California Zephyr discussion 2024 H2

[PaTrainFan]

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/

 

[joelkfla]

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/

I thoroughly enjoyed that!

Here's a "gift" link, in case anyone has trouble with the direct one:
https://wapo.st/3YZeuFB

 

[Traveller]

I thoroughly enjoyed that!

Here's a "gift" link, in case anyone has trouble with the direct one:
https://wapo.st/3YZeuFB

Thank you, my type of Amtrak travel and was fun to read.

 

[BoulderCO]

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/

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.

 

[tgstubbs1]

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.

I had to use the 'reader' mode.
People seem to respond to those kinds of graphics. Kind of like comic books, I guess.

 

[PaTrainFan]

I had no idea a route change was under consideration, but this article says that Amtrak is sticking with the current California Zephyr current BN route through Illinois and Iowa "for another year.'
The full article is behind a paywall but there's enough of a tease to give an idea.

https://www.joc.com/article/amtrak-to-continue-route-over-bn-tracks-5638421

 

[Agent]

I had no idea a route change was under consideration, but this article says that Amtrak is sticking with the current California Zephyr current BN route through Illinois and Iowa "for another year.'
The full article is behind a paywall but there's enough of a tease to give an idea.

https://www.joc.com/article/amtrak-to-continue-route-over-bn-tracks-5638421

Just to make things clear for everyone, the article is from 1987.

 

[railiner]

Just to make things clear for everyone, the article is from 1987.

 

[Willbridge]

From 1987 till 1991 or so, Amtrak considered running on the UP from just east of FMG to Chicago. One can imagine the discussions with Omaha.

 

[PaTrainFan]

Just to make things clear for everyone, the article is from 1987.

Oops, my bad. I should have paid closer attention. This showed up in my Google News feed and, well, did the wrong assumption.

 

[Agent]

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.



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.

 

[mldev]

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

 

[zephyr17]

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

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.

 

[niemi24s]

Not sure what you mean by service but here's the layout of your car ;

 

[PVD]

There was a trans dorm on my CZ trips the beginning of August. They had their own attendant in both directions, I think they were pretty heavily sold.

 

[zephyr17]

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.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

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.

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.

 

[mldev]

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 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.

 

[NativeSon5859]

Forgive me if this has been answered before, but with the 0825 departure time for 6 out of EMY, are they serving breakfast?

 

[zephyr17]

Forgive me if this has been answered before, but with the 0825 departure time for 6 out of EMY, are they serving breakfast?

No, first meal served in the dining car is lunch departing Emeryville.

 

[NativeSon5859]

No, first meal served in the dining car is lunch departing Emeryville.

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.

 

[zephyr17]

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.

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.

 

[Bob Dylan]

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.

You can get a better breakfast in San Francisco,Oakland or Emeryville before boarding!

 

[NativeSon5859]

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.

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.

 

[Traveller]

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.

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.