411 Amtrak

[+ Charlie]

My one problem with long distance train travel is sleep. Even in a first class berth, I find it very difficult to get any rest the first night. The second night, I am usually tired enough to get a few hours sleep. Only by the third night can I get what qualifies as a decent night's sleep.

[Electra 225]

Ummm, Sleep??

 

My one problem with long distance train travel is sleep. Even in a first class berth, I find it very difficult to get any rest the first night. The second night, I am usually tired enough to get a few hours sleep. Only by the third night can I get what qualifies as a decent night's sleep.

 

The kind of trip I would like to take by train does not involve copious amounts of sleep. If one does what one needs to do and wants to do once the berth is made up and the room made ready, then sleep is going to be the last thing on one's mind. Besides, if one is active enough, sleep will come in due time and due course and be very, very rewarding and refreshing upon arising in the morning and partaking in pre-breakfast activities--just to build up a healthy appetite, don't you know....

 

Of course a train trip by oneself would require other preparations for sleep--such as an extended visit to the club car or lounge car....

[+ friendofsheila]

I agree with everyone about the Coast Starlight being a spectacular view between LA and SF.

 

I think it's important, though, to figure out what time it will be on the coast, as I seem to remember one run (either the northbound or southbound) get the nice sunset view and the other doesn't. It's been a while, so maybe it's changed.

 

Also, I agree that planning to kick back and not plan to at the destination at a certain time is good warning.

[+ azdr0710]

on the one and only Amtrak trip we took several years ago (Sunset Limited from Arizona to NOLA), I went and looked at the sleeper car to see what the private rooms were like....I remember the lowest-priced private room was extremely small - something like maybe 5x8 or so??....for the premium you'd pay, you may want to spring for something bigger.....the dining car was definitely not the Orient Express: regular menu and they put a tablecloth down for dinner....staff was efficient, if not enthusiastic....still, if you have the time, definitely worth it.....something that all should do at least once

[body2body]

There are differences in the quality of service and even equipment on the various routes. The Empire Builder is the crown jewel of Amtrak's long distance trains in terms of service. The Coast Starlight is the next best in my opinion. I took The Sunset Limited from LA to NOLA and was very disappointed. The Cars were badly maintained (windows so scratched you could hardly see out of them). The small compartments are very small on all the Western trains (Amtrak uses very different equipment on routes east of Chicago) and they do not have bath facilities. If you think of a long haul train trip as a "Land Cruise" and pop for a "Deluxe Bedroom" you will be very comfortable (providing you can sleep on a train). One last caveat, on the The Empire Builder I had a Deluxe Bedroom which has a large lower berth and pull down upper. I slept in the lower because I am quite tall (6'4) and it is about the size of a double bed, I fell asleep and awoke when the train pulled into Saint Paul MN about midnight. I found myself buck naked with the blind on the large picture window up and all my assets on display for the everyone on the platform!

[Electra 225]

Cost

 

Just out of curiosity, whats the average cost of one of these first class runs?

 

Travel costs on Amtrak vary widely from train to train and season to season. The best way to get a current quote is to go to: http://www.amtrak.com and see what you can find. Amtrak offers a variety of travel packages and discounts--you never pay full retail. My suggestion is to always go First Class (regardless of cabin/room size on sleeper cars) as this includes everything you need: full service on a dining car (all meals), snacks and soft drinks (including coffee, tea, juices), and daily newspapers. Of course, if you are only taking a day trip (such as on a commuter train), there is no need to spring for the extra First Class fare. First Class is less expensive than paying alacarte for meals, refreshments, snacks, papers, etc. on a trip of more than half a day or so.

[Guest greatness]

I agree... It's good to see other fellow Amtrak riders here. I love reading so I have no problem staying in the train for a long time.

 

Travel costs on Amtrak vary widely from train to train and season to season. The best way to get a current quote is to go to: http://www.amtrak.com and see what you can find. Amtrak offers a variety of travel packages and discounts--you never pay full retail. My suggestion is to always go First Class (regardless of cabin/room size on sleeper cars) as this includes everything you need: full service on a dining car (all meals), snacks and soft drinks (including coffee, tea, juices), and daily newspapers. Of course, if you are only taking a day trip (such as on a commuter train), there is no need to spring for the extra First Class fare. First Class is less expensive than paying alacarte for meals, refreshments, snacks, papers, etc. on a trip of more than half a day or so.

[Steven_Draker]

Steven: One of my all time favorite fantasies would be to have an extended session on a train--First Class and with a room in a sleeping car. We would do all the classic train things: breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining car and wild s*x in the sleeping car--with the shades up and the lights on as we roll through the countryside and the city scapes! Can you imagine it??

