California Zephyr discussion

[Sidney]

Try Truckee, though it is pricy. Downtown station. Or Sacramento.

Davis works for me. I stay at the University Inn, a short walk from the station. Excellent place. Usually under $100

 

[trampy]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

Davis is worth considering if you want a smaller town. Or Sacramento for a bigger city.

 

[railiner]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

Have you considered Reno? Tons of nearby casino-hotels, and IIRC, except for weekends, prices are reasonable due to being subsidized by casino profits.

 

[jiml]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

I assume you'd want to go further than Glenwood Springs, but if you've never been it's certainly worth a visit. I've taken the CZ to both Reno and Sacramento, so would second them as suggestions. There are perfectly fine hotels within walking distance of the station in Reno, which is more of a concrete canyon than a typical station, and although Sacramento station isn't in the greatest area the mid-day arrival westbound should alleviate any concerns. There are a couple of 4-star hotels within blocks of the station and you're going to be back in the area to visit one of the best railroad museums in the country anyway.

 

[Bob Dylan]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

Highly recommend Glenwood Springs,CO West of Denver.The Zephyrs both stop there in Daylight,( most days when not running extremely Late), with the Amtrak Station right in the middle of town handy to most places.

It's famous for its Hot Springs (The Hotel Colorado is Pricey, but you don't have to stay to use the Springs)and supposedly the site of Doc Holidays Grave.

There is a nice, Small Mountain Town Vibe about this place, especially during the Week.( Weekdends get crowded with folks from Denver)

There's even a good Bar B Q Joint( the Owner is from the Famous Lockhart,TX BBQ Capital) and plenty of Mom and Pop shops, and Hiking and Biking.

The Hotel Denver is right across from the Amtrak Station( Highly Recommended) and there are all of the Chain Hotels and Motels around the town.Expext to pay around $200+ a night during the Summer and Winter Season, but discounts are available in the Spring and Fall.

You can catch a Bus to Aspen if that is your kind of place, but really no need, Glenwood Springs is Aspen of 70 years ago without the Jet Set and Prices!

Google up info using one of the Travel Sites( Kayak,Trivago,Travel Advisor etc).]

Other good choices are Davis,Reno and Sacramento as others have said!

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I wouldn't skip the Reno to Sacramento section - it's very scenic as well. I'd reccomend doing some google searches to see what hotel price points you can find since they can be all over the map. You can get some suprisingly good rates in San Francisco on Priceline if there isn't a big convention in town!

I don't reccomend Reno - it's very sketchy to me.

 

[tgstubbs1]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

A 'wide open question' if I ever saw one when you consider the amount of 'wide open space' between Denver and the West coast!

The other major city between Denver and Sacramento of course is Salt Lake City. There are things to see and do downtown, Temple Square is within walking distance of Amtrak. You can ride the light rail but of course if you rent a car you could drive into the mountains or to the Great Salt Lake. Places like Moab, Arches, Zion are less than a day's drive.

 

[JustReady]

More Zephyr question!!

I have heard about the delays on long distance trains. And stopping on the track to wait on freight trains. My question is, when you are stopped is there any air conditioning or heat and electricity? I’m just wondering because we will be traveling during the summer and I’m wondering if it’s going to be very hot if we’re stopped for an extended time.

I have a read various comments about bringing alcohol on board. If we brought a bottle of wine would be good able to drink it in the observation car?

If we are riding in coach and would like to make a dinner reservation, how do we go about doing that? How early in the journey should we make the reservation and who would be the right person to speak with?

What about safety with our luggage? Our destination station does not have baggage service, therefore, we will be carrying our bags onto the train. I was told that if you wanted to actually check your bags that both stations need to have baggage service and for us this is not the case.

I believe from what I’ve read we will have to keep them on the bottom level of the train, and we will be sitting on the top level of the train. Do people ever bring locks……. Something like a chain lock. Secure their bag to a metal bar or some thing. Or is this something that is totally unnecessary.

Thank You.

 

[jis]

1. Head End Power continues to be provided to the train by the engines during normal stops so HVAC in the cars will continue. They may very briefly turn off Head End Power at service stops if they need to get between the cars.

And even more brief HVAC drops when they transition the HEP system from normal mode to stationary mode or back, at long stops.

