Texas Eagle

[Linda T]

Okay, since others are asking, I might as well do the same. I'm taking the Eagle from CHI to SAS in April. I have roomette #3 down and back, is that decent? Not that I can do much about it. Does that mean that I'll get to see the left side going one way and the right the other? Or is 3 always destined to be on one side, or does it just depend?

Also what is the best scenery on the Eagle? Is it very scenic? I've been spoiled by the SWC, CZ and CS, and the Card E of Charleston. Really it doesn't matter, I'm just taking it cause it's a long journey. I get to start on Sunday evening and don't get off till Friday morning (except for a brief layover in SAS waiting for the 22 to come up and take me back to CHI). The only downside is they're superliner rooms meaning no sink or toilet in my room. hboy: But I'll get to listen to the horn, thank all the people who are waiting for me at the crossing gates, meet new friends, watch the scenery whiz by, and well just get that full train experience that one can only get while being on the train. God, I miss being on the train, but it won't be long now!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Okay, since others are asking, I might as well do the same. I'm taking the Eagle from CHI to SAS in April. I have roomette #3 down and back, is that decent? Not that I can do much about it. Does that mean that I'll get to see the left side going one way and the right the other? Or is 3 always destined to be on one side, or does it just depend?

Also what is the best scenery on the Eagle? Is it very scenic? I've been spoiled by the SWC, CZ and CS, and the Card E of Charleston. Really it doesn't matter, I'm just taking it cause it's a long journey. I get to start on Sunday evening and don't get off till Friday morning (except for a brief layover in SAS waiting for the 22 to come up and take me back to CHI). The only downside is they're superliner rooms meaning no sink or toilet in my room. hboy: But I'll get to listen to the horn, thank all the people who are waiting for me at the crossing gates, meet new friends, watch the scenery whiz by, and well just get that full train experience that one can only get while being on the train. God, I miss being on the train, but it won't be long now!

Roomette #3 is a Very Good Room! Its right behind the SCA (#!), but since the Car may be Hooked up either way (Bedrooms Forward or in the rear???), it's the Luck of the Draw on which Side you are on! As you know there is One Toliet Upstairs and the Showers and rest of the Toliets are Downstairs! Youll be right by the Coffee/Juice/Water stand and the Ice will either be in the Hall or the SCAs Room! The Revenue Sleeper is on the Rear of the Train now, the Consist is now Engine/TransDorm/Coach-Bag/Coach/Sightseer Lounge/Diner(CCC)/Coach/Revenue Sleeper! Hopefully youll get a rehabbed Superliner I or a II thats in Good Shape!(this Route used to get the Tired Old Dogs that Ran on Abe Lincoln's Funeral Train! :lol: )

As to Scenery, the Cornfields of Illinois arent Much but the Trip Down and across the Mississippi into St. Louis is pretty Nice, it will be Dusk or growing dark and it pretty Nice. Stretch your legs in St. Louis, your next chance isnt until Little Rock @3AM!! The Sun will be coming up as you Roll into Texas @ Texarkana (Quickie stop/half the Train will be in Texas/Half in Arkansas!)), then on through the Piney Woods as you have Breakfast followed by stops in Marshall,(Crew Change but you can't get off/Look for the Nice Old Station) ,Longview, another place to get Fresh Air, (where the Bus to Houston and Van to Shrevport meet the Eagle!)Youll roll through Small Towns and Settlements, Lots of Trees blocking the View, some Water/should be Green, Stop Briefly in Mineola, then on to Dallas where you can get off for a bit! Lunch will Start after you Leave Dallas for Ft. Worth, youll be able to see Dealy Plaza and the Book Depooitiory where JFK was shot as you Cross the Trestle leaving Dallas Union Station.(Right Side) On the way to Ft. Worth youll go through Arlington where Jerry World (aka Cowboy Stadium, looks like the Mother Ship from Close Encounters Landed!), the Texas Rangers Baseball Stadiunm and Six Flags Amusement Park are all located, but NO Public Transportation here, Jerry gets $45 to Park in his Lots!!!

