Southwest Chief recommendations/advice

[newbryford]

Hi,
I'm on vacation from the UK soon and booked on the SWC as part of a "big trip" and as a first time Amtrak passenger after some travelling advice to make the most of the trip. There are two couples of us in two roomettes - but I'm the train geek!

How soon can we check in at Chicago Union before boarding (and presumably use the lounge)?

I have asked with Amtrak a few days ago, but they haven't replied.
This may impact our plans for the morning activities in CHI.

Do we need to book dinner/breakfast/lunch when we board?
As a keen railway enthusiast/traveller, I'm sure I'll spend most of my time gazing out of the window watching the world go by.
Do I need to reserve a sightseer lounge seat? Or is it first come/first served?

This may seem a strange question - is there a better side to sit on when leaving Chicago? (With passing freight yards etc?)
We are in car 330 - which I think is second one back from the power.

Thanks in advance.
Mick

 

[fdaley]

Hi,
I'm on vacation from the UK soon and booked on the SWC as part of a "big trip" and as a first time Amtrak passenger after some travelling advice to make the most of the trip. There are two couples of us in two roomettes - but I'm the train geek!

How soon can we check in at Chicago Union before boarding (and presumably use the lounge)?

I have asked with Amtrak a few days ago, but they haven't replied.
This may impact our plans for the morning activities in CHI.

Do we need to book dinner/breakfast/lunch when we board?
As a keen railway enthusiast/traveller, I'm sure I'll spend most of my time gazing out of the window watching the world go by.
Do I need to reserve a sightseer lounge seat? Or is it first come/first served?

This may seem a strange question - is there a better side to sit on when leaving Chicago? (With passing freight yards etc?)
We are in car 330 - which I think is second one back from the power.

Thanks in advance.
Mick

Welcome, and enjoy your trip. You should be able to check in at the Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station anytime on the day of your departure. So you can store your bags there while doing any sightseeing. The Sightseer Lounge is open to all on first come, first served basis; there are no reservations.

The dining car crew normally will go through the train to collect dinner reservations sometime (perhaps awhile) after departure. It's better to have at least one of your party be in the sleeper when that process is under way, as the crew member takes reservations in the sleepers first. They normally collect dinner reservations in the lounge car last, which means the prime seating times might all be gone by then.

 

[pennyk]

How soon can we check in at Chicago Union before boarding (and presumably use the lounge)?

you can check in to the Metropolitan Lounge as early as you would like (as long as it is open). You can store your luggage in a storage room and walk around the station or explore Chicago.

Do we need to book dinner/breakfast/lunch when we board?

Usually breakfast (sometimes lunch) is first come first serve. Generally the LSA (Lead Service Attendant) will take reservations for dinner (sometimes lunch). When you make your reservations, you should make the reservation for all in your group. It is best to be sure one of your group is located in the sleeper when the LSA is coming through taking the reservations. (CAVEAT - this procedure was prepandemic and I am assuming it is still in effect)

Do I need to reserve a sightseer lounge seat? Or is it first come/first served?

First come first served.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[caravanman]

Hi,
Greetings from a fellow Brit!
You don't check in as such, but you can enter the lounge to use the facilities or store your bags as early as you like on the day of your train.
First come, first served in the sightseer lounge. Maybe have one member (you!) head to the lounge asap, and let the non train geeks get the roomettes sorted!
Dunno about which side to see the best railway stuff, others may know...
The dinning car supervisor makes the rounds of the sleepers to make dinner reservations, maybe ensure someone stays in the roomette 'till that has happened. Your Sleeping car attendant may be able to take your meal reservations also... It has been a few years since I visited, but the breakfast and lunch were not reserved. Covid may have altered the meal processes from what I remember.

 

[Cal]

This may seem a strange question - is there a better side to sit on when leaving Chicago? (With passing freight yards etc?)

When you first start moving the left to see the Amtrak yards. On the right is the Metra yards which are, IMO, less impressive.

After you turn right and lose sight of the Amtrak yards, I would wan to be on the right to see the Chicago skyline. I'm not that familiar with the Chicago Racetrack, but I think there are a few freight yards on either side, but more to the left.

 

[Willbridge]

And, if you are unfamiliar with the term "Chicago Racetrack" that's the nickname for the BNSF -- former Burlington Route -- segment from Chicago to Naperville in the Amtrak timetable, and 37 miles from Chicago to Aurora on the ground. The Burlington's slogan was "Everywhere West" and it all converged on that segment. The frequent passenger service that resulted led to suburban development, so today you should see commuter services, freight of many types and your train should move smartly despite the other traffic.

The segment from Naperville/Aurora to Galesburg has a lot of potential for seeing railroad action, as lines fan out from there. At Galesburg you'll switch to the former Santa Fe line, which was built mainly to be the fastest route between Chicago and Kansas City (they succeeded).

 

[Cal]

Santa Fe line, which was built mainly to be the fastest route between Chicago and Kansas City (they succeeded).

