Trip report - Southwest Chief #4 / Lake Shore Limited #448 LAX-SPG

[Cal]

Real china is also called porcelain. Amtrak is not bringing porcelain back to dining cars. Most likely they intend to bring some form of Corelle glass-based tableware back as was used just before the change to plastic. This is a massive improvement over cheap plastic plates but it is not "real china" anymore than stainless steel is "real silverware."

Point taken. However, most of us are just using "real china" to describe the Corelle plates, as compared to what we've been getting in the past year, it certainly feels like "real china".

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Real china is also called porcelain. Amtrak is not bringing porcelain back to dining cars. Most likely they intend to bring some form of Corelle glass-based tableware back as was used just before the change to plastic. This is a massive improvement over cheap plastic plates but it is not "real china" anymore than stainless steel is "real silverware."

Were you confused by what I typed?

 

[TEREB]

Here you go folks the moment you’ve been waiting for. Photos of dinner.

What a beautiful sight. Too bad we won’t be getting any of this on the Silvers.

 

[TEREB]

This person with apparently an eye to brain defect mistook the rolled up napkin for a foot. "OMG, did he really put his feet up on the table?!" It took a few seconds for me to figure it out.

So did I. Lol

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Were you confused by what I typed?

No, but this forum was created for educating new and infrequent travelers on what to expect when they ride Amtrak and there are some posts implying they should expect real china despite the fact that this will not be the case. Amtrak even charges prices that make real china seem plausible so I'm just trying to set the record straight.

So did I. Lol

Me too!

 

[user 14106]

It’s lunch time!

 

[Cal]

It’s lunch time!

I do wish they could use the tablecloth and cloth napkins for all meals.

 

[railiner]

This is a massive improvement over cheap plastic plates but it is not "real china" anymore than stainless steel is "real silverware."

I prefer a good quality stainless over silver. Never have to remove tarnish....

 

[Asher]

It’s lunch time!

What is the mask protocol in the dining car while sitting.

 

[user 14106]

They pretty much don’t worry once you are seated about masks. It’s basically the traditional communal diner experience unless you request no communal. Lunch photos below.

 

[Cal]

They pretty much don’t worry once you are seated about masks. It’s basically the traditional communal diner experience unless you request no communal. Lunch photos below.

Am I not seeing the lettuce and tomato here? Or am I just blind?

 

[user 14106]

Am I not seeing the lettuce and tomato here? Or am I just blind?

I ordered it without - normally comes with it.

 

[Cal]

I ordered it without - normally comes with it.

Gotchya.

And it does appear that they only use the cloth napkins and tablecloths for dinner

 

[Rasputin]

Breakfast RR French toast and side of bacon. Thumbs up!

Are grits offered with all breakfast entrees or only with the continental breakfast?
Thanks.

 

[user 14106]

Are grits offered with all breakfast entrees or only with the continental breakfast?
Thanks.

I didn’t ask.

 

[user 14106]

100 scouts boarded at Raton

 

[user 14106]

More photos of today.

 

[user 14106]

More photos

 

[Ferroequinologist]

Breakfast RR French toast and side of bacon. Thumbs up!

Are they serving toast? Or just those 'croissants'?

 

[tonys96]

Personally, I like Corelle over porcelin (sp?). Lighter, easier to clean, lower cost.
Same with stainless steel utensils over silver.

We have a set of Amtrak Corelle plates and saucers.

Thanks for the trip report and pics!

 

[user 14106]

Are they serving toast? Or just those 'croissants'?

Croissants - but I didn’t ask if there was anything else.

 

[user 14106]

Breakfast today

 

[drdumont]

This person with apparently an eye to brain defect mistook the rolled up napkin for a foot. "OMG, did he really put his feet up on the table?!" It took a few seconds for me to figure it out.

To quote a famous Cable Guy, "That there's funny, I don't care who you are!"
And as I was scanning through the pictures at this obscene hour of 0830, at first glance, I too thought it was a stockinged foot.

 

[drdumont]

Nah, that's not real china. But who cares? You don't eat the plate.

When last Diner service was happening, ISTR the "plates" were a very sturdy glossy finished cardboardlike product. Didn't think you could put a utensil through them, nor cut through with a knife. Their object in removing the original china and the follow ons was to eliminate dirty dishes, the scullery and labor associated therewith.
I do remember a Corelle-like product, and I believe they kept the used dishes and utensils and offloaded the as is at the end of the trip..

 

[drdumont]

What were those yellowish-white things piled on top of the steak?

Looks like Kobey's Potato straws. You know, those matchstick sized fried potato snacks which come in a can?