Youll back into the Ft. Worth Intermodel Station (Greyhound is also here)where youll be able to get Off, nice New Station, the Heartland Flyer and the North Bound Eagle #22 usually are also there and various TRE Trains Run to/from Dallas through here! Youll roll out heading through Cleburne (old Santa Fe Engine Shops now closed and Rail yards are)where a brief Stop is followed by winding through the Brazos River Delta through the Hills where President W. Bush has his Ranch (you can't see it but you do pass the Metropolis of Crawford! :lol: ), a Brief Stop in McGregor, then into Temple where you can again get off briefly! (Nice old Santa Fe Station with a rail Museum there, BNSF yards and some Old Amtrak and steam and freight Equipment parked by the station. Dinner will be served after leaving Temple, usually starts about 5PM, then youll go through Cotton Fields, cross a Couple of Rivers, a few Small Farming Towns and into a Quick stop @ Taylor (Famous bar-B-Q and where I go on My Point runs! :lol: ), then down through Round Rock (Dell Computer Hdqs) some Street Running down MoPac Expressway into Austin, a brief Stop where you can again Stretch your legs, then across Lady Bird Lake on the Oldest contiously Used Railroad Trestle in the Western US as you look @ the downtown HighRises! (mostly Condos and Banks!!!) It will be getting Dark, Last call for Dinner is out of Austin, a brioef stop in San marcos, then down through mostly Rural Country till you Reach the Suburbs of North San Antonio where you will take a Loooooon Circular Route around the West Side of the city, youll see Downtown when you get close to the Station, Pass the Alamo Dome (Football/Basketball Stadium) and Volia, youre @ the Sunset Station (New Amshak) beside the grand Old SP Sunset Station which is now a Banquet and Music Hall for Rent and sadly Vacant most Nights!! Hope this Helps! Questions??

 

[daveyb99]

I have roomette #3 down and back, is that decent? Not that I can do much about it. Does that mean that I'll get to see the left side going one way and the right the other? Or is 3 always destined to be on one side, or does it just depend?

Decent? uh, ANY Sleeper is decent

Yes, it will be fine. Some will tell you it is too close to the coffee, or too close to the door, or too close to the stairs ... but you will be no matter. Just close the door, close the curtain, seal it up nice, and enjoy the peace and quiet and the ride.

As for right-side / left-side ... in theory, you should get both sides.

One other note is you will have the same crew the entire trip.

Also what is the best scenery on the Eagle?

Moderate. I like watching the interstate parallel old US 66 in Illinois. Otherwise, uh. Now, the Dallas Fort Worth and Austin areas are pretty good for seeing the city sights ... but no mountains, no oceans, nope.

The only downside is they're superliner rooms meaning no sink or toilet in my room. hboy:

NOT A DOWNSIDE. (I like the lower level rooms because of less traffic and almost private facilities.)

 

[ScottC4746]

Okay, since others are asking, I might as well do the same. I'm taking the Eagle from CHI to SAS in April. I have roomette #3 down and back, is that decent? Not that I can do much about it. Does that mean that I'll get to see the left side going one way and the right the other? Or is 3 always destined to be on one side, or does it just depend?

Also what is the best scenery on the Eagle? Is it very scenic? I've been spoiled by the SWC, CZ and CS, and the Card E of Charleston. Really it doesn't matter, I'm just taking it cause it's a long journey. I get to start on Sunday evening and don't get off till Friday morning (except for a brief layover in SAS waiting for the 22 to come up and take me back to CHI). The only downside is they're superliner rooms meaning no sink or toilet in my room. hboy: But I'll get to listen to the horn, thank all the people who are waiting for me at the crossing gates, meet new friends, watch the scenery whiz by, and well just get that full train experience that one can only get while being on the train. God, I miss being on the train, but it won't be long now!

It is funny how people ask if their room will be on the left or right side of the train. You never know until they hook the cars up. They may hook the cars up so you are on the opposite side you think you are. Luck of the draw.

