Rail Freak
Engineer
As I plan my Bucket List on taking as many Amtrak Routes as possible, is the TE (as someone recently posted) the least Scenic LD Route in America???
Thanx,
RF
Thanx,
RF
Least Scenic Route
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the_traveler
Engineer
It depends on your meaning of scenic. Yes, the TE between SAS and LAX does cover many hours of desert, and crosses the continental divide at a "low" altitude and without many mountains in sight, but some people consider desert scenery as very scenic. And between SAS and CHI, many might consider that scenic too.
Personally, I don't consider the TE as a whole as scenic as the CZ in Colorado, but then again I do not consider the CZ in Nebraska and Iowa to be as scenic either. And while I consider the EB around Glacier Park and the Columbia River Gorge to be scenic, I personally do not find eastern Montana and North Dakota to be very scenic.
But everyone is entitled to their own opinion as to what is and what is not scenic.
Personally, I don't consider the TE as a whole as scenic as the CZ in Colorado, but then again I do not consider the CZ in Nebraska and Iowa to be as scenic either. And while I consider the EB around Glacier Park and the Columbia River Gorge to be scenic, I personally do not find eastern Montana and North Dakota to be very scenic.
But everyone is entitled to their own opinion as to what is and what is not scenic.
stntylr
OBS Chief
I guess it depends on what you want to see. The TE goes through Chicago and crosses the Mississippi at St Louis. If your a sports fan it goes right by Cowboy Stadium in Arlington and it has a great view of the infamous tower 55 in Fort Worth. Plus lots of east Texas Forest and Central Texas heat.
So yeah it probably is. No mountains or National Parks or Great Lakes or ocean views.
But still it has a place in my heart because it does serve my neck of the woods in Central Texas and Monday morning while I'm riding the TE I'll be enjoying the least senic LD route as much as I can.
Of course I'm only counting the part from SAS to CHI. I still consider SAS to LAX to be the Sunset Limited.
So yeah it probably is. No mountains or National Parks or Great Lakes or ocean views.
But still it has a place in my heart because it does serve my neck of the woods in Central Texas and Monday morning while I'm riding the TE I'll be enjoying the least senic LD route as much as I can.
Of course I'm only counting the part from SAS to CHI. I still consider SAS to LAX to be the Sunset Limited.
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Rail Freak
Engineer
No Offense intended, I've never taken a Rail Trip on the SW Routes, I really enjoyed the CZ route thru Iowa & Nebraska, as i use to fly Balloons over that area & the Train Trip brought back great Memories!!!!
Just trying to prioritize my future trips!!!
Thanx,
RF
sky12065
Conductor
I'm sure others, although I don't know why, may strongly disagree with me, but I haven't find any of the long distance routes I've taken worthy of being labeled as the "least scenic." There are however segments of routes that I would label as least scenic and one of those, in addition to a number of others, is on the CZ and starts at the entrance to the Moffet Tunnel and ends at its exit! :lol:As I plan my Bucket List on taking as many Amtrak Routes as possible, is the TE (as someone recently posted) the least Scenic LD Route in America???Thanx,
RF
I do not think the Silver Meteor is all that scenic. I have probably traveled some part of the route between Hollywood, FL to NYP over 20 times and although it does not get "old," it is just not as scenic as the other routes (Capitol Limited, LSL, the Adirondack, Empire Builder (CHI-MSP)) that I have traveled.
Rail Freak
Engineer
Thanx,
Let me put the question this way, out of the SWC,TE,SL,Card & LSL, which ones are your favorites????
RF
Let me put the question this way, out of the SWC,TE,SL,Card & LSL, which ones are your favorites????
RF
dart330
OBS Chief
I would say the least scenic is the SWC going through KS :lol:
Nickrapak
Service Attendant
Scenically, the Cardinal by a mile. However, it is a short and crowded train.
Squeakz2001
Service Attendant
My favorite out of the ones you listed is the Cardinal. As aprevious poster said, it is a short and crowded train, however, I usually ride in sleepers and that makes all the difference. You get a breath-taking view from that train.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train !
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
!I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
On Tuesday AM I will ride what I think is the Least Scenic - The Texas Eagle from STL to CHI, Most of my trips start out that way - or KWD to KCY which IS nice.
In October we will ride the TE over the rest of its route - from LAX to STL - I hope we enjoy it - since we will be on a train I expect that we will
In October we will ride the TE over the rest of its route - from LAX to STL - I hope we enjoy it - since we will be on a train I expect that we will
the_traveler
Engineer
I'll agree you - for most of the route! However the segment from OSB to WLY (where it goes along the shore - or within sight - of the Long Island Sound) I consider as very scenic!my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
And most of the way from WLY (thru KIN ) until just south of PVD is thru a wooded area!
