Riding the train is a vacation.

Our First Amtrak Experience was Auto Train

In June 2014, Linda and I took Amtrak's Auto Train to Florida and back.  That trip exceeded our expectations in every way.  The comfort and service was beyond what we expected it to be.  We had a sleeper bedroom in the bi-level Superliner that Amtrak runs on this route.   The bedroom has upper and lower berths along with its own toilet and shower.  We arrived at our destination rested and fresh.

Auto Train is the longest train Amtrak runs

Auto Train platform at Lorton, VA

Loading cars on to the autoracks

Back in Lorton and ready to de-train
More space than on a plane!!

Time for another trip

Based on the Auto Train experience, it was time for me to expand the experience and go all-in for a 4-day 3,260 mile journey, in April 2015, which I will be doing solo.  The adventure will begin in Manassas, Virginia.  Three trains and a bus later, I will be in San Francisco.   At least that is the plan!

I purchased my tickets in August 2014.  I considered the price of a sleeper bedroom over a roomette to be well worth the difference.  In general, you should book early to get the best price.   I booked via Amtrak's online reservation system.  The bedroom indicated "1 at this price".  After I booked and was ticketed, the same itinerary was now $350 more.  So, believe what the system is telling you. Also, if you are planning on getting a sleeper, keep in mind that they tend to sellout months in advance on popular Long Distance routes.

Update March 2015: The price of my itinerary is now $1,000 more than when I booked last August. Guess it does pay to book early.

The Coast-to-Coast Itinerary

On Tuesday morning, I will catch the Crescent (#20) at the Manassas, VA (MSS) train station.  This will be a coach seat for the short trip to the beautiful Washington, DC Union Station (WAS).

Manassas, VA

Later that afternoon, I will board the Capitol Limited (#29) for an overnight trip to Chicago's Union Station (CHI).  I will have a sleeper bedroom accommodation.  As on all of Amtrak's Long Distance trains, meals are included in the price of a sleeper ticket.

I will then transfer to the California Zephyr (#5) and the 2 night journey from Chicago across the plains of the mid-west and onward through Denver and the Rocky Mountains.  The California Zephyr is widely considered to be the most scenic trip in the United States.   On Friday evening, the train will terminate in Emeryville, CA.   From there San Francisco is just a short ride on the Amtrak Thruway Connector bus.

After a couple of days in San Francisco, I will fly back home.

I will be be providing details of each leg of my trip.  Stay tuned!!

Day 1 - Crescent and Capitol Limited

The weather was great for travel today and I’m off to a good start.

The Crescent arrived in Manassas about 40 minutes late, which is not unusual.  The train departed from New Orleans at 7:00 AM yesterday morning.  They lost almost an hour around Birmingham, due to freight traffic congestion.  At boarding, the coach attendant gave me a Seat Check with my seat assignment.

Coach seats on the Long Distance trains are a pretty comfortable recliner type seat with extending leg rests.

Coach seat on the Crescent

At Washington Union, I had lunch then hung out in the Acela Club which sleeper-class passengers have access to.

Club Acela at Washington Union Station

Amtrak Factoid:  Except for the Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston, Amtrak operates on tracks owned and operated by the freight railroads (Norfolk Southern, CSX, etc).  There is an "Amtrak Priority" Federal law.  However, sometimes poor dispatching, by the freight railroads, or freight traffic congestion delays Amtrak.

Travel Tip:  You can see the historical Amtrak On Time Performance times at these websites.  Use this information to help with planning your trip, especially for planning connections.

http://www.amtrakdelays.onlineschedulingsoftware.com/
http://www.dixielandsoftware.net/Amtrak/status/StatusPages/
http://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php

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30 minutes prior to departure, a Acela Club agent escorts sleeper passengers to the train.

We boarded on time.  The Sleeping Car Attendant came by and gave me a rundown on how things work.  Shortly thereafter a Service Attendant from the Dining Car came by and took my dinner reservation.

Bedroom in daytime configuration

Toilet / Shower combo

Supply storage next to your sink

The farms and mountains in Maryland and West Virginia provide some great scenery to pass the time.  Especially at sunset.

Dinner was really good and a much different experience from the Auto Train.  The Auto Train is geared towards "feeding the masses".  It has 3 diner cars that need to serve 500 - 600 people.  Tonight they seated about 4 tables at a time and it was a much slower pace.   I had the flatiron steak, which was really pretty tasty, along with a side salad and cheesecake for desert.

Afterwards I checked out the Sightseer Lounge car.  It's was nice enough, but the view from my bedroom is just fine and very comfortable.

Sightseer Lounge

Had my bed made and will just relax for a while and watch a movie on my laptop.

Nighttime configuration

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Day 2 - Chicago and the California Zephyr

I had a pretty good nights sleep on the Capitol Limited.   There were some rough track sections that woke me up.  Also, whenever the train stops I wake up.  It gets too quiet and I don't get back to sleep until the motion and noises start again.

After a nice hot shower in my bedroom, it was back to the dining car for breakfast.  It was just me and another guy at the table, same guy I had dinner with last night.

Cheese and veggie omelet, with sausages and a bowl of grits. 

The train was about 50 minutes late getting in to Chicago, due to freight train interference.   Not unexpected and certainly not a problem since I have a couple of hours to kill.  On the way in, there are a lot of steel factories still operating around Gary, IN

Chicago skyline

First I put my bag in storage in the Metropolitan "First Class" Lounge.  Then I checked out Chicago Union Station.

Then it was off to Al's Beef for lunch.

Italian beef served "wet" and chili fries!

           

Now on the California Zephyr heading west out of Chicago.

A whole lot of flat farmland

Wind farms as far as you can see

Crossing the Mississippi

My sleeper car at a fresh air stop

Half roasted chicken for dinner

My long time traveling buddy Biskets!

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Day 3 - Denver and the Rockies

I sure had a good nights sleep, 7 straight hours!

Woke up to some very flat land as the sun was just starting to peek above the horizon.

If you want a good breakfast, you need to try the "Railroad French Toast", excellent!

As I write this, the train has started backing in to Denver Union Station.  Not sure how far it is, but the conductor said it would take about 15 minutes.

Heading west out of Denver will be the Rockies and the most scenic part of the trip.

Stockyards

Windows getting washed in Chicago

Inside the Moffatt Tunnel

Turkey meatballs

I was just thinking, I packed about 5 pounds of books and magazines, as well as a dozen DVD's.  I haven't pulled out a single book or magazine and only watched one episode of Downton Abbey.  All the good stuff is right outside my window!   Around every turn there is something new and different.  

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