Still faster than driving too as no highways run direct.

 

[TinCan782]

Here is the Amtrak Southwest Chief Route Guide - difficult to obtain as Amtrak no longer makes these available.

 

[newbryford]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I've already been looking at videos for the trip for a few months now. I'll try and stick my head out at one of the Virtual Railfan camera stops - Galesburg/Fort Madison/La Plata and wave when we disembark at Flagstaff.

 

[SarahZ]

I like the right side, for a variety of reasons. One of my "markers" is this huge power plant on the river shortly before you reach Kansas City, Missouri. You can see the lights for miles.

After La Junta, sit on the left side until you get close to the Raton Pass. The left has better views of the mountains and I-25, but there's a neat "Santa Fe Trail" sign on the right side when you go around a large curve (to the right) before entering the tunnel. Once you're through the tunnel, move back to the left.

From there, it really doesn't matter. On the right side, you'll see the adorable town of Raton and the cute residential train cars just before the Lamy station. There's also a neat, old mission church on the right, just past Lamy.

After Lamy, move to the left so you can see Sandia Peak on the way into Albuquerque.

I'm not nearly as familiar with the landscape past Albuquerque, as I've only gone all the way to Los Angeles once. Since my train was delayed a few hours, I missed all of Arizona but did get to see Cajon Pass during daylight. That was pretty neat.

 

[Cal]

I'm not nearly as familiar with the landscape past Albuquerque, as I've only gone all the way to Los Angeles once.

After Albuquerque for the first hour or two there's not that much on either side. However once you get closer to Gallup there are some very impressive cliffs off in the distance to the right, and they gradually get closer until you're right by them by the border. Around the border there is also lava rock on either side of the tracks. From there it will probably get dark and you won't see daylight until San Bernadino.

For the approach into LA, for Cajon Pass I would think the left side is better but I've never been down it on train (many times by car though). When you're at the San Bernadino station, to the right is a large yard. Shortly after leaving San Bernadino you should be able to see a handful of old, out of service Metrolink cars to the left, some of which have graffiti on them. It's just urban sprawl, either side works. Just past Corono there is the Prado damn on the right, but it's not much to see. Once you get past Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs there will be some railyards, mainly the pretty big railyard right at the Metrolink Commerce station to the right. When arriving into Los Angeles you go over an impressive bridge crossing the LA river, if you're on the right you should be able to see the front and/or back of the train. But on the left you get a great view of the Amtrak yards (Where ATSF 3751 might be) and the LA skyline.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Sounds like OP is disembarking at Flagstaff (either to see that big hole in the ground or some of the sights around Flagstaff) and either reboarding or taking a different route west, correct?

 

[newbryford]

A big hole is the reason to hop off. A few days later will be a road trip over Tehachapi Pass (taking in the loop sights obviously!) and later onto SF. Where I am planning on a Caltrain trip before the F40/MP36s retire. And maybe a look in at Jack London Square for some F59PHIs.

 

[Asher]

A big hole is the reason to hop off. A few days later will be a road trip over Tehachapi Pass (taking in the loop sights obviously!) and later onto SF. Where I am planning on a Caltrain trip before the F40/MP36s retire. And maybe a look in at Jack London Square for some F59PHIs.

Sounds like a great trip. Hopefully you’ll be able to catch the Cajon Pass like SarahZ mentioned. It’s an interesting stretch of land entering the Los Angeles basin. Also since you will be traveling to the antelope Valley prior to going over Tehachapi pass, check out
Vasquez Rocks. It’ right on your way, about 20 miles after leaving the Los Angeles basin. A unique area that has been used in many movies

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

A big hole is the reason to hop off. A few days later will be a road trip over Tehachapi Pass (taking in the loop sights obviously!) and later onto SF. Where I am planning on a Caltrain trip before the F40/MP36s retire. And maybe a look in at Jack London Square for some F59PHIs.

Yes, Meteor Crater IS very cool, but I think you probably are going to that big canyon thingy (highly recommended of course). Don't forget to check out, if you have time, the cool things around Flagstaff (Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monuments are right nearby).

 

[newbryford]

Another couple of quick Qs for the SWC.
Does the westbound service only refuel at Albuquerque?

As we're disembarking at Flagstaff (schedule is 8.32pm), will we get offered dinner on board before we get there?

 

[zephyr17]

It also refuels at the fuel pad in Argentine Yard a little west of the Kansas City station. I think it refuels at La Junta, too.

You will be offered dinner. Take an earlier seating.

 

[Alex_m30x]

Another couple of quick Qs for the SWC.
Does the westbound service only refuel at Albuquerque?

As we're disembarking at Flagstaff (schedule is 8.32pm), will we get offered dinner on board before we get there?

When are you taking your journey?

