Just to travel on the train...

[picnic42]

Howdy folks... just found this forum!

This is quite preliminary... This vacation may be mid summer 2011 or maybe some time in 2012.

Our thoughts are to take a train West out of Chicago and make a very large loop and return to Chicago, twice! There are 4 main lines between Chicago and the West coast... we want to take one route West and come back to Chicago on another route. So this will be done two times... a few months apart. We intend to take a room or a roomette.

Our questions are...

Are there any recommendations for time of year to enjoy a certain route? Also... for scenery purposes... considering times of passage on the route... which way (West or East) on each route is the best to enjoy the view? Also... are there any "off train" excursions you would suggest?

We plan to purchase one of those "rail passes" so we can stop a few times "IF we want to"... and to transfer from train to train to make these big loops.

We have been on trains before... I have been on several and my wife has been a couple of times. So we are used to trains and look forward to the excursion.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated...

Enjoy your day...

Ralph & Peggy too!

 

[zephyr17]

Howdy folks... just found this forum!

This is quite preliminary... This vacation may be mid summer 2011 or maybe some time in 2012.

Our thoughts are to take a train West out of Chicago and make a very large loop and return to Chicago, twice! There are 4 main lines between Chicago and the West coast... we want to take one route West and come back to Chicago on another route. So this will be done two times... a few months apart. We intend to take a room or a roomette.

Our questions are...

Are there any recommendations for time of year to enjoy a certain route? Also... for scenery purposes... considering times of passage on the route... which way (West or East) on each route is the best to enjoy the view? Also... are there any "off train" excursions you would suggest?

We plan to purchase one of those "rail passes" so we can stop a few times "IF we want to"... and to transfer from train to train to make these big loops.

We have been on trains before... I have been on several and my wife has been a couple of times. So we are used to trains and look forward to the excursion.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated...

Enjoy your day...

Ralph & Peggy too!

A couple of points. First is that the pass is not a "hop on/hop off" kind of pass the Eurail pass is. You have to have reservations for each segment (on trains that require reservations and all the LDs do). Also, the 180 day limit may put you in a higher bucket for sleeping car accomodations, and the price of accomodations are likely to be the biggest component of the cost, also the rail ("coach") portion the fare drops to the lowest bucket regardless when purchasing sleeping accomodations. So the price advantage of the pass may not be very much, or it could actually cost you more if you were forced into higher sleeper accomodation buckets.

As to routes, I think the CZ is clearly better westbound than eastbound, because you get the climb up the Front Range and the Rockies in the morning of the second day out from Chicago. Depending on the time of year and whether the train is late, the descent into Denver can be in darkness eastbound. If you haven't taken the CZ, I would definitely include it. I also slightly recommend the Coast Starlight northbound, as you get both the coastal running between Ventura and south of San Luis Obispo during daylight hours, as well as the crossing of the Cascades. Southbound, it is usually dark going over the Cascades. Personally, I like the Southwest Chief somewhat better than the Empire Builder as far as scenary goes, but that is very much a matter of taste. Therefore, what I would tend to do is take the CZ west to Emeryville, the Coast Starlight north to Portland or Seattle, then the Coast Starlight south to LA, and the Southwest Chief back.

Time of year, I think October is a really good time of the year to travel generally. Costs are somewhat less than summer, but weather usually is still pretty good. And you don't have as much possiblity of weather related delays you have in winter or spring.

 

[dlagrua]

I would highly recommend using the Amsnag website to check pricing. It was put together by one of our forum members and it has proven itself to be a valuable resource. You can check pricing over a 1 month period in any month up to and including 11 months out. You will discover that one day can make a difference between a $100 and $460 cost for a roomette. If you can afford it (and they are expensive on a cross country route) the bedroom will provide the maximum comfort and privacy available with all meals included. Roomettes are good too, but if you are both tall or heavy set they can be a bit cramped.

 

[sunchaser]

I second going from Chicago west to Emeryville (the California Zephyr), then take the Coast Starlight north to Seattle. We did this run from Salt Lake City, Ut to Sacramento, Ca then to Olympia, Wa, around the end of June. It was a nice trip. If you want to do a stop off in between, Glenwood Springs, Co, is a nice place to visit.

Here is the website where you can easily find pricing for up to 30 days at a time.

You will need station codes-Chicago is CHI, Emeryville is EMY, Sacramento is SAC, Seattle is SEA. Glenwood Springs is GSC, if you are interested. Have a great trip!

 

[picnic42]

Thanks folks... great information.

I didn't know you could not "come and go" off the trains with a rail pass. Makes sense tho! I fully understand the need for reservations.

