of your primary goals. I have ridden Amtrak many times for those same reasons.

Out of curiosity, did you make the return trip on Amtrak, or did you fly? Most of my long distance Amtrak trips have been one way.

Pretty accurate, and yes, I did make the plans specifically to ride the train. Since it was the first long distance rail trip for me (an obvious railfan) and my wife (tolerates trains), we decided this was a long enough trip for two reasons 1)We had no idea what the trip would be like, so if it really sucked, it was only a couple days and 2)she just went full time and only gets a week vacation, we had to fly home [xx(] (the low part of the trip). I had originally planned a full circle trip, but was glad I didn't, it went through New Orleans.

[eastside]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl


After supper, the Car Attendant brought around fresh baked Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies (still warm and soft). On the second day there was a wine and cheese tasting in the Dining Car.

For everyone on the train, they added a few items from the old GN Empire Builder Menu, not that the standard Dining Car food wasn't great (I gained four pounds on this trip). This train is also one that has volunteers from the Rails and Trails program (see Amtrak's website), that add to the experience of traveling by being your guides. There's so much more to see at rail level that you can't see from 30,000+ feet in the air.

Having your own room where you can choose privacy (door and curtain closed) or inviting passersby in (door and curtain open), plus room to stretch out and just watch the world roll by is, to me, travel the way it should be.

The on-time thing most people referred to seems to be for the most part, up to the host railroad. Most of this trip was on BNSF rails, and after a 46 hour rail trip, we arrived in Seattle only 40 minutes late. That's even after a delay in Minot ND for some engine trouble. We left Minot about 1 hour 40 minutes late, so they made up some time.

When I took it in the mid-'90s I thought the Empire Builder's accommodations were good. My only complaint was that the shower/toilet in my room was dirty and smelly. The ride was really smooth thanks to the welded rail. I got a little stir crazy from a lack of physical activity after a day and a half. The train arrived so early that it waited about an hour just outside the station before pulling in!

The disadvantage of the Chicago to Seattle segment is that it passes through Glacier National Park at night. Going the other way it passes through during the day. The other features are the Stampede Tunnel and the GN Empire class 4-8-4 exhibited at Havre. At Minot, where it stops for refueling, it stops right at the junction with the CP.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Tom. My now ex-wife was similarly ambivalent about train rides, but one day a travel brochure came in the mail. In it was a 10 day rail tour package departing St Paul going to Seattle on the Builder, then bus to Vancouver, and Via Rail back to Winnipeg and bus home. As close to a circle as possible.

Of course, for me, the best part of the trip was the trains. This was especially true since I had previously visited all of those cities, and seen most of the sights that were on the tour.

While the Builder was very nice, Via was even better, because it used vintage streamline equipment. The second night, when the porter came in to open up the beds in our room, something jammed. As a result we got moved to a drawing room in the dome observation. What a treat!!!!

Unfortunately, the ex ended up with all of the photos, and I'm just left with memories.