 

[Asher]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

What do you mean by endpoint.

 

[jis]

What do you mean by endpoint.

A place where they could end their westbound journey, presumably short of Emeryville and meeting the requirement listed.

 

[Asher]

A place where they could end their westbound journey, presumably short of Emeryville and meeting the requirement listed.

So we’re talking turnaround point of a round trip.

 

[jis]

So we’re talking turnaround point of a round trip.

They did not say what they plan to do after reaching the termination point, so I don't know from what has been presented so far.

 

[Asher]

On the westbound CZ, is there anyplace W of Denver (probably W of the Rockies) prior to Emeryville which would make a good endpoint for the westbound journey, with a less-sketchy neighborhood around the train station and hotels very close by (preferably easy walking distance and less expensive than Emeryville/SF suburbs)?

I would suggest getting off at Martinez or a station in that vicinity and catching a cab/ Uber to Walnut Creek. It’s about 15 miles from Martinez. Very nice area. Or Sacramento is the Capital and has many things to see and visit.

 

[pennyk]

I have a read various comments about bringing alcohol on board. If we brought a bottle of wine would be good able to drink it in the observation car?

Coach passengers are not permitted to drink personal alcohol either at their seat or in the lounge car. You can purchase alcohol from the lounge car and drink it in the lounge car or at your seat. Sleeper passengers may only drink personal alcohol in their private rooms.

 

[PRR 60]

More Zephyr question!!

I have heard about the delays on long distance trains. And stopping on the track to wait on freight trains. My question is, when you are stopped is there any air conditioning or heat and electricity? I’m just wondering because we will be traveling during the summer and I’m wondering if it’s going to be very hot if we’re stopped for an extended time.

I have a read various comments about bringing alcohol on board. If we brought a bottle of wine would be good able to drink it in the observation car?

If we are riding in coach and would like to make a dinner reservation, how do we go about doing that? How early in the journey should we make the reservation and who would be the right person to speak with?

What about safety with our luggage? Our destination station does not have baggage service, therefore, we will be carrying our bags onto the train. I was told that if you wanted to actually check your bags that both stations need to have baggage service and for us this is not the case.

I believe from what I’ve read we will have to keep them on the bottom level of the train, and we will be sitting on the top level of the train. Do people ever bring locks……. Something like a chain lock. Secure their bag to a metal bar or some thing. Or is this something that is totally unnecessary.

Thank You.

Dinner reservations are solicited by the dining car staff a couple of hours prior to mealtime - midafternoon for dinner. They will first pass through the sleeping cars, and if space remains available, will go to the coaches. So, basically, they come to you. For coach passengers, dinner is $45 including three courses and a single alcoholic beverage or (reasonably) unlimited soft beverages. Tipping is customary. If you are interested, it would not hurt to mention it to your car attendant. Perhaps they could ensure you are not missed when reservations are taken.

As you stated, checked baggage service is only available if both the origin and destination stations offer it. The overhead luggage rack above your seats is spacious and should hold several pieces of luggage. There is also the common luggage area on the lower level. My impression is that, in general, your belongings will be secure if you have to use the lower-level storage. I suggest putting more critical items in the bags you keep at your seat and, if you need more room, put less critical items in any bags stored in the lower common area. I do not know the protocol regarding securing lower-level luggage with a lock. My guess is that it is discouraged., but that is just a guess.

 

[PVD]

Heat, light, and A/C are normally still running during delays. There are unusual circumstances where power can be out, but that is not the norm. (Changing power or joining sections of 2 trains would be an exception, but that's not a Zephyr thing).

 

[zephyr17]

I suggest putting more critical items in the bags you keep at your seat and, if you need more room, put less critical items in any bags stored in the lower common area. I do not know the protocol regarding securing lower-level luggage with a lock. My guess is that it is discouraged., but that is just a guess.

There really is no place to loop something like a cable lock on the lower level racks on a Superliner. Amtrak attendants would not care if you somehow secured your bags, but fellow passengers might if secured bags impeded their ability to get at their bags or made it difficult to shift things to make room.