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Cho Cho Charlie
Engineer
That was my first thought too.
Possibly because it is an overnight LD train, and therefore, there isn't much to see out of the windows when its dark.
TVRM610
Conductor
LSL has some really great scenic points.... the River run as you depart... and then all of the Lakes that it gets its name for!The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
I second the Silver Trains as being pretty forgettable as far as scenery....
As for the NEC.... NYP-Boston has some wonderful scenery... But I assume you meant the WAS-NYP portion...
MikeM
OBS Chief
If the Pioneer was still running, someone would bring up the ride across Wyoming. I personally liked this route, being high desert, but then I'm biased having grown up in Wyoming...
the_traveler
Engineer
The only Lake that it goes near - at least that you may see - is Lake Erie! But does follow the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers on the eastern end (to NYP) - and that is scenic!
The eastern Montana and North Dakota portions of the Empire Builder are nothing to write home about. Same applies to a long stretch of the San Joaquins in farm country.As I plan my Bucket List on taking as many Amtrak Routes as possible, is the TE (as someone recently posted) the least Scenic LD Route in America???Thanx,
RF
TVRM610
Conductor
sorry... I was referring to lakes in general.. not only "Great" lakes...
i guess some would call them ponds... not really sure how many of them can legally be classified as lakes... but there is alot of water views.. i do know that!
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
I've done both parts of the NEC and I think both of them aren't all that scenic. As for the LSL-- you don't even get to see its namesake! *Sigh* Que sera sera I suppose.LSL has some really great scenic points.... the River run as you depart... and then all of the Lakes that it gets its name for!The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
I second the Silver Trains as being pretty forgettable as far as scenery....
As for the NEC.... NYP-Boston has some wonderful scenery... But I assume you meant the WAS-NYP portion...
TVRM610
Conductor
Scenery I suppose is a very relevant term.... seeing that you are from the North East and Ohio... that is probably why I find the LSL and parts of the NEC more scenic then you... since its more normal for you... but for me... all the water is pretty... Ha!I've done both parts of the NEC and I think both of them aren't all that scenic. As for the LSL-- you don't even get to see its namesake! *Sigh* Que sera sera I suppose.LSL has some really great scenic points.... the River run as you depart... and then all of the Lakes that it gets its name for!The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
I second the Silver Trains as being pretty forgettable as far as scenery....
As for the NEC.... NYP-Boston has some wonderful scenery... But I assume you meant the WAS-NYP portion...
Likewise... much of the Silver Trains that I find boring could be because I drive through Georgia and parts of FL so much.. it just looks kinda like old news. While no one would say the Silver trains are A+ for scenery... someone who has never been through that part of the country might be fascinated.
The areas west of Spokane on both segments of the EB, from Spokane to the Columbia River, is nothing to write home about either. Fortunately both segments are mostly under the cover of darkness, for the most part. And neither lasts for that long compared to other places. 3 hours or so.
First, I agree with The_traveler, the NEC along the Sound is very scenic.I've done both parts of the NEC and I think both of them aren't all that scenic. As for the LSL-- you don't even get to see its namesake! *Sigh* Que sera sera I suppose.LSL has some really great scenic points.... the River run as you depart... and then all of the Lakes that it gets its name for!The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
I second the Silver Trains as being pretty forgettable as far as scenery....
As for the NEC.... NYP-Boston has some wonderful scenery... But I assume you meant the WAS-NYP portion...
Second, you need to look harder the next time you ride the LSL. I've seen both Lake Erie and Lake Michigan from it many times.
sky12065
Conductor
The views of the two lakes may be nice, but I really like when you go between the bays (Sandusky Bay & Bay Point) at Sandusky, OH. It's almost like you're taking a nice relaxing boat ride on the SS LSL! :lol:First, I agree with The_traveler, the NEC along the Sound is very scenic.I've done both parts of the NEC and I think both of them aren't all that scenic. As for the LSL-- you don't even get to see its namesake! *Sigh* Que sera sera I suppose.LSL has some really great scenic points.... the River run as you depart... and then all of the Lakes that it gets its name for!The LSL is scenic? It was pretty-- I don't know... my least favorite route personally is any NEC train
I think that the Penny has a very scenic route for a day train!
I second the Silver Trains as being pretty forgettable as far as scenery....
As for the NEC.... NYP-Boston has some wonderful scenery... But I assume you meant the WAS-NYP portion...
Second, you need to look harder the next time you ride the LSL. I've seen both Lake Erie and Lake Michigan from it many times.
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