 

[newbryford]

Thanks to all for the information. The SWC was ridden a few days ago.
All went well apart from a 2-hour later arrival into Flagstaff causing a few taxi to the hotel availability issues. Food was pretty decent and the onboard service from the crew was good. Only downside was the constant horns from the locos up front overnight.
Which begs a couple of questions.
Why are the sleeper cars near the locomotives - why aren't they further away from the noise?
I rode a Caltrain later in the trip from the first car behind the loco and then also in the cab car on the return and the horns were nowhere near as loud within the passenger spaces - so why are they louder when 2 cars back n the SWC?

A couple of other observations.
Kansas is biiiiiiiig.
The Superliners could do with a refurbishment to cope with modern demands. Only one power socket and no USBs.

At least we had #184 as lead power.

 

[Gary Behling]

Thanks to all for the information. The SWC was ridden a few days ago.
All went well apart from a 2-hour later arrival into Flagstaff causing a few taxi to the hotel availability issues. Food was pretty decent and the onboard service from the crew was good. Only downside was the constant horns from the locos up front overnight.
Which begs a couple of questions.
Why are the sleeper cars near the locomotives - why aren't they further away from the noise?
I rode a Caltrain later in the trip from the first car behind the loco and then also in the cab car on the return and the horns were nowhere near as loud within the passenger spaces - so why are they louder when 2 cars back n the SWC?

A couple of other observations.
Kansas is biiiiiiiig.
The Superliners could do with a refurbishment to cope with modern demands. Only one power socket and no USBs.

At least we had #184 as lead power.

That's a question I have as well. Considering the price we pay for bedrooms, that constant horn is very irritating. If I could make just one change in the Amtrak reservation system, it would be to allow us to select the exact room and the exact car we want according to a picture layout of availabilities. I like being at the end of every train.

 

[lrh442]

Why are the sleeper cars near the locomotives - why aren't they further away from the noise?

Pre-pandemic there was often a coach added for the Chicago-Kansas City segment. Placing the coaches at the rear simplified the switching for adding/dropping the extra coach at KCY. I suspect this was the original reason for placing sleepers up front.

I'd like to think Amtrak plans to resume the cut coach in the future and doesn't want to mess with operating procedures in the interim. But I suspect it's just organizational inertia more than any reasoned decision.

 

[Rasputin]

The placement of the sleepers at the front of the train has been discussed many times on this and other forums. Years ago, pre-Amtrak and in early Amtrak, sleepers were normally at the rear of the train and coaches were at the front. That is how it should be but Amtrak changed this practice some years ago for questionable reasons (reasons so questionable that I cannot recall them).

That is why I really enjoy being in the Texas Eagle sleeper at the rear of the Sunset or the Portland sleeper at the rear of the Empire Builder. Nice and quiet back there.

 

[zephyr17]

That's a question I have as well. Considering the price we pay for bedrooms, that constant horn is very irritating. If I could make just one change in the Amtrak reservation system, it would be to allow us to select the exact room and the exact car we want according to a picture layout of availabilities. I like being at the end of every train.

If you are picky about room location, call to make your reservation. Competent agents can assign you any open space (note that not all agents are competent). That is what I do, since I dislike downstairs and the transdorm and avoid them if possible.

On the western trains, the lower the car line number, the further from the engine. Try for the 30 car.

You won't be on the end in a sleeper unless you are in 2730/2830 in the Portland section of the Builder or 2130/2230 on the Eagle section of the Sunset (and that likely only on the end LAX-SAS).

PS-somebody is going to be in those bedrooms in the 31 and pay for them. Pre-COVID, the 31 car would have been two cars back from the engine on SWC, the baggage and the transdorm would have been in between.

 

[Cal]

I've always believed the sleepers are at the front because they sometimes sell rooms in the transdorm, which must be with the baggage car which is always at the front of the train. So they want to keep all sleepers together. Personally I love the horn, and was fairly disappointed when I couldn't hear it well when on the TE sleeper on the Sunset.

I rode a Caltrain later in the trip from the first car behind the loco and then also in the cab car on the return and the horns were nowhere near as loud within the passenger spaces - so why are they louder when 2 cars back n the SWC?

I have a few guesses, but they are truly just guesses, I could be totally off.

The horns are different; their horns just happen to be quieter (I think P42s horns are LOUD - which is great for me, but not for everyone)
The horn is placed in a way where it's harder to hear
The walls might be a bit thicker (but I think this is unlikely)

 

[zephyr17]

I've always believed the sleepers are at the front because they sometimes sell rooms in the transdorm, which must be with the baggage car which is always at the front of the train. So they want to keep all sleepers together.

You know, I think you just might be right. As I thought about it, before the introduction of the Superliner II transdorms in the early 1990s, they were using coach/dorms converted from the Santa Fe Hi Level transition coaches. Then the sleepers always ran in the rear.

The sale of revenue space in the transdorms only started long after the transdorms were introduced, but they did use the coach seating in the rear half of the converted Hi Level transitions as overflow seating (they tended not to seat passengers in the "10" car, as it almost always designated, if they could help it). So at that time, it made more sense to have it with the coaches, so the coaches were up front.