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For the timing of the scenery I prefer the CZ eastbound to see Ruby Canyon, Grand Junction and the Glenwood Canyon in daylight. Ruby Canyon is often dark by the time the westbound train gets there. Last month I took the Empire Builder eastbound and saw flooding along the Mississippi River. I...

I saved a few bucks traveling with my wife taking the CZ out of Chicago in coach to Omaha and moved to a Roomette along the outside of the train at 11PM. We had the Roomette as far as Glenwood Springs and moved back to coach to Winnemucca where our car was parked. It is easier to move from one...

There is a HI hostel in Seattle (former American Hotel) about 5 blocks east of King St. station. Good luck on getting a reservation if there is a sporting event at the stadium nearby. I agree on the HI hostel in Chicago (largest in the US). Taxi ride + hostel will be close to $100/night. I will...

My best breakfast on the SWC was in New Mexico with Mark Murphy (Amtrak VP for Long Distance routes) and 2 other gentlemen. If the train is early, count on a breakfast at Phillipes.

To save a little money on a trip on the Zephyr, my wife and i switched from coach to a roomette in Omaha about 11 PM. We had the Roomette until Glenwood Springs. I agree Glenwood Springs would be better unless you want a huge city (Denver).  There is good bus service up from Glenwood Springs to...

I was trying to plan a long Amtrak trip for next May. My plan was to come into LAX on the Sunset Limited early AM and leave on the northbound Coast Starlight. I did call USA-Rail and waited 5+ minutes to talk to a human. He assured me that the train would be running in late May. Is Amtrak...

My wife and I stayed at the Rt. 66 Hostel on Central Avenue a few years ago. The room was painted pepto-pink but at least it had an en-suite bathroom. The bed was comfy. It is within walking distance from the Amtrak/Greyhound station.

Check your roomette number! Normally Roomette #1 on any sleeper car is assigned to the SCA at least on the sleeper cars I've been in.

More snow fell last week. The only way to get up to see the lake from the visitor center is by snowshoe. They may or may not run the rotary plow up to Rim Village from the visitor center.

If you board in Eugene it will be after 5PM. The car attendant will hand you each $6 vouchers for either the dining car or the cafe in the lower level of the SSL. If you want to eat at your seat, tell the car attendant when you board and he/she will get you a menu and will go get food from the...

Since you are boarding in Erie at 7:20AM (could be later), consider booking Business Class seats on 448. The BC seats are in the front section of the cafe car and are quite comfortable for a daytime ride. On the return trip expect to arrive late in Erie. Westbound you really want the roomette.

If this is the Lake Shore Limited, pay the extra to ride in Business Class which is in the front section of the Cafe car. The seats are more comfortable and is in a 2+1 arrangement. You are less likely to have anyone talking on a cellphone. In the past 16 years I have slept many thousands of...

The snow came a little late this year. Last week i snowshoed a path around the house. The RR crossing is 2 miles outside Oakridge. There's a geocache there. I have a geocache hidden at the edge of the ROW where the major slide was a few years ago.

There is no "30" car on the CZ. They will enter the diner from their car. Roomettes 11-14 are downstairs. All the others are upstairs.

My wife and I have been on the LSL in Business Class from Chicago to Erie PA. The BC was 2+1 in the front half of the cafe car (single level car). The return trip from ERI was about 3 hours late. we did get some breakfast from the cafe before we got back to Chicago.

What month were you planning to travel? Are you planning on using the Cardinal (3 days/week) to get to Chicago? I checked on amsnag.net for early July and found that the cheapest fare for Roomette/Roomette/bus to Vancouver from CIN was at $921. Of course you can get coach seats and get a...

It's up to you to decide if the faux leather seats are worth the extra money for a daytime trip. The lower level of the Business class had 3 people (me, my wife and a lady that boarded in Los Angeles). We had a choice of seats. The upstairs was also less than half full. If you don't think the...

We rode on the CS in Business northbound last week. When we boarded at midnight in SAC the car attendant tried to give us a card with the wifi password. Since my laptop was in checked baggage I declined. He did give us 2 $6 coupons for food. The food cards still say that they are good in the...

My wife and I rode in Business Class on the CS northbound from SAC to KFS early morning Thursday. We left SAC a few minutes after midnight and got to KFS 40 minutes early. There were 3 engines in the consist. We asked for the lower level. We each had a pair of the faux leather seats as did the...

The buses that leave EMY (and OAK) do not leave empty. They are dedicated to picking up the passengers off the train and will wait until everyone that is going into the city is on board their bus with their luggage stowed. The bus drivers might show up late if they know that the train they are...