It’s a train family reunion…maybe?

[ScottR]

I live in Monterey, Ca…so the Coast Starlight is my “home“ train, but grew up in East Texas. My parents are near Longview, Tx, my Sister and BIL in New Orleans, my brother and SIL in Dallas, and my Aunt and uncle in Houston.

So we are trying to collect the gang and assorted kids to take a train! Everyone wants to do it. They all did it when they were kids, but not since (I’m the youngest at 60). I will fly back to Longview to escort my parents, so I can see this working

1. Mom, dad and I get on the Texas Eagle to LAX in Longview
2. Sis and BIL get on the Sunset Limited to LAX in New Orleans
3. TE stops in Dallas and picks up brother and SIL in Dallas to LAX
4. Sunset LTD stops and picks up Aunt and Uncle in Houston to LAX
5. everyone combines at midnight in San Antonio as they consolidate the TE and the Sunset
6. we all have a great trip together for a day and a night in various cars and berths across TX,NM, AZ, and CA in the Sunset LTD
7. we get to LA in the early morning and transfer to the Coast Starlight.
8. we arrive in Salinas/Monterey that evening and I figure out how to house the gaggle for a few days

some fly back, some do the train in reverse.

I think this can be workable. Looks like roomettes in the summer 1k each way but for folks who can’t fly, or don‘t want to fly, or want to travel together and get what..6 ?days in a train and 15? gourmet meals ( I haven’t done the math) why not? Seems reasonable to me.

i‘m sure someone’s done this type of thing before so any advice welcome.

Can it be done or is it a bridge too far? What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Ryan]

This sounds just crazy enough to work. Can’t wait to read the trip report!

 

[GAT]

Sounds like a championship trip. It's great that the TE consolidates with the SL so y'all will have your first "reunion" on board the train before you get to Monterey.

Folks wouldn't have to go home on the exact reverse trip. They could get back to New Orleans and Texas by riding CS north to San Francisco and then the CZ to Chicago and CONO or TE south, or by taking the CS south to LA and the SWC to Chicago for the CONO or TE.

What a series of trips, and you all just might play a big part in keeping Amtrak solvent!

 

[tgstubbs1]

Can it be done or is it a bridge too far? What could possibly go wrong!

Sounds like a real hoot.

What could go wrong? I hope all of your relatives are tolerant of possible late trains, flex dining, and other challenges riders complain about. A missed connection? Maybe spend some time to consider what could happen and how to deal with it.

Maybe you can find a way to seat over a half dozen adults together, but that could be a challenge.

Are your relatives train enthusiasts? If they are that should help. If not I hope they are after the trip.

 

[ScottR]

Sounds like a real hoot.

What could go wrong? I hope all of your relatives are tolerant of possible late trains, flex dining, and other challenges riders complain about. A missed connection? Maybe spend some time to consider what could happen and how to deal with it.

Maybe you can find a way to seat over a half dozen adults together, but that could be a challenge.

Are your relatives train enthusiasts? If they are that should help. If not I hope they are after the trip.

Yes I think I can say they are all train enthusiasts since they haven’t ridden it yet. That might change after the experience! As I understand it, Flex dining is only on the Texas Eagle…once we combine in San Antonio it’s Sunset Limited full service? Someone please correct me if I am wrong…the “dinner in the diner” experience is what many in the group are looking forward to.

and I suppose the only missed connection is the combining in San Antonio which, again correct if wrong, is going to happen no matter which train is late.

or I guess we could miss the Coast Starlight connection in LA…but at least we all miss it together! In that case a party bus to Monterey may be in order!

 

[GAT]

In that case a party bus to Monterey may be in order!

Why not a party private car for the whole trip? Amtrak can arrange one. (Just kidding. It would probably be prohibitively expensive, but I've always dreamed of doing a trip that way.)

 

[ScottR]

We actually looked at that. I’ve heard Amtrak can take down the partitions between the bedrooms or that you can book a private car they tack onto the Amtrak train but I would think I couldn’t afford such a thing. What I saw was 5 to 10k a day?

of course with enough people such things can become possible

anyone have insight on that?

 

[tgstubbs1]

I think removing the partitions is probably a better plan.

I guess the main thing is that you can all stay together. A party bus as a contingency plan? That could be fun.

 

[ScottR]

Sounds like a championship trip. It's great that the TE consolidates with the SL so y'all will have your first "reunion" on board the train before you get to Monterey.

Folks wouldn't have to go home on the exact reverse trip. They could get back to New Orleans and Texas by riding CS north to San Francisco and then the CZ to Chicago and CONO or TE south, or by taking the CS south to LA and the SWC to Chicago for the CONO or TE.

