There is one big downside to sitting center car, the leg room of an airliner. Actually, this is a newer Superliner and I can definitely tell the seats don't recline as far as the older car I rode last week. I wonder if they added a row to this build.
Ok, next stop, Elko, NV. I plan to snooze right through that one. Matter of fact Im initiating the sleep command right after this post.
G'nite all. :)
-Mark
www.MarkWatson3D.com
Oh the good life. The last two trips aboard the Zephyr I was stuck on the very end seats. This time I got to choose from a few different seats and snagged one about 1/3rd from the rear. This ride is so much more smooth! :D I'm on the right side too, have an outlet, and my window appears very clean! I might just enjoy the Sierras from my seat! :p Of course I'll have to find a Lounge chair on the left side for the American River, but pretty much everything else is on the right if I recall correctly. :)
11:30 on the nose, toot toot, and we're moving. :)
And now I'm Onboard the Zephyr! :)
Today's train consists of 3 locos, baggage, step down sleeper, coach, coach(I'm in this one), lounge, diner, I think sleeper but maybe coach, and a sleeper on the end. Seven superliners in total.
As I type a light 3 lash up rolls by. UP, patched bloody nose, and UP.
Grande Catch!!!!!!!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Tonight I board the California Zephyr once again. This time in Salt Lake City destined for San Francisco.
A quick recap of the past few days, as you know I traveled to SLC to visit my best friend and view "Beasts of the Southern Wild" at Sundance (unfortunately I didn't actually get to see it due to its popularity). Having both lived in Lincoln, we then took a road trip back to Lincoln for a few days. Said my final goodbyes to friends and family then returned to SLC via I-80.
As we drove out of Cheyenne along the way, I looked up and happened to spot a celebrity! :D
This is my second encounter with UP1989. The first time, it literally took me home. ;)
I also got a video of UP 1989 blowing a long hard whistle as it slowly rolled through a crossing. (I'll post that once I'm home in SF)
We also stopped in Cheyenne to visit UP 4004 (The "Big Boy" steam locomotive).
I also captured this shot along the way which has nothing to do with trains, but I find myself pleased with this view, so naturally I gotta share. :)
Ok, my next post will be from the station!
I just received a text from dad reporting there was a small fire on the zephyr entering Hastings yesterday.
I just took time to read the rest of your posts and it was fun following along on the trip. Thanks for taking us with you.
I will be interested to see the rest of the trip SLC to San Fran, the Amtrak route should be different than the one I took on original CZ.
Congrats on working on a movie to be shown at Sundance. I hope you enjoy your Zephyr ride.
I have not been on Amtrak's, but I did ride the original CZ when it was run jointly by Western Pacific, Rio Grande and Burlington. Awesome scenery, but Amtrak's version does not take the same route, no Feather River Canyon on the old WP route from what I understand. But the route thru CO is supposedly the same. I can still remember seeing 5 dome cars on this train, and riding beside a river with canyon walls and lots of tunnels.
Keep us posted, I will stay tuned to see what you have to say.
what a beautiful time of year to cross the Rockies by train!
for those who are curious: I looked up comparative prices Lincoln-Salt Lake 15 days ahead
Amtrak $112 24hrs.
various airlines $272 11hrs. 2 stops
" " $288 7 1/2 hrs. 2 stops
" " $347 4 1/2 hrs. 1 stop
Greyhound $123 23 and 26 hr. runs
scenery, comfort, superliner lounge car, dining car-room for baggage- Amtrak wins hands down!
Hytec Testing...1, 2, 3, etc. If this works...Thanks for your help Darren. If it doesn't, then nobody's gonna see it anyway. Mark, back to my original question about your approach into Denver. What did you mean by "wrong side"?
Testing...1, 2, 3, etc.
If this works...Thanks for your help Darren. If it doesn't, then nobody's gonna see it anyway.
Mark, back to my original question about your approach into Denver. What did you mean by "wrong side"?
Glad to helped Hank!
Thanks for the travelogue! It's been a couple of years since I rode the CZ (from Chicago!) to S.F. It was fun to follow your progress and remember!
Here's a video I made of my trip on the Zephyr. Omaha to Chicago. Chicago to Jackson, MI:
MZcoTcgBQpM
My latest YouTube video:
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkTH9TLhkGg:490:300]
Thanks Mark. I've never been in that part of our Country, by rail or any other mode. So vicareously following your various adventures has been a delightful experience.
How're doing at Sundance...new contacts, networks, concepts, etc. ? I assume (hope) you will continue on to SF by rail soon.
Hi Hank,
The station at Denver is currently under renovation. Normally we pull (back) in and the station is on the right side (south?) of the train. Currently, there is a temporary station and platform on the left side of the train.
I think he meant that he was seated on the wrong side of the train to get a good picture.
Footnote to departure: Amtrak thru Lincoln comes and goes on the mainline north of the depot, which is located on western edge of downtown. South of the depot, Amtrak uses the line that heads southwest and then west out of Lincoln toward Grand Island. It crosses a diamond that is used by the St Joe/KC line, which is a busy coal line.
Before they silenced the north part of the city, I could hear Amtrak coming and going (different sounding whistle) and always sounding like they were running for their life since they have to whistle for so many crossings on that line. They haven't silenced the tracks south of the depot that Amtrak uses - but it is coming. St Joe line is pretty much silenced now.
Mark hit a slower overnite when he departed Lincoln not too far off the scheduled time. (12:14a) Last nite BNSF ran everything they could get their hands on, consequently Amtrak went thru about 3:30a. When they silence the whole city, I won't hear the whistles, but they can't silence the motors pulling the grades all around Lincoln!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Last I heard, the tin shoes were encased in concrete just outside Cedar Rapids, IA.
Don't miff 'da cat!
...and the tin shoes are missing.....
Stourbridge Lion SteamDonkey74: Mookie: I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something? Mark's folks live there and that is, I believe, where he grew up. ... and I try not to hold that against him.
SteamDonkey74: Mookie: I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something? Mark's folks live there and that is, I believe, where he grew up.
Mookie: I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something?
I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something?
Mark's folks live there and that is, I believe, where he grew up.
... and I try not to hold that against him.
Cool! Lincoln Local makes big time! I am pleased!
SteamDonkey74 Mookie: I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something? Mark's folks live there and that is, I believe, where he grew up.
Adam is correct, I was born and raised in Lincoln and had returned to visit after graduating from college in San Francisco. (Academy of Art, BFA, Visual Effects Compositing)
And now I'm minutes away from finding out whether or not I'll get a seat for the last festival screening of "Beasts of the Southern Wild". I'm number nine on the wait list, but this is one of the hottest tickets Sundance has seen in a while. They even added an additional (yet exclusive) screening because of the demand! So excited... *fingers crossed*
Mookie I'm curious - of course. How did you happen to pick Lincoln to start your trip? Did I miss something?
(now he can watch the snowflakes as winter tries to return)
Thanks for bringing us along, Mark!
And here we are. :)
I hope you enjoyed your journey with me aboard the California Zephyr. :)
If you find yourself craving more, the trip continues next Wednesday from SLC to San Francisco! :)
Just departed Provo. Next stop, Salt Lake City!
And we're about 10 minutes early into Provo.
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