Can anyone tell me anything about the Sunset Limited? I think that is the one between La and New Orleans? What is the one from New Orleans to Chicago?

Ralph & Peggy too!

 

[sttsxm]

hi.....i am new here too....but not to trains......

i actually have been bopping around cross country for several weeks now just to do the same thing-see stuff.....

I liked the CZ (but IMO it was REALLY bumpy when I rode....just my opinion....)

LOVE the Coast Starlight...it is really a stunning ride, and the Pacific Parlor Car is a nice touch (but it's an older car, tends to be VERY cold, but then again, I was riding in winter!)

The Empire Builder has been a favorite of mine for a while....

I booked everything fairly last minute and got some decent deals.....and I also used points a couple times. Never used a rail pass so I can't help there.

I did get some really nice pictures out of my roomette and one of these days I will post them.

As for delays...well....let's say that I have been bussed 4 times in the past 6 weeks or so....1 hour, 9 hours, 5 hours and 4 hours! (1 on the CS, 2 on the EB and one on the LSL)

That is another story!!

I will say though, as for the crews on the trains, the CS had one of the best, as did the CZ. The crew on the EB is generally great as well, but for some reason, last time I was on it, I got some less than helpful people....

 

[Pat Harper]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Sunset Limited? I think that is the one between La and New Orleans? What is the one from New Orleans to Chicago?

Yes, Sunset Limited runs between LA and NOL, westbound train departs Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Eastbound train arrives on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Westbound, you'll travel through the wetlands of south Louisiana, then see the entire state of Texas, traveling through mountains as well as desert. Of course, a lot of this will be at night, so you won't get to see much. If you are traveling west, you'll have a layover of about 3 hours in San Antonio, in the middle of the night, but you won't have to leave your car. The next significant stop will be El Paso for about an hour. You'll have time to get out and venture into the station, even grab a snack at the vending machines (the snacks in the cafe car on the train are a lot more expensive).

The train from New Orleans to Chicago is called the "City of New Orleans". I'm going to be on that one the Wednesday after Mother's Day. It will be my first trip on that route, so I can't tell you anything from personal experience.

 

[picnic42]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Sunset Limited? I think that is the one between La and New Orleans? What is the one from New Orleans to Chicago?

Yes, Sunset Limited runs between LA and NOL, westbound train departs Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Eastbound train arrives on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Westbound, you'll travel through the wetlands of south Louisiana, then see the entire state of Texas, traveling through mountains as well as desert. Of course, a lot of this will be at night, so you won't get to see much. If you are traveling west, you'll have a layover of about 3 hours in San Antonio, in the middle of the night, but you won't have to leave your car. The next significant stop will be El Paso for about an hour. You'll have time to get out and venture into the station, even grab a snack at the vending machines (the snacks in the cafe car on the train are a lot more expensive).

The train from New Orleans to Chicago is called the "City of New Orleans". I'm going to be on that one the Wednesday after Mother's Day. It will be my first trip on that route, so I can't tell you anything from personal experience.

Thanks Pat...

The Sunset Limited... considering the time (night versus daylight) which way is the best to travel for more daylight scenery, East or West?

 

[zephyr17]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Sunset Limited? I think that is the one between La and New Orleans? What is the one from New Orleans to Chicago?

Yes, Sunset Limited runs between LA and NOL, westbound train departs Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Eastbound train arrives on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Westbound, you'll travel through the wetlands of south Louisiana, then see the entire state of Texas, traveling through mountains as well as desert. Of course, a lot of this will be at night, so you won't get to see much. If you are traveling west, you'll have a layover of about 3 hours in San Antonio, in the middle of the night, but you won't have to leave your car. The next significant stop will be El Paso for about an hour. You'll have time to get out and venture into the station, even grab a snack at the vending machines (the snacks in the cafe car on the train are a lot more expensive).

The train from New Orleans to Chicago is called the "City of New Orleans". I'm going to be on that one the Wednesday after Mother's Day. It will be my first trip on that route, so I can't tell you anything from personal experience.

Thanks Pat...

The Sunset Limited... considering the time (night versus daylight) which way is the best to travel for more daylight scenery, East or West?

They are roughly the same with the current schedule. Although you ride over Beaumont Pass/San Timiteo Canyon (between Palm Springs and the LA Basin) in the afternoon eastbound, as opposed to dawn westbound.

I like the Sunset, but its scenery, while interesting, just can't be compared with that of the CZ, or even the Southwest Chief. With that said, the couple of times I have taken it, it had the friendliest and best OBS crews I've had the pleasure of traveling with. Of course, when it comes to OBS crews, YMMV.