seattle would be nice. We can do turnarounds on the cascades between Seattle and Portland etc. more trains to ride.
I think Sac has a "few" train-riding options too.................
West Coast Gathering Next Year?
Started by
jmbgeg
, Sep 18 2010 10:58 PM
60 replies to this topic
#21
rrdude
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 09:12 AM
I think Sac has a "few" train-riding options too.................
TRAVELED / WORKED: (Red = THIS year) MORR, Texas Eagle, Hiawatha Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Maple Leaf, Adirondack, Cardinal, Auto-Train, Acela, Keystone Service, Surfliners, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, NE Regionals, Capital Limited, City of New Orleans, Downeaster, Wolverine, Pere Marquete, Broadway Limited, Lake Shore Limited, North Coast Hiawatha, Illini, Dubuque Service, Super Chief, Cali Zephyr, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Pioneer, Sunset Limited, San Diegans, Inter-American, Vermonter (to Amherst), Michigan Executive, Twilight Limited, Lake Cities, Niagara Rainbow, Crescent, Alaska RR, Ferromex: Laredo-Mexico City, Metro North, METRA, BART, LIRR, Boston's T, NYC Subway, Chicago's "L", DC Metro, SF Cable Cars-Trolleys, NJ Transit to AC, NOLA Street Cars, Ann Arbor RR Cross-Lake Ferry, Former C&O S.S. Badger Cross-Lake Ferry, Baltimore Light Rail, Via:The Ocean, Algoma Central...... TRAINS Over-Slept & MISSED: D&RGW, Southern Crescent (both Pre-Amtrak, Dammit!)
#22
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 09:25 AM
seattle would be nice. We can do turnarounds on the cascades between Seattle and Portland etc. more trains to ride.
I think Sac has a "few" train-riding options too.................
Plus a museum of some sorts.
#23
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 09:32 AM
I just happened to bump into the California State Railroad Museum during Railfair '99. It was an extremely impressive showing of locomotives and rolling stock. I seem to remember there being excursion trains with old F or E units. Was anyone here able to ride those trains?Plus a museum of some sorts.
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#24
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 12:33 PM
Sacramento does have many advantages in that three Amtrak lines run through it (CZ, CS, and San Joaquins) along with the California Corridors trains to San Francisco. They have a couple of excursion railroads to ride, the aformentioned great railroad museum--a modern light rail system to ride around town, several hotels close to the Amtrak station-- walking distance to Old Sacramento (restaurants-touristy shops, etc) and some other nice museums (art, history, etc) nearby. Although we have been there many times, for those who havent it would be a great experience.
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#25
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 04:12 PM
Sacramento does have many advantages in that three Amtrak lines run through it (CZ, CS, and San Joaquins) along with the California Corridors trains to San Francisco. They have a couple of excursion railroads to ride, the aformentioned great railroad museum--a modern light rail system to ride around town, several hotels close to the Amtrak station-- walking distance to Old Sacramento (restaurants-touristy shops, etc) and some other nice museums (art, history, etc) nearby. Although we have been there many times, for those who havent it would be a great experience.
Just don't do it in the summer/early fall, very hot and steamy. This year doesn't count.
#26
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 04:47 PM
I'd love to see the gathering in either Seattle or Portland. That's because it's a lot closer and a lot less expensive for me, and, as we all know, the world does (or should) revolve around me and only me!!! 
Seriously, though it would be a lot more pricey for me, Sacramento would be great too. I've been there before and I know there are many, many options for riding trains there. Not to mention, of course, the museum. Whatever the choice might be, I hope to make the 2011 Gathering. Secondary choices: Wishram or Chemult.
Seriously, though it would be a lot more pricey for me, Sacramento would be great too. I've been there before and I know there are many, many options for riding trains there. Not to mention, of course, the museum. Whatever the choice might be, I hope to make the 2011 Gathering. Secondary choices: Wishram or Chemult.
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Pre-Amtrak Routes Traveled: Empire Builder (Great Northern), North Coast Limited (Northern Pacific), Abraham Lincoln (Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio), City of Hinkle (Union Pacific)
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#27
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 05:54 PM
Sacramento does have many advantages in that three Amtrak lines run through it (CZ, CS, and San Joaquins) along with the California Corridors trains to San Francisco. They have a couple of excursion railroads to ride, the aformentioned great railroad museum--a modern light rail system to ride around town, several hotels close to the Amtrak station-- walking distance to Old Sacramento (restaurants-touristy shops, etc) and some other nice museums (art, history, etc) nearby. Although we have been there many times, for those who havent it would be a great experience.
Just don't do it in the summer/early fall, very hot and steamy. This year doesn't count.
Hot yes, steamy no. The humidity up here is very low.
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#28
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 06:50 PM
Dreaming of St. Louis in two weeks, but for my 2 cents for next year it has to be SEA!
Sacramento is second,then the Bay Area. Portland is nice but theres no ocean there (SAC has the museum as a make-up and lower prices) and rooms @ Chez-traveler West in PDX are High Bucket!
hadley can catch the Sunset stub train in Beaumont since it seems to be his favorite station!
