https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=130129634556340&set=gm.947324852108304&type=3&theater
Tim said:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=130129634556340&set=gm.947324852108304&type=3&theater
After taking the Crescent to New Orleans, I’d think more than twice about taking a train trip. It was a “Once in a lifetime” experience that I had to do twice, since it was a round trip ticket. Big mistake.
I did Amtrak from Chicago to Flagstaff, AZ and I thought it was a good trip. Also a trip from Pittsburgh to NYC and from NYC to DC. No real complaints. Food was a little spendy , but good service
My older sister and her husband just took 5 grand kids from Seattle to Chicago on the Empire Builder and said they had a good time. Not too fancy of course, but the staff was attentive and efficient.
Of course they all think I should take it…
really thinking about doing the Coast Starlight from LaLa land to Portland next year for the convention… we shall see how that works out
Rocky Mountaineer Gold Leaf from Vancouver to Jasper was a great trip. I would do that a again but just that direction. The return trip is not that scenic.
Granted it’s been 20 years since I last rode the Crescent, but I found it a great experience. In most all the times I rode it, I had sleeper accommodations, which is the only way to travel Amtrak. I did coach on that route once. (Coach down, Sleeper back.) Night-and-day difference. They do need to re-route that train through some better scenery, though, especially in the winter. Dead kudzu doesn’t exactly put that route on “America’s Scenic Railway Journeys.”
That English trip sounds interesting. We did a BritRail tour of the UK back in the 80s. Delightful vacation; rode lots of tourist lines in addition to taking BritRail from town to town.
Later,
K
Kevin, I was looking at the Coast Starlight and same thing the best views, Mt Shasta& and the Cascades are at night, someone told me same thing with the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, some of the best areas are in the middle of the night. Somone in upper management needs to ride and take notes so that maybe they can adjust schedules to better show off the country.
Pete Lassen said:
Kevin, I was looking at the Coast Starlight and same thing the best views, Mt Shasta& and the Cascades are at night, someone told me same thing with the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago, some of the best areas are in the middle of the night. Somone in upper management needs to ride and take notes so that maybe they can adjust schedules to better show off the country.
Don’t hold your breath, unless you look good in blue.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
Amtrak runs at the whim of the host railroads, I believe they try for fewest delays than best views.
That’s a premium ticket for a 1st Class train no longer run.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)
Japan’s trains are faster, but far riskier
Pete Lassen said:
really thinking about doing the Coast Starlight from LaLa land to Portland next year for the convention… we shall see how that works out
Pete
Deb and I have taken loads of Amtrak trips. We took a lot more when the rewards program was much better for long distance travel. Getting the Amtrak travel rewards card can still reduce your cost.
Trains west of Chicago are generally a lot nicer then most east coast trains. While I like the economy bedrooms better on the single lever cars (window on the top bunk) the ability to walk around and the lounge car the the double level cars on the west coast trains make the trip far superior.
The Coast Starlight is a great train with good scenery, a good staff and reasonable food service. The only caution I have is not to plan anything near your arrival time. Amtrak runs on Amtrak time which has no relationship to normal time. If you consider your time on the train as part of your vacation and are not all that concerned when you get there you will have a great time.
Stan