A round trip to EMY. Departing Chicago 8/9/19. Departing EMY 8/13/19

[gaspeamtrak]

Hi Steve. Enjoying your trip report !
Just wondering? I'm taking the Zephyr # 5 in the middle of September
Can you tell me where car "532" is that the first sleeper from the crew car?
Do they sell space in the crew car still?

If you care you can see my trip itinerary in "NS VIA FAN'S " Via's Ocean adventure"
Thank you for sharing !!!

 

[Steve4031]

I will take a look at your trip report. Right now the consist is 2 engines, baggage car, transition sleeping car and the 533, 532, 531, diner, sightseeing lounge car, and coaches. The 533 car is added for the summer I don’t know when it comes off. When it does the 532 will be behind the transition sleeping car.

 

[Steve4031]

These two photos sum up the day. Perfect.

 

[Steve4031]

We had been making good time until Fernley Nevada. There are problems with signals and freight traffic. Originally going to be 2 hours 18 late at Reno but now it’s getting closer to 2:45 late.

The diner crew continues to do s good job. One can see the fatigue. Any drink that was not coffee at Breakfast had to be asked for more than once. My SCA had perfect opportunity to make room at breakfast but didn’t. She saw me leave at 6 am and I said she could make the room up. She said she would but must have been distracted. She’s stopped by to reassure me that she would do it. I just rolled the mattress up and left it on the other seAt. I’m not really bothered by this just providing updates. She’s been pleasant and willing to help the entire trip.

I have two nights in Emy. But I booked two one way tickets. I wonder if the Reno Dublin Donut Boys will visit me.

 

[Steve4031]

No Donut Boys. An answer to the question of how a reserved train has a shortage of seats. There were passengers on today’s train scheduled to connect to busses in Reno. The train was late so these people missed the busses and were told to stay there n the train to Sacramento. The train was originally sold out Reno Sacramento so now you have some people sitting in the lounge car or standing on a reserved train.

 

[Steve4031]

Ultimately we arrived Emeryville at 5:42. 1 hr 32 late. Had a nice night at the hgi Emeryville. Now going to ride cable cars and street cars.

The views of San Francisco are from my room. I’m taking EmeryGoaround to BART. I was surprised to see the Tsunami zone sign. That woke my butt up better than a cup of Coffee.

 

[Steve4031]

San Francisco has the clipper card which can be used on BART, MUNI, and CAltrans plus the system in San Jose and the SMART train in Sonoma county. I used it to board BART and the loaded a 12 dollar day pas on it for MUNI. Since 1 cable car ride is a whopping 7 dollars the pass is paid off after 2 rides on cable cars. After my roundtrip on the California line the pass was paid off. Everything I ride after 11 am will be free.

My first street car is the J line. The car had long nyc style benches along the sides. I think these cars are very new. Saw one deadheading earlier on what looked like a test run.

 

[Steve4031]

These are of that new street car that I described in the earlier post.

 

[flitcraft]

Really enjoying your report and especially the photos. I hope you report on the way back, too.

 

[Steve4031]

Really enjoying your report and especially the photos. I hope you report on the way back, too.

I will report on the trip back too. I’m eating lunch at Frog Harbor Fish House. Great food and view.

 

[Steve4031]

Not so impressed with the CALTRAIN station at 4th and King. After tapping in you stand in a line even though the station is sitting there.

The seating is different. The seats in each half face the vestibule. So half the car rides forward and half backwards. Seats cannot be turned.

 

[Steve4031]

Every time I ride the baby bullet I keep nodding off. So I missed most of the ride. This has happened three times now. Though I was awake to see a few catenary poles. Don’t remember where though . . .

Now on Capitol Corridor train

 

[Steve4031]

The California cars ride very well. They are quiet and smooth. I wonder if they have a quiet car. Been listening to this woman analyze her relationship for past 30 minutes.

 

[Steve4031]

Once I arrived Emeryville I decided to walk to Trader Joe’s to load up on snacks for the trip back to Chicago. This time I’m trying peanuts as my source of fiber. And the strangest thing I saw on the internet was that dark chocolate was also a source of fiber. Hi Penny I know you are reading this with a smile.

On the walk back I saw this motorcycle cop follow the black car into the parking lot. I thought the motorcycle looked cool. I remember watching ChiHPs religiously as a kid. So this was kind to of fun to see. No disrespect to the person who got pulled over.

Couldn’t resist another view of San Francisco.

 

[Asher]

I will report on the trip back too. I’m eating lunch at Frog Harbor Fish House. Great food and view.

Enjoying trip and photos. That old cargo ship in the background is a WW2 Liberty ship. Jeremiah O'Brien. .I think it's the only Victory in existence.

 

[Steve4031]

That’s pretty awesome. My 93 year old dad was in the Merchant Marines and he was stationed there n a liberty ship.

 

[Steve4031]

I’m now sitting at EMY waiting for 6. I enjoy sitting outside in the fresh air. Great for train watching too.

 

[Steve4031]

6 did not pull into EMY until 9:23. The announcement stated delay was caused by PTC issues. As an educator I had brain lock issues thinking parent teacher conference rather than positive train control.

Once I had boarded I received an update from Amtrak that 6 would leave at 9:40 am.

 

[Steve4031]

We actually departed at 9:34. In on the right side. This is good. I was on the right side going out. I’m in room 14 for this trip. I like the lower level.

 

[Maglev]

I'm enjoying your trip report and photos!

Are you in a Superliner I or Superliner II?

 

[Steve4031]

I have had refurbished superliner one cars for both trips. The car on 5 had the touch buttons for calling the attendant and turning on the lights. This one has the older push button controls.

 

[Steve4031]

I stand corrected. I am in a Superliner 2. Was not paying attention the first time around. There is a card describing tipping practices in multiple languages. This is a first.

 

[Asher]

That’s pretty awesome. My 93 year old dad was in the Merchant Marines and he was stationed there n a liberty ship.

I don't want to Shanghai your trip, but really find it interesting your dad served on a Liberty. They were different than later ships, they had Reciprocating engines.

 

[Steve4031]

We are in Truckee. Lunch in the diner was good. The crew is friendly but needs experience to gain more efficiency.

 

[Steve4031]

Well I’m a little Annoyed with the diner crew. I selected 5:30 seating. I heard an announcement for the 5:15 seating. Did not even know there was such a thing. I went up at 5:30 and walked in and was told I was late. I was not happy about. If you want to start at 5:15 that’s fine. Then write that on the slip. They claimed that they stated the announcement at at 5:15 was for 5:30. Waiter made a few snide comments after this. I eventually told him I had had enough. And I did not leave a tip.

They called 6:30 at 6:20. That was a clear announcement.

I suspect they are trying to get to bed early because they lose an hour of sleep each night. I support that but not the snide remarks.