 

Electra, oh yes, I can very well imagine that. Sign me up.

[+ Gar1eth]

Dear Steven,

 

The answer to your question about East Coast to West Coast (and vice-versa) on Amtrak is problematical. If you are departing from New York, take the Limited to Chicago and then the Empire Builder to Seattle or the Zephy from Chicago to San Francisco or the Super Chief to Los Angeles. The only other east--west run (and back) is to take the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Again, I strongly suggest that you go First Class as this ticket level includes all meals, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and newspapers (at a substantial--and I mean SUBSTANTIAL discount to buying these things ala-carte). Also, the long distance trains, by definition, mean lots of time on the rails and I highly suggest getting a room with full bath in a sleeping car. You can still roam the train at will (dining car, lounge/bar car, observatin car, coach cars, etc.). This is the leisurely way to travel and should only be attempted by those who don't have a schedule or timetable to keep. Note: North--South routes are pretty restricted to taking the Texas Eagle from San Antonio to Chicago via Kansas City or St. Louis or taking the City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans (and back again). Most long distance trains depart the origination city about three times a week. The best option is to go to: http://www.amtrak.com and take the time to go through (completely) the website to get a firm grasp and idea on schedules, service, pricing, etc. Best wishes and good luck on this quest!!!!

 

Electra-- if I may interject here-- if you get a sleeping car on Amtrak-- either the one with or without the bathroom, it is considered First Class and the meals and non- alcoholic beverages are included with the meals. Unless there is a bar car ( club car) like in the Coast Starlite, then the only drinks during the day that is free for the 1st Class passengers is juice-- usually apple juice and orange juice-or coffee/ and maybe hot tea that the car attendant ( formerly called porters) has in the sleeping car. Most of the car attendants I have had in the 3 or 4 trips I have taken over the last 15 years or so have only been so so-- like not having the juice on ice ( I think one time the excuse was they didn't give the attendant an ice chest-- seems like an enterprising attendant would have found something). I read an article several years ago that the original conductors, service car attendants, and etc from when Amtrak was 1st formed were horrible at customer service. The reason was according to the article that these employees had been inherited from the old passenger rail lines. The old passenger lines had for years been trying to get rid of passenger service because it was bankrupting them, but they couldn't because of federal law. As a result, the passenger lines were actively trying to discourage passengers. So an entire generation of employees were taught that passengers were inconveniences. These were the people caring for passengers when AMTRAK was 1st formed.

 

A note about the food- apparently when AMTRAK was 1st started the food was awful. I first rode AMTRAK as an adult in 1998-- the Empire Builder from Seattle to Milwaukee. I thought the food was pretty good back then. The steaks I ordered on board were as good as what I would receive from a low to medium low end steakhouse. The major complaint I had was that the food was always lukewarm. At that time in 1998 I think AMTRAK was using food to try to increase the number of riders. They were even sending the cooks to the Culinary Institute of America. Well budget tightening regarding food has returned. They stopped sending the cooks to the Culinary Institute at least 5 to 10 years ago from what one of the car attendants told me a year ago. Now Amtrak has done the same thing that the airlines have done-- have everything in sealed pouches as much as possible and only reheat the item on the train. I doubt much actual cooking is going on anymore. Even the hot dogs in the snack car are prepackaged and then warmed up-- and how hard would it be to have one of those rolling hotdog grills? If 7-11 can manage it, you'd think AMTRAK could too. Now if you want great food, you should take Via Rail's Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver-- or versa vice. They still have an actual chef on board and the food was incredible.

 

If anyone wants to private message me or email about Amtrak, feel free. In the last 3 years, I've been on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlite, and last January Via Rail's Canadian.

 

Gman

[Guest greatness]

I know where to find our hot Gman. Kisses and hugs~~~

 

Electra-- if I may interject here-- if you get a sleeping car on Amtrak-- either the one with or without the bathroom, it is considered First Class and the meals and non- alcoholic beverages are included with the meals. Unless there is a bar car ( club car) like in the Coast Starlite, then the only drinks during the day that is free for the 1st Class passengers is juice-- usually apple juice and orange juice-or coffee/ and maybe hot tea that the car attendant ( formerly called porters) has in the sleeping car. Most of the car attendants I have had in the 3 or 4 trips I have taken over the last 15 years or so have only been so so-- like not having the juice on ice ( I think one time the excuse was they didn't give the attendant an ice chest-- seems like an enterprising attendant would have found something). I read an article several years ago that the original conductors, service car attendants, and etc from when Amtrak was 1st formed were horrible at customer service. The reason was according to the article that these employees had been inherited from the old passenger rail lines. The old passenger lines had for years been trying to get rid of passenger service because it was bankrupting them, but they couldn't because of federal law. As a result, the passenger lines were actively trying to discourage passengers. So an entire generation of employees were taught that passengers were inconveniences. These were the people caring for passengers when AMTRAK was 1st formed.