 

[Linda T]

As you know there is One Toliet Upstairs and the Showers and rest of the Toliets are Downstairs! Youll be right by the Coffee/Juice/Water stand and the Ice will either be in the Hall or the SCAs Room! The Revenue Sleeper is on the Rear of the Train now, the Consist is now Engine/TransDorm/Coach-Bag/Coach/Sightseer Lounge/Diner(CCC)/Coach/Revenue Sleeper! Hopefully youll get a rehabbed Superliner I or a II thats in Good Shape!(this Route used to get the Tired Old Dogs that Ran on Abe Lincoln's Funeral Train! :lol: )

Nope, didn't know about the toilet upstairs. I've only traveled in bedrooms or coach prior to this trip, so never had a need to know. So we'll be the tail of the train, that's kind of cool. The only thing I dislike about it is it's harder to hear the horn blow, but it's also easier to take pictures of the engine and head of the train. That'd be awesome, actually, to be in a sleeper from the 1860s, wow! I'd actually pay 10 times what I'm paying now to ride in one of those, but sadly I'm assuming you jest. :giggle:

I admit I've been watching youtube videos over the last few days. I'm leaving in late April so I've still got a while before I leave. Shame it goes through the Ozarks after dark, but I'll pack my headphones and watch a Ma and Pa Kettle movie to get the full effect. But it sounds like the scenery is basic heartland stuff, that's cool. I was about 4 years old the last time I was in San Antonio -- so I don't remember much about the terrain and such, so thank you, that really helps. The cities all sound fascinating as well! I'm really excited! And Dallas sounds particularly interesting, as I'm a history buff -- was never a big JFK fan, but also never thought he deserved what happened, so it'll be kind of neat to see that.

The Brazos River Delta sounds like it might be pretty, and hills... and rr trestles -- I love trestles. :lol: As I understand it I will NOT be able to board the 22 until morning. Many have recommended walking to the Riverwalk. Is that part of SA safe at that hour of the night? I'm assuming a lot of people get off the train and go down to it. I really do appreciate all this. I read over the route information and while it told some of the things we'd be seeing, it didn't really describe the landscape much. I'm also eager to see cotton fields. That's cool too.

Thanks again! Linda.
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[Linda T]

Decent? uh, ANY Sleeper is decent

True, but... I've read (was it here?) of some people who complained that their room was too close to the bathroom and it stank. I'd really just like to come prepared if that's a possibility with my room. But if I'm close to the SCA, I'm sure it'll be just fine.

One other note is you will have the same crew the entire trip.

Hmm... not sure if that's a good thing or not, just depends on the service. I've had an SCA that I was just waiting to change trains to get rid of, and others where it was like "can't I just go the way you're going?"

Moderate. I like watching the interstate parallel old US 66 in Illinois. Otherwise, uh. Now, the Dallas Fort Worth and Austin areas are pretty good for seeing the city sights ... but no mountains, no oceans, nope.

Nah, I knew there wouldn't be anything like the Rockies, and certainly no ocean, but I, just didn't know what general terrain along the way would be like (hilly / flat / low mountain range...). I mean, who would expect the New River Gorge along the Cardinal's path in WV? Just all of a sudden -- poof, there it is, and then it's gone. Ya never know what dandy little secret hidey holes are along a track.
And no it's not really a downside that there's no toilet or sink in my room, but it occured to me while watching a youtube video that I'll have to take my toothbrush and everything down to the bathroom, something I wouldn't have thought of having to do and I would have kicked myself having to go back up the stairs to get my toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, etc. The things we take for granted in a bedroom. :giggle:

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[Linda T]

BTW, thanks for all the posts -- this is exactly what I wanted, but then again, I've come to know that you guys always know the answers (at least one of you does).

Linda.

 

[white rabbitt]

linda i am takeing the texas eagle on wedsday april 25 to austin i got the same roomette 3 as u small world :lol:

 

[Linda T]

linda i am takeing the texas eagle on wedsday april 25 to austin i got the same roomette 3 as u small world :lol:

 

[Bob Dylan]

Linda: The Walk to the Riverwalk in SAS is only about Five Blocks and East Commerce is Safe going Towards Downtown to the West!There should be lots of Riders walking that way, you will see a few Panhandlers and Street characters but it's Safe! You will walk up to the Old Steam Engine by the Old Sunset Station, turn left for One Block to Commerce Street, turn Left and walk under the IH37 OverPass (St. Pauls Square around the Station has some Interesting Old Buildings that remind you of New Orleans that have been turned in to Businesses, and a several New Motels (Staybridge Suites (where the Amtrak Crews stay,) Best Western Sunset (in a neat 150+ year old Building), in the other Direction a Holiday Inn Express. If you can Afford it, you might want to look into getting a Room for the Layover, its a 5 minute walk to the Station from all these, usually the Best Western and Holiday Inn have better Prices than Staybridge, Google up the Travel Sites for Deals!)

