California Zephyr discussion 2024 H2

Shop deals on ebay
Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
PaTrainFan said:
I'll post this here to start. If it's more appropriate elsewhere, so be it. A creative interactive Washington Post story about a cross country train trip on the Zephyr and Lake Shore Limited. Hopefully the link provides free access; if not, my apologies.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/interactive/2024/amtrak-train-travel-diary/
Click to expand...

Yes, that was quite the entertaining "graphic essay". I highly recommend reading it if you have access to the Post.

I especially liked the cartoon depictions of spaces we are all familiar with such as Roomettes, Cafe car, etc. Useful comparisons between sleeper and coach travel also.
 
BoulderCO said:
Yes, that was quite the entertaining "graphic essay". I highly recommend reading it if you have access to the Post.

I especially liked the cartoon depictions of spaces we are all familiar with such as Roomettes, Cafe car, etc. Useful comparisons between sleeper and coach travel also.
Click to expand...
I had to use the 'reader' mode.
People seem to respond to those kinds of graphics. Kind of like comic books, I guess.
 
It was a three-engine-day for the Zephyr across Iowa today. Amtrak #6(23) ran over two hours late across the state this morning with a Union Pacific locomotive leading the way. I couldn't tell if there was a problem with either Amtrak engine, but I'm guessing one wasn't running well.

IMG_0962.JPG

Also, which may or may not be related to the above, #5(25) also had three engines as it came through Iowa this evening. But those were all P42s (134, 15, and 171). That train was running on time if not early.
 
Have a booking on the california zephyr #5 from Chicago to san francisco car #540 room 22. Where is this room and does it have service
 
mldev said:
Have a booking on the california zephyr #5 from Chicago to san francisco car #540 room 22. Where is this room and does it have service
Click to expand...
It's a transition-dormitory ("transdorm"). It'll be the first car behind the baggage car. Your room will be upstairs on the right side relative to the direction of travel, transdorms are the only sleepers that are always oriented the same direction so room side is predictable.

Your car will probably handled by the SCA in the adjacent car, the 31 or 32, depending on whether there are one or two standard sleepers on your travel date. There have been reports of transdorms getting their own SCA assigned, but I wouldn't bet on that. How well the next car's SCA handles the transdorm varies. It may be fine, or you may be in the Land of the Lost.
 
Just FYI, it appears that they are charging an additional $5 for the EMY-SFC bus over the EMY fare now. I saw a post over on Flyertalk with fares that did not square with @niemi24s chart nor railsforless.us (which doesn't allow SFC). I checked it on Amtrak.com and there is now an $5 difference between the EMY and SFC fares that accounts for the variance. My recollection is both stations used to be same price when connecting off the Zephyr, making the bus effectively free. No longer.

Not a big deal and it's still worth booking for the convenience of it, but it is a change.
 
BlackDiamond said:
The Pufferbelly restaurant near the station is supposed to be decent. I haven't actually tried it. The station itself is nothing to look at but has all the necessary facilities.
Click to expand...

Pufferbelly Station is pretty good - huuuge portions and great people watching (and the CZ right outside the windows). Downtown GJCO has a fair number of restaurants and bars, as well as shops, etc. It's a regional center for the area. If you go, a stop at Enstrom's Toffee is of course, mandatory.
 
zephyr17 said:
It's a transition-dormitory ("transdorm"). It'll be the first car behind the baggage car. Your room will be upstairs on the right side relative to the direction of travel, transdorms are the only sleepers that are always oriented the same direction so room side is predictable.

Your car will probably handled by the SCA in the adjacent car, the 31 or 32, depending on whether there are one or two standard sleepers on your travel date. There have been reports of transdorms getting their own SCA assigned, but I wouldn't bet on that. How well the next car's SCA handles the transdorm varies. It may be fine, or you may be in the Land of the Lost.
Click to expand...
Just completed the trip. I am grateful for the advise I received on this site. I did not have a designated car attendant but I was prepared and made myself independent so this was not a hardship. I prepped my own bed and sought out my own towels and water etc. Also was aware of the no coffee hot water situation and brought a small electric kettle and own coffee and tea for my convenience. I enjoyed my trip and the meals in the dining car were very good and service there was efficient. The lounge was always full but I found a seat when I wanted one for the scenery. One more thing, bring an outlet extender as there is only one outlet in the room.
 
Forgive me if this has been answered before, but with the 0825 departure time for 6 out of EMY, are they serving breakfast?
 
NativeSon5859 said:
That’s a shame. They give you breakfast on the Crescent leaving NOL at 0915. Now granted it’s a flex meal so it’s easier. But they could do something - voucher for lounge car items, etc.
Click to expand...
They never have served breakfast departing the East Bay on either it or its incarnation as the San Francisco Zephyr prior to 1983. It is nothing new and in no way is a reduction in service.

They ought to start lunch service around 11.
 
NativeSon5859 said:
That’s a shame. They give you breakfast on the Crescent leaving NOL at 0915. Now granted it’s a flex meal so it’s easier. But they could do something - voucher for lounge car items, etc.
Click to expand...
You can get a better breakfast in San Francisco,Oakland or Emeryville before boarding!
 
zephyr17 said:
They never have served breakfast departing the East Bay on either it or its incarnation as the San Francisco Zephyr prior to 1983. It is nothing new and in no way is a reduction in service.

They ought to start lunch service around 11.
Click to expand...
I realize that, I’ve been on the train probably 25 times at least. An 825 departure should warrant a breakfast service, imo. Not the end of the world though obviously.
 
NativeSon5859 said:
I realize that, I’ve been on the train probably 25 times at least. An 825 departure should warrant a breakfast service, imo. Not the end of the world though obviously.
Click to expand...
I agree with breakfast and other meals too. Recently Amtrak and too many staff put the company and or themselves before the paying customer, increasingly requently.

To qualify my comments I have riden 9 LD Amtrak trains in the last 6 weeks and currently on my 10th, that includes the Zephyr. Started riding Amtrak about 10 years ago.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top