 

A note about the food- apparently when AMTRAK was 1st started the food was awful. I first rode AMTRAK as an adult in 1998-- the Empire Builder from Seattle to Milwaukee. I thought the food was pretty good back then. The steaks I ordered on board were as good as what I would receive from a low to medium low end steakhouse. The major complaint I had was that the food was always lukewarm. At that time in 1998 I think AMTRAK was using food to try to increase the number of riders. They were even sending the cooks to the Culinary Institute of America. Well budget tightening regarding food has returned. They stopped sending the cooks to the Culinary Institute at least 5 to 10 years ago from what one of the car attendants told me a year ago. Now Amtrak has done the same thing that the airlines have done-- have everything in sealed pouches as much as possible and only reheat the item on the train. I doubt much actual cooking is going on anymore. Even the hot dogs in the snack car are prepackaged and then warmed up-- and how hard would it be to have one of those rolling hotdog grills? If 7-11 can manage it, you'd think AMTRAK could too. Now if you want great food, you should take Via Rail's Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver-- or versa vice. They still have an actual chef on board and the food was incredible.

 

If anyone wants to private message me or email about Amtrak, feel free. In the last 3 years, I've been on the Empire Builder, Coast Starlite, and last January Via Rail's Canadian.

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

I know where to find our hot Gman. Kisses and hugs~~~

 

Greatness,

 

WhileI cannot claim to be a member of the Mile High Club, or even hope to be, I somewhat bashfully admit to being a member of the Clickety Clack Club. Thank you Donny from LA, Mark Gordon, and a certain LA escort who doesn't advertise anymore for initiating me. It was much appreciated.

 

Gman

[Mark Gordon]

WhileI cannot claim to be a member of the Mile High Club, or even hope to be, I somewhat bashfully admit to being a member of the Clickety Clack Club. Thank you Donny from LA, Mark Gordon, and a certain LA escort who doesn't advertise anymore for initiating me. It was much appreciated.

 

I love travelling by rail as I find it relaxing and enjoy the feeling of connection with the terrain you're traversing. It was wonderful to join Gman on his Toronto - Vancouver trip, where we were served some great meals, saw some awesome scenery and had time to get to know each other in between clickety clacking. I've also gone coast to coast on Via Rail twice, travelled around Britain extensively by rail and was fortunate enough to travel through the American SW on the American Orient Express (complete with music on their baby grand & an open bar) before its demise.

[raulgmanzo]

...I ALWAYS dress to go to the dining car (jacket and tie--no tuxedo) as it adds an extra bit of flair and allows me to "pretend" of more gracious times on the trains.

Electra, dressing nicely and having a proper meal makes even THESE times gracious, so you are not just pretending! I've had many unforgettable meals in dining cars all over the world, nothing quite compares.

 

... siding 54 of the great northern railroad, which subsequently

became Malta, Montana ... The next siding 100 miles away became Havre.

The wonderful thing is that those towns still have train service. Cool that you have a connection to a magical area. The Empire Builder is magnificient, someday I'll ride it again, get off in Malta and take in some dinosaur museums.

 

Also it's quite noticeable that one is missing in action: Raul G Manzo ... (where are you, Raul?)

Thanks Steven for remembering that I'm a bit of a train nut!

 

I encourage anybody to take Amtrak even if isn't always what it should, was, or will someday be as a national railroad.

But also there are other train systems throughout the world that make a wonderful journey, sadly some classics are disappearing.

[raulgmanzo]

I'm often not a good sleeper but for whatever reason I do sleep fairly well in a berth on a train. But never have I had better sleep than one December on the Transiberian. Five nights across Chinese, Mongolian and Russian countryside, past Lake Irkutksk, beneath a warm comforter in a coal heated compartment rocketing through sub-zero siberia. With the short winter days, and passengers watches set to any of several timezones from Beijing to Moscow nobody could seem to agree if it was time for dinner, lunch, breakfast or the middle of the night. But the conductor made sure the samovar always had tea.

 

My one problem with long distance train travel is sleep. Even in a first class berth, I find it very difficult to get any rest the first night. The second night, I am usually tired enough to get a few hours sleep. Only by the third night can I get what qualifies as a decent night's sleep.