Continuing down Commerce youll Pass a Dennys (24/7)in front of a High Rise La Quinta Inn,Several High Rise Expensive Hotels, the Huge Convention Center is across the Road here, then River City Mall (its a Mall on the River!!! :lol: ), the River Walk is Down Below Street Level here! Its sort of Bourbon Street on a River with all the Pluses and Minuses but worth a Look! Pricey but Looking is Free! There are Fast Food places up on the Street around that close Early, and be sure and look @ the Alamo, its Closed but Lighted @ Night, Impressive!

When you've had enough, either Snag something to Eat, or if you took a Room ,head for Bed! The Sunset Amshak is Small, Crowded, Noisy and has a TV Showing Infommmercials, Blaring News and Vending Machines and People coming and going, reminds one of a Bus Station!! The Station Crew are Friendly but it's definitely Busy (this Sttion is only Open @ Night due to all the LD Trains Arriving/Departing in the Dark!!)and the Seats and Lights make it hard to Rest IF you get one?? They dont board the Northbound #22 till 6:45AM for Coach Passengers(Line UP @ the Red Poles!!!), Sleeper Pax are Usually allowed to Board a Little Earlier.If its a Night where the Sunset Ltd. runs (three Nights a Week) you will have get to see the Arrival of #2 @ 1030ish, #1 between 2 and 3 AM and the Switching of the Cutout Coach and Sleeper about 3AM, and if its a #422 to CHI Day the Sleeper and coach Pax that came from the West will be asleep on the Train (on the rear of #22) but these are Locked/Blocked Off until Time for #22 Pax to Board! I know I put alot in here(TMI???), Hope it Helps!! Wave when you Roll thru Austin!! Jim

 

[Linda T]

Wave when you Roll thru Austin!! Jim

Will do, and Wabbitt somewhere around Fort Worth, is my guess, as the 21 and 22 pass about there, I think. :lol: But Jim, that's a lot of REALLY good information. Ever think of being a travel agent? Sometimes I think it would be a cool job, till the trains come in late and everyone complains. Oh well... Last time I was on a train was when Irene hit last year -- with the early spring, I'm itching to get back on board. Thanks again!

Linda.

 

[Linda T]

Okay, another question, does anyone know if the Texas Eagle has the "lemon berry cake" for dessert? I'm so addicted to that after the CS (I think it was). I almost stole my husband's last year, but he had a fork in his hand. I may be addicted, but I'm not suicidal. :giggle:

 

[Bob Dylan]

Okay, another question, does anyone know if the Texas Eagle has the "lemon berry cake" for dessert? I'm so addicted to that after the CS (I think it was). I almost stole my husband's last year, but he had a fork in his hand. I may be addicted, but I'm not suicidal. :giggle:

Linda:I haven't seen that in the Eagle Diner. (CCC) Sounds Good!!! ^_^ Usual Deserts on the Eagle are Cream Puffs, H-D Ice Cream and Sorbet, Apple Pie and Occasionaly Chocolate Cake! Wish they would add the Bourbon Pecan Pie :wub: that is served on the CONO and Crescent, it's My Favorite along with the Great Chocolate Bundt Cake :wub: served on the Empire Builder!!!

 

[Linda T]

Okay, another question, does anyone know if the Texas Eagle has the "lemon berry cake" for dessert? I'm so addicted to that after the CS (I think it was). I almost stole my husband's last year, but he had a fork in his hand. I may be addicted, but I'm not suicidal. :giggle:

I haven't seen that in the Eagle Diner. (CCC) Sounds Good!!! ^_^ Usual Deserts on the Eagle are Cream Puffs, H-D Ice Cream and Sorbet and Occasionaly Chocolate Cake! Wish they would add the Bourbon Pecan Pie that is served on the CONO and Crescent, it's My Favorite along with the great Chocolate Bundt Cake served on the Empire Builder!!!

Oh okay. I think they also had the lemon berry pie on the Zephyr, as I wouldn't have thought to ask about it had I not already had it, and I want to say that it was specific to either NB or WB trains, but can't swear it. I know the Card and Crescent don't have it -- bummer. I can't even find it much talked about online anywhere. About the only hit I get is my own post to this forum last year after my trip. Maybe it was a rare thing? Dunno... thanks though.