Outright theft really isn't much of a concern, but a detraining passenger grabbing the wrong bag is a real possibility. Rather than try to lock it to something, put something unique, and immediately and prominently visible on your bags so someone having a similar bag reaching for it will immediately recognize it is not theirs. I use bright yellow, orange, and black replica Southern Pacific Daylight baggage tag stickers personally.

 

[JustReady]

Another question…thank you all so much for being so patient and answering all my questions so far.

Emeryville…. Someone recently asked about avoiding Emeryville and used the word sketchy. Can somebody please provide more details? We are definitely boarding in Emeryville and planning to spend the night there at the .
Four Points Sheraton. Now I’m a little nervous about that. Any input is appreciated

 

[flitcraft]

I haven't been through Emeryville since 2022, so things might have changed a bit. But at that time, the area around the station seemed quite safe to me. There are plenty of eating options within walking distance. How long were you planning to be in Emeryville? It isn't a particularly great option if you're planning on activities in San Francisco, though there is a free shuttle that takes you to the BART transit station. Most West Cost cities have some homeless residents on the streets, but the area around the station did not strike me as 'sketchy,' though parts of Oakland definitely would qualify. I personally wouldn't worry about spending a night there, but, if I was planning a base of operations for sightseeing in the Bay area, it wouldn't be my first choice. (For frame of reference, I'm a 70 year old woman who lives in Seattle...)

 

[tgstubbs1]

There really is no place to loop something like a cable lock on the lower level racks on a Superliner.

A person could put those little 'zipper locks' on to prevent someone from opening the bag for a little extra security.

 

[west point]

And even more brief HVAC drops when they transition the HEP system from normal mode to stationary mode or back, at long stops.

One time at Orlando Star had very long delay due to Sun Rail hitting vehicle. The engineer swapped HEP to 2nd loco to balance fuel consumption. At the all clear he switched it back to front engine.

No firsthand Charger experiences. Do they not have to switch to stationary? Would think with the QSKs and inverters that might not need to switch.

 

[zephyr17]

Another question…thank you all so much for being so patient and answering all my questions so far.

Emeryville…. Someone recently asked about avoiding Emeryville and used the word sketchy. Can somebody please provide more details? We are definitely boarding in Emeryville and planning to spend the night there at the .
Four Points Sheraton. Now I’m a little nervous about that. Any input is appreciated

Emeryville and the Four Points Sheraton are perfectly fine. Heck, Emeryville is where Pixar Studios are located!

 

[SteveSFL]

Another question…thank you all so much for being so patient and answering all my questions so far.

Emeryville…. Someone recently asked about avoiding Emeryville and used the word sketchy. Can somebody please provide more details? We are definitely boarding in Emeryville and planning to spend the night there at the .
Four Points Sheraton. Now I’m a little nervous about that. Any input is appreciated

I stayed at the Four Points when I connected in Emeryville last September. We arrived after dark on the northbound Coast Starlight. We took the elevator up to the crosswalk over the tracks and on the opposite side, when the elevator arrived at the top, the doors opened and there was a person in a hospital gown (who for all I know could have been dead) laying in the middle of the elevator. As I have learned not to get involved in such situations, we immediately took the stairs down. The remainder of the walk to the hotel was uneventful.

In the morning when we walked back to catch the Zephyr, we again opted for the stairs on that side of the crosswalk. On previous trips I’ve also found that elevator to be very unclean (urine, etc).

I wouldn’t recommend walking alone at night in that area but in a group I felt safe.

 

[jis]

I stayed at the Four Points when I connected in Emeryville last September. We arrived after dark on the northbound Coast Starlight. We took the elevator up to the crosswalk over the tracks and on the opposite side, when the elevator arrived at the top, the doors opened and there was a person in a hospital gown (who for all I know could have been dead) laying in the middle of the elevator. As I have learned not to get involved in such situations, we immediately took the stairs down. The remainder of the walk to the hotel was uneventful.

In the morning when we walked back to catch the Zephyr, we again opted for the stairs on that side of the crosswalk. On previous trips I’ve also found that elevator to be very unclean (urine, etc).

I wouldn’t recommend walking alone at night in that area but in a group I felt safe.

Wow! Things seem to have gone way downhill since the last time I was there many years back, before Covid. Back then the whole area was pretty clean with no homeless people to be seen.