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No. Not for many years. As @pennyk pointed out, they dropped it long before Flex. Maybe around the advent of "Simplified Dining Service" which, among other things, ended specials by individual train.

Well, that one wasn't fastened down. You could just lift it up.

Stevens Pass is on the way to Seattle, not Portland. Going to Portland, you go through the Columbia River Gorge, which is much more scenic than Stevens Pass, IMHO. But the Gorge is on the left side west east bound.

I know they do that on the cafe/bc car during the power change at Albany on the Maple Leaf. Since the cafe/BC vestibule is usually closed, I just reboard through the Amfleet I's rear vestibule and lift the barricade to get back into BC.

Pretty sure T&E work Chicago-Grand Rapids-Chicago, as does OBS. It's the "away" terminal for both. Think T&E can can get away with less than 8 hours rest under HOS through some loophole because the run is short, around 3 hours and there's 6 hours off duty. Like the T&E crew on Cascades...

Right side westbound, left is mostly facing into the hill. Most of Stevens is "tree tunnel" so there are few expansive views. You mostly see big fir trees up close and personal going past on either side. No possessive. It's "Stevens" not "Steven's".

Choose "one way", one person, and "roomette" for class and your dates. Once the initial search results come up, choose to filter by Route: Empire Builder only, Layovers: no layovers.

That $622 for New Year's Eve is lowest bucket, BTW. I've been on the Builder over New Year's. They don't do anything special.

At least she's not an airline exec, so I'd tentatively say yes.

It isn't directly operated by Amtrak, no buses are to my knowledge. It is a dedicated bus contracted for by Amtrak/CCJPA, it is not a codeshare with another common carrier bus line. I don't know the company they contract with for it. Baggage allowances are the same as Amtrak's carry on...

I've taken the Builder in December several times. Heat onboard is fine, sometimes more than "fine" for my own personal comfort. Problem for a Californian will be off the train. I've been on Minot when it was -4° F. Got back on quick. Assuming you are boarding in Chicago, the wind off the lake...

Heat will work. Possibly too enthusiastically. Layers...

Can't they just use a cabbage?

Now they've got it stuck in Spokane instead of in position in Seattle to resume service on 8. They aren't bustituting the Builder except for the one I was on. 8(18) went out normally so isn't a Builder set in Seattle. When they resume service they'll have to start by bustituting 8/28 to get to...

The decision to cancel the Builders was made long before the incident with the Talgo.

The storm was pretty severe, lots of trees down lots of power out. However, that does not change the fact that Amtrak cancelled 7(17) that was scheduled to arrive more than a half day before the storm was predicted to hit. That was wholly unnecessary.

Since 8 went last night, they now are without a Builder set in Seattle, will have to restart 8 with a bustitution. How does that make sense? You say stranded, I say in position. Regular intercity bus with luggage hold and tiny bathroom in the rear. Don't recall the company name, but it wasn't a...

I am was on 7(17). They truncated it in Spokane tonight and the alert I got is they are providing alternative transportation for 7(17). The next trains, 7(18) and later will truncate in Spokane with no alternative transportation. They apparently let 8(18) out of Seattle go tonight. What I do...

Yes, that's the plan

Day 1 Much as I like the VIA Candian, catching the Maple Leaf at 7:15 am to connect to it westbound is kind of brutal. I like leaving at 3:40 pm on the Lake Shore a lot better. Spent the morning packing up (didn't have to do it the night before), checked out 11 and caught a cab over to...