What a series of trips, and you all just might play a big part in keeping Amtrak solvent!

Yes these are excellent options and I’ve had the pleasure of doing them all and loved each one. I‘ll certainly make those recommendations. Maybe some of my relatives will fall in love with the train like I did and want to keep on rolling along!

 

[TinCan782]

Actually, Amtrak does not arrange private cars. The car owner sets that up (and pays) with Amtrak.
Seaboard92, who is on this forum, can provide a lot of info and insight on the PV subject.

 

[ScottR]

Yes Mr Seaboard92, I have read your trip reports! Is a Private car within the means of a commoner? or I guess 8 or 9 commoners?

 

[tgstubbs1]

arrive in Salinas/Monterey that evening and I figure out how to house the gaggle for a few days

I wonder if it would be worthwhile to look for housing in advance, considering your number?

 

[ScottR]

Good advice! There are no major events in June like car week or the pro am, but it is the height of tourist season and I’d imagine a big one this year! ill look into that once I see whose crazy enough to do the trip. Thanks for that reminde!

 

[ScottR]

I think removing the partitions is probably a better plan.

I guess the main thing is that you can all stay together. A party bus as a contingency plan? That could be fun.

Yes I’ve made way worse contingency plans in my life…or usually none at all! I think that turned out well maybe once in the last 50 years…

 

[cassie225]

I wish I were your family, this sounds awesome, my family don’t mind me getting on the train but they all like to fly and when hubbie or daughter gets on train all they do is complain. I hope they all think this is a great idea. What fun

 

[tgstubbs1]

Good advice! There are no major events in June like car week or the pro am, but it is the height of tourist season and I’d imagine a big one this year! ill look into that once I see whose crazy enough to do the trip. Thanks for that reminde!

Sounds like maybe a good time to look at AirBnB or similar.

 

[ScottR]

I wish I were your family, this sounds awesome, my family don’t mind me getting on the train but they all like to fly and when hubbie or daughter gets on train all they do is complain. I hope they all think this is a great idea. What fun

Oh there is going to be some complaining, especially as we start divvying up top and bottom bunks, but we all grew up taking family camping trips, so kind of had that argument before!

 

[joelkfla]

Oh there is going to be some complaining, especially as we start divvying up top and bottom bunks, but we all grew up taking family camping trips, so kind of had that argument before!

Paper, rock, scissors?

 

[ScottR]

I think removing the partitions is probably a better plan.

I guess the main thing is that you can all stay together. A party bus as a contingency plan? That could be fun.

Well you don’t know my relatives…I’m thinking the partitions should stay up…maybe even be reinforced!

 

[ScottR]

Paper, rock, scissors?

The paper is ok, but I don’t know that I’d be comfortable with rocks and scissors around this group

 

[ScottR]

Ok it’s on! We’ve all fundamentally agreed. So now I’m going to try to book 5 roomettes across the Eagle and the Sunset, and then 5 on the Starlight….all on the same day. is there capacity? We are not tied to a specific day so I can play around in June, July To find something. I suppose I will price myself into the high bucket just trying to do this

 

[GAT]

Ok it’s on! We’ve all fundamentally agreed. So now I’m going to try to book 5 roomettes across the Eagle and the Sunset, and then 5 on the Starlight….all on the same day. is there capacity? We are not tied to a specific day so I can play around in June, July To find something. I suppose I will price myself into the high bucket just trying to do this

Will you do it online, or with the aid of an AGR agent? In my limited interactions with AGR (not regular Amtrak) agents, I've found them very helpful and courteous. I don't mean to imply regular Amtrak agents aren't helpful and courteous; they just don't seem to have as much on the ball when it comes to complex arrangements, IMO.

 

[BarbW]

Ok it’s on! We’ve all fundamentally agreed. So now I’m going to try to book 5 roomettes across the Eagle and the Sunset, and then 5 on the Starlight….all on the same day. is there capacity? We are not tied to a specific day so I can play around in June, July To find something. I suppose I will price myself into the high bucket just trying to do this

Just curious...Why roomettes on the CS if you are getting off in Monterey? Just don't want to do coach even though it's all daytime?

 

[Maglev]

Keep your eyes open for good deals on Family Bedrooms or Bedrooms! They both have a couch and several people can congregate for socialization or imbibing. I think if I were planning such a trip, I would try to reserve the four lower-level Roomettes and the Family Bedroom--you could do this on the Starlight.

 

[TinCan782]

Just curious...Why roomettes on the CS if you are getting off in Monterey? Just don't want to do coach even though it's all daytime?

My wife and I would do a roomette (vs coach) LA to Salinas. We've done a number of "day trips" that way. You would get lunch this way.