Best Side for Scenery

[Comair19]

Hello,

I've read quite a bit on here lately of what to expect when riding on Amtrak. This has proven to be a fantastic forum w/ a wealth of knowledge.

I've seen bits and pieces in trip reports, etc, but I wanted to ask if there is any one specific place listing the best side of each route for viewing the scenery? Obviously there will be highlights on both sides, but I'm assuming most routes have a favorite side.

I found the thread of what to see in each city, and wonder if there is such a thread for the routes.

Thanks!

 

[hankster211]

I'll be looking forward to seeing replies to this thread, especially for the Empire Builder.

 

[the_traveler]

The trouble is that ic coach you can pretty much see out of both windows. In a Roomette, you can only see out of one side unless your across the hall neighbor leaves the curtains open. In a bedroom, you can see out of both sides of the car (if you want to), but one side has the hallway between you and the windows. Also with a Roomette or bedroom, you do not know until you get on if you are on "the good side" as sleepers can be attached to the train in either direction.

The best place for scenery watching is in the lounge car.

Also check out the route guides for each route. Off hand I'm not sure if they are on AU (they may or may not be), but I do know that they are on Amtrak.com!

 

[TimePeace]

I agree with The Traveler, the lounge or cafe car is almost always the best for scenery --- unlike a roomette, it gives both sides of the train. Coach does that as well, but the high seat backs only allow viewing out your own window or directly across. In the cafe, with its low seating, you can sit either in a chair or at a table (depending on which kind of car) and see a much wider angle of view on either side of the train.

It's true that some trains have better sides in certain places. The only one that comes to mind right now for me is: the Lake Shore Limited going North from NYP to Albany, the left side of the train is the side that the Hudson River is on. And then again on the LSL from Albany Westward, which you are on either from NYP or BOS, again the left side is the one that gives the best views of the Mohawk River/Erie Canal.

In my opinon, that is...

 

[Alexandria Nick]

My "routine" trip is the Capitol Limited from DC to Pittsburgh and back. Both sides of the train are good, because you jump back and forth over rivers. I find that the East facing windows (right on DC-PGH and left on PGH-DC) is my preferred side. Better views of the Potomac for longer times, west of Harper's Ferry, more views along the Youghiogheny, a front row seat for the Edgar Thompson Works in Pittsburgh, and great views of all the quiet little towns along the way.

Pennsylvanian is good right side (when eastbound) only at Horseshoe Curve but has better views out the left side for the rest of the trip.

Palmetto (and presumably anything that follows its route north of Richmond) has good views of the water to the East, but its not a very scenic trip anyhow.

On the NEC, I also prefer to sit on the Eastern side of the train. There's lots of air bases, railyards, decaying factories, that sort of thing...if you like to look at such things.

 

[TimePeace]

On the NEC, I also prefer to sit on the Eastern side of the train. There's lots of air bases, railyards, decaying factories, that sort of thing...if you like to look at such things.

Agreed... also thru CT and RI and some other places, very nice views of the water. (One of my favorite things about trains is that whenever they are near a waterway of any kind, they are usually very close in places...)

 

[June the Coach Rider]

I am not an expert, but from my recent trip, the west side of the Coast Starlight is the most spectacular with the ocean scenes and the mountains in the Cascades.

 

[NW cannonball]

The only Amtrak train I know at all well is the Empire Builder.

There are 3 places I have an especial preference for one side -- on most of the route - either or both sides is/are more or less good.

Between MSP and CHI - the stretch along the Mississippi from MSP to LSE - big bluffs, wide river, eagles and herons. Almost always this stretch is by daylight eastbound, be on the left side of the train towards the river. Westbound, only midsummer and on-time will there be enough daylight to see much of this scenic area.

Between SPK (actually PSC or westerly - after daylight) and PDX you want the south side to view the Columbia gorge - that would be left-side west and right-side eastbound.

For the short stretch between Everett and SEAttle you want the Puget-Sound side - right-side westbound, left-side eastbound.

and also -

For the climb up and through the Cascades from east of Everett to the Stevens Pass, in either direction, -on that stretch - Snohomish - Skykomish -

You would want to be on both sides, and leaning out the windows on both sides, and wishing you had a better camera or had hired a private car with a super-hd video turret on the top of it. If you are into scenery, that is.

I've been totally interested and amazed every time travelling that climb into - or out of - the Cascades.

 

[chakk]

North side of CZ from Denver to Winter Park,

South side from Winter Park to east entrance to Glenwood Canyon

North side through Glenwood Canyon to New Castle, CO

South side from New Castle, CO to Westwater, UT

North side from Westwater to sunset (WB) or from sunrise (EB)

North side from Truckee, CA to Blue Canyon, CA

North side from Martinez, CA to Emeryville, CA