At present we are thinking of going CHI to LAX on the South West Chief. Any thoughts on the best direction of travel? I have taken the CZ westbound, that was fantastic.
South West Chief
Started by
chas4012
, May 26 2012 01:30 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Swadian Hardcore
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 01:33 PM
Both ways are fine, IMO. You could just ride it both ways, because the SWC is faster than the CZ. Got no money? Then you should'a booked five months in advance.
Edit: spelling error
Edit: spelling error
Edited by Swadian Hardcore, 26 May 2012 - 04:11 PM.
OPERATED BY:
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
#3
NETrainfan
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 01:49 PM
That is our favorite route to date. (Just something about the Southwest for some of us.) Have fun.
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#4
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 02:00 PM
Both ways are fine, IMO. You could just ride it both ways, because the SWC is faster than the CZ. Got no money? Then you should'a booked five mounths in advance.
Yknow what, sometimes it is best to control the urge to reply to everything if one does not have anything positive to contribute. I hope you do realize not everyone in the world has infinite time and money. If the OP had the intention to travel both ways, s/he would have not asked the question to choose a direction in the first place.
I have done SWC journey eastbound and I enjoyed it, especially the daybreak in the high desert of AZ and the ride through vast open AZ/NM area. What I missed was crossing the Cajon Pass in daylight, in winters it gets dark as soon as the train pulls out of LAX. I don't know if the situation will be any better westbound.
#5
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 02:05 PM
Both ways are fine, IMO. You could just ride it both ways, because the SWC is faster than the CZ. Got no money? Then you should'a booked five mounths in advance.
[sarcasm]
Very nice way to welcome a new member to AU.
[/sarcasm]
By the way, how many days in a "mounth?"
#6
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 02:13 PM
At present we are thinking of going CHI to LAX on the South West Chief. Any thoughts on the best direction of travel? I have taken the CZ westbound, that was fantastic.
Since I start from the east, I always prefer taking Amtrak west. It's a great way to see the transition of geography from the familiar to the unfamiliar. Heading west on the SW Chief, you go from the green plains of the midwest to prairie, mountains, desert, and finally the LA basin. Assuming you are flying one way, to me the flight seems to work better heading home. I've used Amtrak in the homeward direction, and as the landscape become familiar, I get bored and just want it over with.
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#7
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 02:16 PM
That is our favorite route to date. (Just something about the Southwest for some of us.) Have fun.
What part of that route do like the most?
Thanx
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HAVE FUN
Silver Meteor #97(5) & #98 (4), Silver Star #91 (2), Capitol Limited #29 & #30(4), Empire Builder #7,#8,#27 (3) Coast Starlight #11 (4) & #14(4), California Zephyr #5 (2) & #6 (3), Cascades #506, City of New Orleans #58 (1) #59 (1), South West Chief #3 (2), Lake Shore Limited #49, Maple Leaf #63 San Joaquin #714, Pacific Surfliner #774, Texas Eagle #422, Cardinal #50, Crescent #19, Sunset Limited #1 Approx.46,444 miles & 41 states!
HAVE FUN
#8
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 03:56 PM
I've only traveled the SWC eastbound as far as Albuquerque. I love seeing the plains of Kansas at night and then the transition to the mountains of Colorado at daybreak. The Raton Pass in CO/NM is gorgeous, and the Glorieta Pass in NM is equally breathtaking.
#9
Swadian Hardcore
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 04:02 PM
Both ways are fine, IMO. You could just ride it both ways, because the SWC is faster than the CZ. Got no money? Then you should'a booked five mounths in advance.
Yknow what, sometimes it is best to control the urge to reply to everything if one does not have anything positive to contribute. I hope you do realize not everyone in the world has infinite time and money. If the OP had the intention to travel both ways, s/he would have not asked the question to choose a direction in the first place.
Well, I can't decide either, I just wanted to say that there's not much difference, if any. So the OP can choose based on other reasons that are not directly related to the train.
OPERATED BY:
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
#10
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Posted 26 May 2012 - 04:46 PM
One of best view is at AZ/NM border where the colorful cliff is. Going westbound in winter will be dark. Cajon is best eastbound in summer.
Sorcha is right about sunrise over the plains, westbound. It's a beautiful sight.
Best view would be riding both ways for train foamers!
Sorcha is right about sunrise over the plains, westbound. It's a beautiful sight.
Best view would be riding both ways for train foamers!
Entire length in segments- Southwest Chief (LSV-LAX & CHI-LSV), Pacific Surfliner (SLO-LAX & LAX-SAN) & San Joaquin (Oakland stub)
Entire length, end to end- Lake Shore Limited (Boston stub) (11/09), Downeaster (11/09) & Coast Starlight (10/11)
Partial- California Zephyr (SLC-EMY), Hiawatha, Cascades (SEA-PDX) & Acela (BOS-PVD)
Entire length, end to end- Lake Shore Limited (Boston stub) (11/09), Downeaster (11/09) & Coast Starlight (10/11)
Partial- California Zephyr (SLC-EMY), Hiawatha, Cascades (SEA-PDX) & Acela (BOS-PVD)
#12
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Posted 27 May 2012 - 07:32 AM
I really loved the scenery from the SWC on the full day in the middle of the trip. I enjoyed the transition from plains to southwest plateaus/mesas immensely. I went westbound from CHI - LAX.
You can see my pictures at my blog trainsacrossamerica.blogspot.com.
You can see my pictures at my blog trainsacrossamerica.blogspot.com.
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