Sacramento is second,then the Bay Area. Portland is nice but theres no ocean there (SAC has the museum as a make-up and lower prices) and rooms @ Chez-traveler West in PDX are High Bucket!
hadley can catch the Sunset stub train in Beaumont since it seems to be his favorite station!
Edited by jimhudson, 22 September 2010 - 06:53 PM.
See ya' in the Windy City for the Gathering!! Go Spurs Go!!!
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#30
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Posted 22 September 2010 - 06:58 PM
I just wonder if the whole group could get to PDX. There is only sleeper on the EB that goes to PDX and the Starlight. I think OTOL ran into a similar problem this year.
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#31
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 01:05 AM
seattle would be nice. We can do turnarounds on the cascades between Seattle and Portland etc. more trains to ride.
I think Sac has a "few" train-riding options too.................
Didn't see sac just sorta skimmed the thread.
#32
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 07:43 AM
Sacramento has been mentioned.
seattle would be nice. We can do turnarounds on the cascades between Seattle and Portland etc. more trains to ride.
I think Sac has a "few" train-riding options too.................
Didn't see sac just sorta skimmed the thread.
#33
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 07:47 AM
I dunno about that...I'd probably look like the little old gray haired lady in the Wendy's commercials singing, "Where's the station ???"Dreaming of St. Louis in two weeks, but for my 2 cents for next year it has to be SEA!
Sacramento is second,then the Bay Area. Portland is nice but theres no ocean there (SAC has the museum as a make-up and lower prices) and rooms @ Chez-traveler West in PDX are High Bucket!
hadley can catch the Sunset stub train in Beaumont since it seems to be his favorite station!
#34
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 09:35 AM
I hadn't really thought about that aspect of it. So you're saying we'd have a rough time getting a good rate (or even a bed) if we picked Portland?I just wonder if the whole group could get to PDX. There is only sleeper on the EB that goes to PDX and the Starlight. I think OTOL ran into a similar problem this year.
Any views expressed are my own and do not represent the views of my employer, parent companies, partners, or subsidiaries.
Over 50,000 people just like you recently signed a petition to expand high speed passenger rail in the United States of America.
Long live The Coast Starlight, The California Zephyr, The Empire Builder, The Southwest Chief, and The Canadian.
#35
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 10:03 AM
Or more correctly, "Where's the slab????"I dunno about that...I'd probably look like the little old gray haired lady in the Wendy's commercials singing, "Where's the station ???"
hadley can catch the Sunset stub train in Beaumont since it seems to be his favorite station!
A training I will go ... !
#36
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 10:05 AM
I just wonder if the whole group could get to PDX. There is only sleeper on the EB that goes to PDX and the Starlight. I think OTOL ran into a similar problem this year.
I hadn't really thought about that aspect of it. So you're saying we'd have a rough time getting a good rate (or even a bed) if we picked Portland?
OTOL did indeed have a bit of a problem, but then we were traveling @ a peak time and with a very high number of us coming from the east. Additionally for OTOL getting there is part of the fest itself.
I suspect that between the shoulder travel time of October, coupled with the mix of the AU group coming from many different directions that it wouldn't be as big of a problem. And since there won't be an organized arrival either, people would be free to choose how they want to get there. Finally, one can always book to Seattle and then ride the Talgo down to Portland for just a few bucks more than what it would have cost to go direct. In fact, I'm not sure if they don't actually charge the same price, assuming of course that your comparing like buckets.
Finally, seeing as how we did California just two years ago, I'd say that SAC is way down on the totem pole.
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#37
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 02:26 PM
I vote for Seattle.
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#38
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 03:03 PM
I would agree that Seattle is an excellent choice. 
Trains Ridden So Far:
Lake Shore Ltd, Capitol Ltd, Pennsylvanian, NE Corridors, Crescent, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Hoosier, SW Chief, Surfliners, California Capitol Corridors, Coast Starlight, Cascades. Texas Eagle, San Joaquins, Missouri River Runner,Cardinal, Downeaster, Silver Meteor, Keystones, Auto Train -- 50,822 Amtrak miles & counting
Lake Shore Ltd, Capitol Ltd, Pennsylvanian, NE Corridors, Crescent, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Hoosier, SW Chief, Surfliners, California Capitol Corridors, Coast Starlight, Cascades. Texas Eagle, San Joaquins, Missouri River Runner,Cardinal, Downeaster, Silver Meteor, Keystones, Auto Train -- 50,822 Amtrak miles & counting
#39
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 06:05 PM
As a California native son, tradition and statute dictate that I shill for the Golden State at every conceivable opportunity.Finally, seeing as how we did California just two years ago, I'd say that SAC is way down on the totem pole.
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#40
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 06:24 PM
As a California native son, tradition and statute dictate that I shill for the Golden State at every conceivable opportunity.Finally, seeing as how we did California just two years ago, I'd say that SAC is way down on the totem pole.
I'm surprised that you haven't shilled the NorCal SoCal differences and how we're really two distinctly different states.
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