Mrs. B. and I took 421, 422 from Chicago to L.A. and back in February, 2010. After 140 hours aboard the Texas Eagle, the bottom line is: we'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Our destination was San Diego. We left the Windy City 1/31 and arrived Los Angeles 2/3. After a day touring the La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum, we rode the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego and stayed there a week, then returned via the Surfliner to L.A., and the Texas Eagle to Chicago, 2/10 -2/13.
I hear stories about missed connections, huge delays, and surly attendents, but none were present on this trip, and that has been our experience for most of our trips with Amtrak. It helps to: 1) start with a go-with-the-flow attitude; 2) reserve first class/sleeper accomodations; 3) pack appropriately.
On the first point, there is little to add. Any experienced traveler has adopted this principle. On the second, the money is well-spent, particularly if done early enough to get bottom bucket rates. A hardy few made the entire trip in coach, and in my opinion life is too short to endure that. On the third, the following items can significantly improve one's comfort: a small plug-in or battery-powered fan helps freshen the compartment and is especially useful when the sun warms one's side of the train; bleach wipes to clean the compartment to a somewhat "higher level;" something you've been meaning to read but haven't found time for until now.
The scenery through Texas was the most interesting part of this trip, followed by the Sierra Mountains of south eastern California. Rugged and varied, dry but with plenty of vegetation in some areas, and occasional mountains, this route is bested only by the Empire Builder and the California Zephyr.
Our destination was San Diego. We left the Windy City 1/31 and arrived Los Angeles 2/3. After a day touring the La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum, we rode the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego and stayed there a week, then returned via the Surfliner to L.A., and the Texas Eagle to Chicago, 2/10 -2/13.
I hear stories about missed connections, huge delays, and surly attendents, but none were present on this trip, and that has been our experience for most of our trips with Amtrak. It helps to: 1) start with a go-with-the-flow attitude; 2) reserve first class/sleeper accomodations; 3) pack appropriately.
On the first point, there is little to add. Any experienced traveler has adopted this principle. On the second, the money is well-spent, particularly if done early enough to get bottom bucket rates. A hardy few made the entire trip in coach, and in my opinion life is too short to endure that. On the third, the following items can significantly improve one's comfort: a small plug-in or battery-powered fan helps freshen the compartment and is especially useful when the sun warms one's side of the train; bleach wipes to clean the compartment to a somewhat "higher level;" something you've been meaning to read but haven't found time for until now.
The scenery through Texas was the most interesting part of this trip, followed by the Sierra Mountains of south eastern California. Rugged and varied, dry but with plenty of vegetation in some areas, and occasional mountains, this route is bested only by the Empire Builder and the California Zephyr.
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